Study reveals clues to chronic pain after kidney surgery

This completed study looked at 204 patients who had a kidney removed (nephrectomy) to find out what factors might lead to chronic pain lasting months or years after surgery. Researchers measured pain levels at 1 hour, 3 months, and 1 year after the operation using a simple 0-to-10 pain scale. The goal was to identify high-risk patients and understand how things like age, smoking, and painkiller use affect long-term pain.