Anaesthetic during op

Bones, joints and muscles
1

My consultant advised me that he carries out the THR under a spinal block. 

This makes me feel anxious. Although in the past I have reacted badly to a general anaesthetic, I'm not sure how I feel about a spinal block.

I delivered my twins by Caesarean section with an epidural and didn't cope very well with that. I shook badly throughout the procedure, which I was assured was quite normal, but didn't instil confidence in me. I am worried that I will become panicky during the procedure. Can they give you a sedative too? 

Not thrilled at the prospect of hearing everything that's going on either. 

2

Yes it's usually a spinal block and sedation. Just make sure they know you want to be out and they'll make sure you don't hear a thing. 😊

3

@Kimberley1108. Yes I had a spinal block with sedation on Monday this week for my THR

It turned out great. The sedation is quick to leave you as soon as you want to wake up. I had no lingering effects. I was able to be up walking a few hours later. I was visiting with them smiling in the recovery room. Very glad I had it. Also didn't know a thing that was going on.

4

Hi Kimberley I don't post on here very often, but just thought that I needed to put you at ease. I had my thr 9 weeks ago and felt exactly the same as you. I still didn't know if I could go through with it right up until going down to the theatre! But I did and I am so pleased that I did.

I have always struggled with general anesthetic and I can't believe how different this was. I did have sedation, as I told them I wanted to be asleep. I also took my headphones into theatre just in case,but I don't remember a thing tbh. And the best thing was that when I got back to the ward I was well enough to chat to my hubby and have some food 😊. My best advice is to talk to the anaesthetist, that's what I did and they were brilliant at keeping me calm.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Kay x

5

I'm feeling the same as a general did not agree with me when I had my replacement ankle four years ago and my surgeon said that he would do a spinal with something so that I would be oblivious to what went on...thank goodness!

All the best Richard

6

Yes they give you sedation with spinal. I wound up waking up and could hear hammering and being pushed on. It was for a short time but I became more aware and saw the drape in front of me and then the nurse asked if I was ok. I told her yes and that was the last thing I remember. they put me out again. Good luck and don't worry. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery. Hugs LD

7

My second surgery, dislocated my hip and had to have total hip revision 3 weeks later, it was all anesthesia. Was so sick when came to. Threw up a few times and was very incoherent. First surgery was really sick too. Threw up for a whole day. LD

8

I also told the doctor that I always am sick to my stomach when ever I have a general anesthia and asked for something to prevent it this time. He gave me a patch behind my ear and it worked great. No nausia

9

There is lots of answers on this site about anaesthetic and spinal block.I had bad epidural with my first child so was concerned but the epidural was really a walk in the park and this is the general consensus of opinion.Not too nice when the needle goes in but I stressed very vocally i did not want to see, hear or smell ANYTHING to the anaesthetist and after the needle went in I remember saying so when are you going to put me to sleep?In a minute he said...next thing I was in recovery.It really is just going to sleep and if you make it clear you dont feel a thing. No tube down throat or nausea from GA..Really good, they just m ake u nod off and when the op is over they just withdraw the drug and you wake up.you wont rergret it! good luck x

10

I had a spinal with something to relax me. Fell asleep. Remember only the anesthesiologist saying this might pinch and that was it. Woke up in recovery with no problem and no memory of a thing. Once I got to the ward a nurse told me not to eat anything right away so I didnt. By dinner I was fine for food just very tired. Wouldn't change it for anything. Best to you!

11

Hi Kimberley

I can only speak from my experience but I had my second c/section by epidural and shook throughout (had a general for the first, it was an emergency). I had epidural and sedation for my hip replacement which was fantastic. I had no shakes, no post- op sickness so I will def go for that again when I have the other hip op. I took the advice of the Consultant and Anaesthetist and was very content. Not bending forward for the epidural was certainly easier too when not pregnant!!

Do speak to your Consultant as am sure he will be able to reassure and talk you thru it all.

Best wishes.

Good l

12

I had a spinal with sedation 4 weeks ago. It was fantastic. I fell asleep in the operating room. They brought me round on the op table at the end of the op. In recovery for only 20 mins and having a sandwich in my room half an hour later. No after effects and the lack of feeling in hip and leg for several hours post op was a blessing!

Definitely much kinder than a general and no nausea for me at all.

Good luck.

Sam

13

hi kimberley, 

there are many advantages to aving a spinal and sedation and definitely preferred by doctors .. however, I absolutley did not want to feel, hear, smell anything and just thinking about a spinal made me anxious - so I asked for GA - just to have the choice calmed me down -

perhaps I am lucky - I had 2 THR surgeries, both with GA - took a deep breath, openend my eyes and was done ... no nausea - just some whooziness which I actually enjoyed - no numbness in legs, no catheter - 

Big warm hug

renee

 

14

Hi Kimberley, as you I was worried about the spinal block and sedation. I was sure I would hear what was going on...spoke to the a aesthetist about this...the result was once the he was dire the spinal block was working ( they keep asking what you can feel etc) then I was sedated.... didn't even know... woke up after it was all over. Felt fine. Could chat no drowsiness as with a general anesthetic ... really impressed..hate general anesthetic they make you feel awful and takes so long to get out on your system. Trust them. They do this all the time. Good luck. Relax...

15

Sorry about spelling.. the iPad changes words when you least expect it.. I didn't check it out before posting oops

16

They gave me spinal for both my hip surgeries, with sedation.

The second hip replacement, they gave me some propofol to help me, very short acting general with no side effects.

Interesting that when I had my first hip replacement I was in a hospital study group, they were looking into the differences between general and spinal. Questions were post surgery, were you awake, how did you feel, did you have congestion in your lungs, did you have any pain, and on and on went the questions. 2nd day after surgery same questions, and again 3rd day. I was in hospital for about 5 days for my first hip surgery, as I had big problems with a reaction to the morphine they gave me, was throwing everthing up even water, When I was awake enough after sedation and some of effects of morphine wore off, I started asking questions as to why they had even given me morphine when I had warned them I had a bad reaction to it, the best they could do was shrug their shoulders, oversight.

2nd time for hip surgery when I was being interviewed by the chemist prior to surgery, I am about to tell them that I have a big problem with morphine, when they said we want to tell you we will not be using morphine on you this time around, as you ended up being in the hospital much longer than we intended.  DUHHHHH.

Very annoying, but still well covered for pain with fentanol, worked as well as morphine with no side effects for me, in hospital 36 hours 2nd time around.

At that point I started asking questions about the study, and they where kind enough to show me their results they had to date in a graphed chart, even I could see the differences, they were huge in the patients favour.

Its a case of ask for help to get you through any panicky feelings about spinal procedure, its really a very simple procedure, for hips, for pregnant ladies alot more diffucult, bending up double with a big tummy not so easy.

17

i had one of these during a leg op last year i had developed an ulcer which had got all nasty and infected. they took me into surgery and just gave me a epidural.. i too was nervous and as my legs started to go numb i got very panicky. but within miniutes i relaxed. i had a wonderful nurse sat with me and she chatted and laughed away with me. i didnt care afetr a while and just kept thinking this will all be over in a bit and then i can finally go home.. im positive you can also request a sedative as i drive elderly people around in a mini bus and a lot of my passengers have had ihip replacements. not one has said to me dont do it... they all tell me to go ahead if i want my life back.. and they all are much better for having it done. several have had the spinal block and they were sedated.. hope this helps 

18

Hi, I had spinal with sedation. Told my surgeon I didn't really want to hear it all, he said I don't blame you! I felt a bit of pain in my hand as the anaesthetic went in through the canula, then nothing. Next thing was the surgeon telling me that it had all gone well. I was having lunch an hour later, and went to the loo independently a few hours after that using a walker. The whole experience was so much better than I was expecting.

19

Hi Kimberly

 as one who did wake up, having had an epidural and sedation, I found it hilarious. Possibly this was down to the sedation,  however I could hear the surgeon banging away and knew instantly what he was doing, I felt nothing just this bemusement and called  out  hello I'm here, nothing happened, so I shouted hello again and again wanted to break out  giggling when the anaesthetist 's  Face filled my vision and his eyes were huge, that was the last thing I remembered  until coming round in my bed so I guess he zapped  me  pretty good after that. I am basically stating that even if your worst nightmare happens, under sedation, still have the ability to let them know and at no time do you feel any pain. I dine out on this story quite a lot

regards Dot

20

Hi, I'm due thr in 2 weeks and I've forgotten to ask what they use but having read all the answers you've got I'm up for the spinal. I wasn't before as like you I had a bad cesarean experience but it actually sounds like the better option. Mind you I'm having stuff done on the house at the mo and it's been so stressful that I'm actually looking forward to going into hospital!! When is your op? Good luck x