A Journey in Pursuit of Meaning: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study on Living With Post-Operative Shoulder Pain...

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the meaning of post-operative pain for patients following day case shoulder surgery. Eighteen adults with a confirmed diagnosis of shoulder injury who were scheduled for day surgery were recruited purposively. Unstructured interviews were conducted by phone or online, audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Diekelmann's interpretative method. Four constitutive patterns were developed: (1) Suffering perpetually in pain; (2) Overcoming pain; (3) Living in an unfamiliar body; and (4) Communicating and Lacking Essential Information. Pain was often unexpected, unpredictable and disruptive; the body was experienced as "unhomelike" due to temporary dysfunction of the affected limb and enforced dependence on others for daily help. Pain medication regimes and goals were not always understood, nor used as prescribed, though some participants were able to accept and withstand their temporary post-operative pain. Information from healthcare providers was perceived to be of poor quality, causing confusion during the post-operative period. The experience of shoulder pain following day surgery is complex, and one for which most participants were unprepared, suggesting a need for a nursing approach toward pre-operative preparation and post-operative rehabilitation - acknowledging patients' relevant prior experiences, providing clear, concise information, creating pre-operative "shoulder" clubs and facilitating consistent follow-up which is not currently catered for by the current day case model.