Preoperative expectations of pain and recovery in relation to postoperative disappointment in patients undergoing lumbar surgery

OBJECTIVES. In groups of lumbar surgery patients who had different expectations about postoperative pain and recovery, this study investigated disappointment three days and three months after surgery. Our hypothesis was that patients who did not expect any postoperative pain and who expected a fast rate of recovery were at risk of becoming disappointed. METHODS. One day before surgery, 120 patients who underwent lumbar surgery were interviewed about their expectations regarding postoperative pain, rate of recovery, and return to work. Levels of postoperative pain and disappointment were measured three days and three months postoperatively. RESULTS. Patients who did not expect to have any postoperative pain reported significantly less disappointment three days and three months after surgery than did patients who expected to have postoperative pain. No significant differences were found in postoperative disappointment between the groups with different expectations regarding the rate of recovery or the return to work. CONCLUSION. Contrary to our hypothesis, the results suggest that patients who do not expect to experience any postoperative pain will be less disappointed after surgery than patients who expect to be in pain. Implications for the theory of mental preparation and for preoperative intervention strategies aimed at diminishing the stress of surgery are discussed.