Anesthesiology
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Recovery from pain after surgery exhibits large interindividual variability, with very slow recovery equated to chronic pain. Surgical injury in the postpartum period modestly increases initial recovery after major nerve injury. In this study, the authors use a nerve injury that recovers over 2 to 3 months and apply growth curve modeling to further understand the effect of the postpartum period on speed of recovery. ⋯ The authors describe a method of analysis to quantify recovery from hypersensitivity after surgery in rats with several distinct advantages over traditionally used methods. Study results do not support a sex difference in trajectory of recovery but confirm and extend previous observations that injury at the time of obstetric delivery is associated with an abnormally rapid recovery.