How Long Does It Take for My Throat to Stop Hurting After Surgery?

September 30, 2025 •

4 min read

Studies report that up to 90% of patients who undergo general anesthesia with intubation may experience some form of postoperative sore throat. Knowing how long does it take for my throat to stop hurting after surgery? can help you manage your expectations and seek the right relief during your recovery.

Quick Summary

Most post-surgery throat pain, often due to intubation or dehydration, resolves within a few days to a week. Simple home remedies like cold compresses, lozenges, and staying hydrated can provide relief. Persistent or severe symptoms warrant a call to your doctor.

Key Points

Normal Timeline: For most patients, a sore throat caused by intubation or dehydration will improve significantly within 2-3 days and fully resolve within a week.
Common Causes: The main culprits are irritation from a breathing tube (endotracheal tube) used during general anesthesia and dehydration due to pre-operative fasting.
Soothing Remedies: Simple home care, including staying hydrated, consuming cold or warm liquids, gargling with saltwater, and using throat lozenges, can provide effective relief.
Voice Rest: Give your vocal cords a break by limiting talking, especially in the first few days of recovery.
When to Call a Doctor: Seek medical advice if your throat pain is severe, worsens, lasts longer than a week, or is accompanied by fever or difficulty breathing.
Procedure Variations: Recovery timelines can differ based on the type of surgery, with procedures like tonsillectomy potentially causing soreness for a longer period.

Understanding Postoperative Sore Throat (POST)

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common side effect of general anesthesia, particularly when an endotracheal tube (breathing tube) is used. While typically temporary and mild, the scratchy, painful, or hoarse sensation can be an uncomfortable part of the recovery process. The good news is that most cases improve relatively quickly with simple self-care measures.

What Causes the Pain?

Several factors contribute to the irritation that leads to a sore throat after surgery. The primary culprits are related to the process of intubation and the physiological effects of anesthesia.

Intubation: During general anesthesia, a flexible plastic tube (endotracheal tube) is inserted through the mouth and into the windpipe to help you breathe. While this is a standard and safe procedure, the tube can cause irritation and minor trauma to the delicate tissues of the throat, vocal cords, and trachea. The duration of the surgery and the size of the tube used can affect the degree of irritation.
Dehydration: Patients are required to fast before surgery, and often their fluid intake is restricted for a period afterward. This can lead to dehydration, which makes the throat feel dry and scratchy, exacerbating any existing irritation.
Airway Management Devices: In some cases, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA), which sits above the vocal cords, is used instead of a tube inserted into the windpipe. While less invasive, it can still cause some soreness, though it is often less severe and shorter-lived.
Other Factors: The duration of the surgery, the use of suctioning during the procedure, and a patient's individual anatomy and sensitivity can also play a role in the incidence and severity of POST.

The Typical Timeline for Recovery

For most patients, relief from a sore throat after surgery comes within a few days. The healing process typically follows a predictable pattern:

First 24-48 Hours: Discomfort is often most noticeable in the first couple of days after the procedure as the effects of the anesthesia wear off. Pain may feel scratchy or dry, and some patients may experience a mild cough or hoarseness.
Day 3-4: Many people report significant improvement during this period. The initial irritation from the breathing tube subsides, and swallowing becomes less painful. By four days, eating and drinking without difficulty is common for many patients.
Within One Week: For the vast majority of cases, a sore throat will resolve completely within one week. If symptoms persist beyond this timeframe, it may indicate a more serious issue or an underlying infection.
Special Cases: Some procedures, such as a tonsillectomy, involve direct surgery to the throat area. Recovery for these patients is different, and throat pain can last for a week or more as the surgical site heals.

Effective Remedies for Soothing a Sore Throat

Numerous home remedies and over-the-counter options can help manage throat pain and make your recovery more comfortable.

Cold Therapy: Sucking on ice chips, popsicles, or eating ice cream can numb the throat and reduce swelling.
Warm Liquids: Warm tea with honey, broth, or just warm water can have a soothing effect.
Gargles: A saltwater gargle can help reduce inflammation. Use half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle gently multiple times a day.
Throat Lozenges and Sprays: Medicated lozenges containing menthol or benzocaine, or numbing throat sprays, can provide temporary relief from pain.
Rest Your Voice: Limiting talking can prevent further irritation to your vocal cords. This is especially important in the first couple of days.
Use a Humidifier: Adding moisture to the air can help alleviate the dryness that contributes to throat discomfort.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of cool, non-acidic fluids to keep your throat moist. Avoid dehydrating drinks like caffeine and alcohol.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage the general discomfort and inflammation, as long as your doctor has approved them.

Typical Post-Surgical Throat Pain vs. More Serious Issues

To help you determine if your discomfort is normal or requires medical attention, refer to this comparison table.


Feature	Typical Post-Surgical Sore Throat	Potentially Serious Complication
Onset	Occurs immediately after waking up or within the first 24 hours.	Could worsen or appear later, potentially accompanied by other symptoms.
Intensity	Ranges from mild to moderate, often described as scratchy or dry.	Severe, persistent pain that does not improve with time or home remedies.
Duration	Improves steadily and resolves within one week.	Lasts longer than a week or gets progressively worse.
Associated Symptoms	Mild cough, hoarseness, dry mouth.	Fever, chills, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, or neck swelling.
Voice Changes	May be temporarily hoarse but improves daily.	Persistent hoarseness or complete loss of voice.

When to Contact Your Doctor

While post-operative sore throat is rarely a serious issue, it is crucial to contact your surgeon or healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

Your throat pain is severe and not relieved by standard remedies.
The soreness and irritation do not start to improve within a few days or worsen over time.
You develop a fever or chills.
You have increasing difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Your voice is persistently hoarse or you lose your voice completely.

Conclusion

A sore throat after surgery is a very common and usually minor side effect caused primarily by intubation and dehydration. In most cases, the discomfort begins to subside within a few days and is completely gone within a week. By using simple remedies like cold treats, warm liquids, and throat lozenges, you can effectively manage the symptoms and make your recovery period more comfortable. If your pain is severe, lasts longer than a week, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, always err on the side of caution and contact your doctor for further evaluation and advice.

For more information on general health topics, you can refer to the CDC website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common reason for a sore throat after surgery is the endotracheal tube, or breathing tube, that is inserted to help you breathe under general anesthesia. The tube and the instruments used to place it can cause irritation and minor trauma to the delicate tissues in your throat and vocal cords.

In most cases, a sore throat from intubation is mild and temporary. You can expect it to improve within two to three days and disappear completely within one week.

You can find relief with several home remedies. These include drinking plenty of fluids, sucking on ice chips or popsicles, consuming warm liquids like tea with honey, and gargling with warm saltwater.

You should contact your doctor if your sore throat is severe, persists for more than a week, gets progressively worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or significant voice changes.

Yes, over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as well as medicated throat lozenges or sprays, can help relieve the pain and inflammation. However, you should always check with your doctor before taking any medication after surgery.

Temporary hoarseness is a normal side effect following surgery with a breathing tube, as the vocal cords can become irritated. It should show significant improvement within a few days.

Yes, general anesthesia is the primary cause of a sore throat related to intubation. In some cases, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is used, which can cause less severe and shorter-lived discomfort than a traditional endotracheal tube.