Exparel and Pain: What Users Say

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2020

For Pain "I was given a 266 mg injection during foot surgery to provide up to 96 hrs of pain relief. I was unprepared for it to only last 18 hrs. To say it was a disappointment is an understatement. I woke at 4 a.m. in terrible pain that took hours to control using opioids that I’d hoped to delay, if not avoid. I will say it worked well for the initial 18 hrs though."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2019

For Pain "I was given this drug Exparel for post-surgical pain for a pelvic reconstruction. It did not work at all. I woke up in so much pain I couldn't breathe and thought I would have a heart attack waiting for the morphine to kick in. Please don't let them talk you into this, it is a useless drug that won't help you."

• Mee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2021

For Pain "I had surgery in the summer, and my surgeon used Exparel to reduce pain, but it made it a whole lot worse. I couldn’t even walk for 4 days, and I ended up in the ER because of my reaction. Almost 6 months later, I am still very traumatized by this."

• Did...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2022

For Pain "I had lipo 360 and fat transfer to my hips. I was given Exparel, but as soon as I woke up, I was in horrible pain. It did not work for me at all. Such a disappointment and waste of money. I will say it has worked for many of the people who’ve had the same procedure done. I wish I was able to experience the same thing. The only thing that helped was the opioid prescribed to me."

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2021

For Pain "I’m 27 years old with a high pain tolerance. I had a total robotic hysterectomy. Exparel was given prior to my surgery while I was still awake. The administration was *extremely* painful, I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t because I was so doped out on fentanyl while they were injecting/stapling my abdomen over and over! It was a nightmare. I woke up from surgery in awful pain. They knocked me out with some kind of medication several times because I was crying out. I still don’t have any feeling at all in my upper abdomen, and it’s been 4 days. I would not say this medication is worth it, it didn’t help at all."

• MZa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2021

For Pain "Was given Exparel for shoulder surgery along with another block. I was told it would last up to 96 hours. Following surgery, when I woke up, I experienced breakthrough pain and was given Fentanyl before leaving the surgery center. I was home by 11:00 and still experiencing pain, so I took my prescribed Dilaudid. Less than 11 hours after surgery, the block had completely worn off. I experienced significant pain (10/10) that night and the next morning. The surgery center called, and after speaking with me about my pain, suggested I call my doctor, who then prescribed morphine sulfate (immediate release), which is now helping. Haven’t had a BM since Sunday (and this is Wednesday). Worked no better for me than my normal block (I’ve had 9 wrist/hand surgeries, and this is my 10th surgery in my torso area). 1/10. Not a good experience."

• MZa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2021

For Pain "Was given Exparel for shoulder surgery along with another block. I was told it would last up to 96 hours. Following surgery, when I woke up, I experienced breakthrough pain and was given Fentanyl before leaving the surgery center. I was home by 11:00 and still experiencing pain, so I took my prescribed Dilaudid. Less than 11 hours after surgery, the block had completely worn off. I experienced significant pain (10/10) that night and the next morning. The surgery center called, and after speaking with me about my pain, suggested I call my doctor, who then prescribed morphine sulfate (immediate release), which is now helping. Haven’t had a BM since Sunday (and this is Wednesday). Worked no better for me than my normal block (I’ve had 9 wrist/hand surgeries, and this is my 10th surgery in my torso area). 1/10. Not a good experience."

• Vis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2023

For Pain "266 mg Exparel. Bilateral inguinal hernia. From recovery room to 24 hours later, my pain has been 8-9 out of 10. Had to ask for a painkiller immediately in recovery. Another (opioid) before leaving the surgical center. By the time I got home, I could barely walk from pain. I would never use this med again. I had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery 2 years ago. Extra strength Tylenol. This laparoscopic procedure, which was less invasive, I've had 4-5 times the pain. I believe Exparel contributed somewhat to it."

• atd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2024

For Postoperative Pain "I love it. I had a tummy tuck today, and although there is pain because they had to cut out a fairly large area, the majority of my pain is coming from my sides where I had the lipo. Not the tummy, because of this medicine. It's a miracle worker. If I ever have another surgery, this is 100% needed. But I have no idea how it would help a tooth. The jaw, on the other hand, makes sense. He also put it directly into my muscles, so that helps a lot."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2023

For Pain "I was given Exparel for abdominal surgery, and it worked great. However, 12 hours later, the effects wore off, and I was in extreme pain. Does the $3 generic last 8 hours? Not worth it. I had a max dose."

• ABC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2021

For Pain "I had Exparel administered during my wisdom teeth removal, and its effect was/is truly magical. I had 4 teeth removed, for more context. I had some pain post-op on the first day, and very tolerable pain the second and third day. I’m on my fourth day and the pain is virtually nonexistent. I have been taking ibuprofen as directed, which I’m sure helps, but my recovery experience has been far, far smoother than anyone else I’ve known who has had the procedure done and had not used Exparel. I’m so happy I didn’t have to take an opioid and that it was so effective on its own."