Post-surgical Pain

Persistent pain, scar-related dysfunction and unresolved symptoms after surgery.

Why Diagnosis Comes First

Persistent pain after surgery deserves anatomical explanation.

Pain after surgery does not always indicate a failed procedure — but it should not be overlooked. Persistent post-surgical pain is relatively common and may relate to scar tissue, nerve irritation, altered tissue movement or the way healing has occurred, rather than a simple return of the original issue.

At MBR Health, advanced imaging — including 3T MRI, NerveVIEW MRI, Spectral CT and ultrasound — is used to assess the surgical area in detail. This diagnosis-led approach helps identify the underlying cause and guide a more precise treatment pathway.

Post-surgical Neuroma 3T MRI NerveVIEW

The source matters

Common causes of post-surgical pain.

Scar-related Tethering

Scar tissue can restrict normal tissue gliding and 
create pain with stretching, movement, or load.

Nerve Irritation or Entrapment

Pain, burning, tingling, numbness or hypersensitivity may 
arise where scars and nerves sit in close relationship.

Altered Mechanics after Surgery

Even successful surgery can change load distribution, tissue 
tension, or joint mechanics in ways that create new pain.

Incomplete Structural Healing

Persistent symptoms may reflect incomplete graft incorporation, 
tendon healing, soft-tissue recovery, or unresolved pathology.

Hardware or Anchor-related Irritation

In selected cases, post-surgical pain may relate to implants, anchors, 
fixation points or their interaction with surrounding structures.

How we investigate

3T MRI for Post-surgical Pain

A 3T MRI provides high-resolution imaging of soft tissues, repair sites, grafts, joints, tendons, nerves and surrounding anatomy.

Best for: persistent pain after surgery, incomplete healing, graft assessment, scar-related soft-tissue change, and unresolved structural symptoms.

NerveVIEW MRI

NerveVIEW MRI is an advanced MRI technique designed to better demonstrate nerve inflammation, focal neuritis and nerve-related pathology that may be obscured by post-operative change on routine imaging alone.

Best for: burning pain, altered sensation, suspected nerve entrapment, focal neuritis and scar–nerve interface assessment.

Spectral CT for Post-operative
Structural Correlation

Spectral CT can provide detailed assessment of hardware, anchors, bone interfaces, post-surgical alignment and complex structural anatomy where bony detail matters.

Best for: hardware-related symptoms, anchor irritation, post-operative bone assessment and complex structural review.

Ultrasound for Scar, Superficial
Nerve & Tissue Glide Assessment

Ultrasound can provide real-time assessment of superficial scar tissue, soft-tissue movement, bursae and selected peripheral nerves. It may also be helpful for dynamic assessment and image-guided procedures in selected cases.

Best for: scar tethering, superficial nerve irritation, dynamic tissue assessment, and procedural guidance.

3D MRI Foot

Treatment Philosophy

A diagnostic-first approach to post-surgical pain.

At MBR Health, our approach to chronic post-surgical pain begins with advanced diagnostic imaging to understand the underlying pathology. Post-surgical pain may be related to adhesion formation, nerve injury, joint changes or soft tissue alterations — accurate identification of the underlying cause is essential before any treatment is considered.

Where imaging identifies a cause amenable to image-guided intervention, treatment options that may be discussed include platelet-rich plasma for its potential biological and anti-inflammatory properties, or hyaluronic acid (HA) for lubrication and associated symptom relief. In some cases, other treatment approaches may be recommended. All treatment decisions are made collaboratively with your treating medical team based on your individual clinical presentation and imaging findings.

“Many patients with post-surgical pain are told everything looks normal and the surgery was successful. This can be true, but there can still be post-surgical pain associated with the surgery itself. With precise imaging, the real problem is often found in the interaction between scar, nerve and altered tissue movement.”

Dr Zane Sherif, Specialist Radiologist

Who May Benefit

Assessment may be considered for patients with:

Disclaimer

The information on this page is intended as general health information only and does not constitute medical advice. The conditions and clinical scenarios listed on this page are provided as a general guide only and do not imply that any specific treatment or procedure is appropriate for every patient described.

Suitability for any pain management or interventional procedure at MBR Health is determined on an individual basis following appropriate clinical assessment and referral from a treating GP or specialist. All procedures carry potential risks and benefits that will be discussed with you prior to treatment as part of the informed consent process.

Post-surgical pain management procedures at MBR Health are not a substitute for ongoing care by your treating surgical or medical team. We encourage all patients to speak with their GP or specialist before pursuing any pain management intervention.

Knee or Shoulder Surgery Pain

Persistent pain, stiffness or restricted movement following ACL reconstruction, meniscal surgery, rotator cuff repair or labral reconstruction.

Spinal Surgery with Ongoing Symptoms

Pain after decompression or fusion that has not resolved as expected, including symptoms that may relate to scar-related nerve tethering, adjacent segment overload or altered mechanics.

Abdominal or Pelvic Post-surgical Pain

Pain after Caesarean section, hernia repair or pelvic surgery that may 
relate to scar tethering, altered fascial movement or nerve irritation.

Chest or Breast Surgery Pain

Persistent pain after cardiac, thoracic or reconstructive surgery that may reflect 
nerve pathway disruption, fibrotic scar formation or altered tissue tension.

Pain Despite Normal Scans

Ongoing pain or restricted function after surgery where 
routine imaging has not provided a clear explanation.

Burning, Tingling or Numbness Near a Scar

Nerve-related symptoms around a healed surgical site, including 
hypersensitivity, altered sensation or pain triggered by movement or touch.

Pain that Worsens with Stretching or Movement

Symptoms that increase with specific movements, stretching or load, which may 
indicate scar tethering, restricted tissue glide or altered post-surgical mechanics.

Recurrent Swelling or Stiffness Near a Surgical Site

Intermittent or persistent swelling, tightness or stiffness around a 
previous surgical site that has not fully settled with time or rehabilitation.

Common Questions from Patients

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I still have pain after surgery?

Pain after surgery can persist for many reasons. These may include scar tissue, nerve irritation, neuroma formation, joint overload, altered biomechanics, inflammation, infection, hardware-related issues or incomplete resolution of the original problem. Persistent post-surgical pain should not automatically be dismissed as “normal healing.” In selected cases, targeted imaging can help determine whether there is a visible structural or nerve-related cause.

What is chronic post-surgical pain?

Chronic post-surgical pain is pain that continues beyond the expected healing period after an operation. It may be sharp, burning, aching, pulling, electric, hypersensitive or triggered by movement, pressure or scar contact. It is often more complex than simple tissue injury. Nerve irritation, scar tethering and altered pain processing can all contribute.

Can MRI show the cause of pain after surgery?

MRI can be very useful after surgery, particularly for assessing soft tissues, nerves, muscles, joints, discs, tendons, inflammation, fluid collections and recurrent or residual pathology. However, post-surgical MRI needs careful protocol planning. Metal artefact, scar tissue and altered anatomy can make interpretation difficult unless the scan is tailored to the operation and clinical question.

Can scar tissue cause pain after surgery?

Yes. Scar tissue can sometimes become painful if it tethers tissue, restricts movement, irritates nearby nerves or forms part of a painful scar or neuroma pattern. Imaging may help assess the deeper tissues beneath a scar, particularly when pain is focal, reproducible, worsening, associated with altered sensation or linked to a specific movement.

Can nerve damage after surgery be seen on imaging?

Sometimes. Larger nerves, neuromas, nerve swelling, entrapment, scarring around nerves or denervation changes in muscles may be visible on advanced MRI or high-resolution ultrasound. Not all nerve pain is visible on imaging, but a targeted study can help identify anatomical causes and guide whether further nerve assessment, diagnostic injection or specialist review is appropriate.

What imaging is best for post-surgical pain?

The best imaging depends on the operation and the suspected pain generator. MRI is often preferred for soft tissue, nerve, joint, spine and muscle assessment. CT may be better for bone, hardware, fusion, fractures or complex surgical anatomy. Ultrasound may help assess superficial tendons, scars, collections and some peripheral nerves. At MBR Health, post-surgical imaging is planned around the operation performed, the patient’s symptoms and the structures most likely to be responsible.

Can imaging guide treatment for post-surgical pain?

Yes. Imaging can help determine whether pain is more likely to be coming from a joint, nerve, tendon, scar, implant, bone, disc or soft-tissue structure. In some cases, imaging may also guide targeted diagnostic injections or procedures, helping confirm the pain source before considering further treatment. This is particularly important when symptoms persist despite surgery or when the diagnosis remains unclear.

What is post-surgical pain?

Post-surgical pain refers to pain that persists after the expected healing period following an operation. It may relate to scar tissue, nerve irritation, altered mechanics, incomplete healing or other post-operative structural factors.

Where can I get post-surgical pain imaging on the Gold Coast?

MBR Health provides advanced imaging on the Gold Coast for persistent pain after surgery, scar-related pain, post-operative nerve symptoms and unresolved structural pain patterns.

What is scar tethering?

Scar tethering refers to scar tissue that restricts normal tissue glide or movement. This can create pain, tightness or traction-like symptoms during movement or stretching.

Can surgery irritate a nerve without the operation failing?

Yes. Ongoing pain after surgery doesn’t always mean the procedure didn’t work. In some cases, a nerve can become irritated due to scar tissue, changes in the area, or how the body has healed — even when the main goal of surgery was achieved.

What is NerveView MRI used for after surgery?

NerveView MRI is a specialised scan that helps identify nerve irritation or inflammation that may not show up on standard imaging, especially after surgery where the anatomy has changed.

When should I consider imaging for post-surgical pain?

Imaging may be helpful if pain continues beyond the expected healing time, comes back after improving, limits your movement, involves nerve symptoms like tingling or numbness, or if previous scans haven’t provided clear answers.

Is post-surgical pain imaging focused on diagnosis or treatment?

The focus is on identifying the cause of persistent pain. If imaging identifies a treatable issue, you may then explore image-guided treatment options through our Regenerative & Targeted Therapies pathways.

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