Anytime they cut they damage nerves. The worst is when they have to go through large muscle tissue. I am steel from neck to butt. Nerve damage permanent in my legs and in my fingers. Chronic pain from it ... It stops me from doing nothing but I can say it is a struggle for sure sometimes. Pain after surgery is typically very strong when big muscles are cut as they had to do here. That causes a lot of pain. The heavy duty pain meds are the only thing that will quiet it down. Once pain gets a hold of you it is very hard to break the cycle. When my neck went out and they cut through my throat to place the plates and rods I literal scream into a pillow until I passed out. I tried to cowboy the after surgery stuff, once it got a hold of me morphine didn't work until I was completely out ... I only say this because I sure know bad pain. They key is to control it before it goes out of hand. I would make them get the oxycotin and make them give it to her right now. Nothing else is going to work .. Hydrocodne (lortab) will only bind her up and and make her dizzy but will do little. Oxycotin will work but long term use is terrible. She only needs it until she heals .. I am very concerned here ... That needle thing really set the pain in motion and only the strong stuff will work. Oxycotin will not wack her, it will only take it away. That and ice is the key. Make the docs give her that med