Is Lung Transplant Recovery Painful? Dr. Ross Bremner: Like any operation, unfortunately, we can't make these things pain-free. These operations are usually done with an epidural catheter, and that's a little catheter that is placed in your back and it numbs up your chest wall and that catheter stays there for a few days after your surgery. So usually for a few days after surgery, your pain is extremely well controlled and then we have to phase that epidural out and then put you back on to oral medications once you are eating. There is some pain associated with it, but I am actually surprised that it's not a bigger deal than many patients think it is.