None of us like pain or like getting a surgery, and we can all agree that we want as little pain as possible after any necessary surgery. This research suggests that getting our vitamin D levels checked and optimized before needing surgery, despite what a recent mainstream medical association said (see links at end). Optimizing our health before a surgery would seem to make perfect sense, but we need to know what optimal looks like. In this case, getting vitamin D3 above 30 in women having a mastectomy appeared helpful in lowering their need for pain meds post-op.
Study on Post-Op Mastectomy Pain
In a group of women having a mastectomy for breast cancer, researchers measured levels of vitamin D and then tracked their used of either tramadol or fentanyl for pain control after the surgery. They looked at vitamin D, as it was known to not only affect bone health but also influence inflammation and immune function, systems involved in pain perception. Out of 184 women in the study, about half had levels below 30 while half were above 30. They monitored the women at 6,12,18, and 24 hours post operation.
While none of the patients reported severe pain (pain over 7 on 1-10 scale), there was a marked difference in the moderate pain ratings (4-6 on the scale). The moderate pain ratings for those with vitamin D above 30 was clearly better. This difference was further reflected in the lower need for the tramadol pain medication. Post-op nausea rates were also slightly higher in the D-deficient group.
Caring for Patients Right Now
Although this study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, it definitely calls for more research. They did not attempt to find the actual mechanisms of how vitamin D might lower pain, but obviously we suspect Vitamin D’s known anti-inflammatory effects. The mechanisms and confirmation of this correlation are needed, but given the benign nature of vitamin D therapy, we shouldn’t wait on applying this to current patients undergoing surgeries. Helping our patients live healthier, more abundant lives includes lowering pain and improving outcomes of surgeries with the knowledge we already possess.
Other Articles On Vitamin D:
Original Article:
Mahdy Ahmed Abdelhady, Maged Labib Boulos, Mohamed Ahmed Hamed, Doha Hamad Masry, Safaa Gaber Ragab, Mohamed Hasan Ragab. Association between preoperative vitamin D level and postoperative pain in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: a prospective observational study. Regional Anesthesia, 2026; rapm-2025-107495 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2025-107495
Thanks to Science Daily:
BMJ Group. “Scientists discover strange link between low vitamin D and pain.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 September 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914042053.htm>.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
Dr. Eric Potter graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and then went on to specialize in internal medicine (adult) and pediatric care, spending significant time and effort in growing his medical understanding while caring for patients from all walks of life.
