How painful is the after-surgery?

Cochlear implant surgery is not very painful and most report that it is only a mild to moderate pain. The first day or two are typically the most uncomfortable, but oral pain treatments prescribed following surgery typically do a good job of controlling this discomfort and patients are not left to suffer through it.

Most patients stay in the hospital for a day or two after the procedure, mainly to allow the medical team to monitor initial recovery before heading home. After discharge, the pain gradually begins to subside from the first few days and by the end of the first week, most people notice a significant decrease in pain.

However, if the pain appears to be worsening rather than improving, or hasn't improved over 2-3 days; this should be pointed out to the treating doctor rather than waiting. If the pain is not along these lines, then one should visit the doctor so that the treating surgeon can examine and look for the cause of the increase or prolonged pain.

The recovery from Cochlear implant surgery is relatively easy for the majority of patients, but everyone has a different pain threshold, and excessive or long-lasting pain does not happen to all patients. Medications and activity during the healing process are as important as doing as your doctor tells you to do to keep discomfort to a minimum.