Objective To investigate the effectiveness of time-point matching preventive analgesia based on pain trajectory in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer. Methods A total of 67 patients admitted from April to June 2023 were assigned into the control group, who received routine postoperative analgesia, and another 68 patients admitted from July to September 2023 were assigned into the experimental group, who received time-point matched preventive analgesia based on pain trajectory. After the intervention, the two groups were compared in terms of postoperative pain, time to first mobilization, duration of chest drainage tube indwelling, length of hospitalization, and satisfaction with analgesia. Results The incidence rates of moderate and severe pain in the experimental group were 30.88% versus 50.75% in the control group, respectively, with median pain duration of 1(0,2)d versus 1(0,2)d, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 for both). The experimental group had significantly shorter time to first mobilization, shorter duration of chest drainage tube indwelling, and higher satisfaction with analgesia compared to the control group (P<0.05 for all). There was no statistical difference in postoperative hospitalization days between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Time-point matched preventive analgesic intervention based on pain trajectory can achieve precise analgesia, improve comfort level and the quality of analgesia in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer.