Hi all
Due to have THR on Monday ceramic on ceramic. All seems to have come around very quickly, really nervous but looking forward to getting my life back at 39 years old.
Live at home with a young family.
Any advice for pre and post op welcome and your take on being awake or asleep for it as I'm in two minds.
Thanks and looking forward to your replies
Hi Mark. Oh wow op on Monday. Hip pain will be gone. As you are still young and with a young family I imagine you're fit enough to get through this with a quick recovery so long as you don't run before you can walk !!!!
I am 61 yrs young and 6 weeks post op. Walking unaided with no pain or limp. Able to drive, sleep on both sides and have been doing light (ish) work on our allotment over last 2 weeks.
Anyway to your question. I wanted the spinal injection because it gives you pain relief for a while after op. As I had a very bad cataract op last year with just local I also wanted to be asleep. I had watched a video of op on YouTube and knew it is a very 'noisy' op. My surgeon allowed me to have both. Don't think I had much GA as I wasn't drowsy. I was operated on 3pm til 4.10pm and was in ward eating sandwiches and chatting to my other half at 5.15pm.
There are plusses for both I just was adamant I wanted to know nothing.
Hope your op goes well and you have a good recover
Sandra
Hello Mark I have my thr Tuesday....i too am very nervous ...but who would,nt be. I,'ve been told I,'ll have spinal and also be asleep. Def do,nt want to be awake for op at all. A friend of mine had hers this way and Dec says it's the way to go. Good luck and wish you a speedy recovery.
Mark, I am now 5 month Post THR and I elected to have the spinal as well as be put to sleep. I had to go in for a re-stich surgery 4 days after my THR and they gave me General Anesthetic because they could not do a spinal so quickly after the first surgery. Was very painful coming out until they gave me drugs for pain. I recommend going to sleep. Hope all works well and you will be good as new before you know it.
Mark
Hello Mark. I know you're nervous, but from my experience the worries far exceeded the actual event! I had been advised that I would have a spinal block with twilight sleep. When I was finally able to wake up I found out that I had been given a GA. I have yet to find out why, but I will ask the surgeon at my next appointment. The GA knocked me for a loop and the nurse could not get me up out of bed until the next day. I think the spinal block is the way to go.
Mark, most of us went with the spinal and some sort of anesthesia. I had a kind of twilight sleep where you're really neither awake nor asleep but you don't remember much of anything. You will really enjoy getting your life back and becoming pain free, I know I have. I'm 7 weeks post op now and I hardly even can tell I just had the major surgery such a short time ago. It'll take several months to really feel back to normal and it seems to be different for everyone. Hopefully yours will be another success story like mine has been! Best of luck to you!
I had a spinal. Not awake.
Hi mark I'm almost 4 weeks in from total hip replacement, had a spinal also was asleep, everyone is different, the best thing is no pain, wishing you all the best.
I had a spinal and light sedation, felt fine when I woke up. My best advice is start taking the laxatives they offer straight away - morphine causes constipation which you can manage without !! 🚽
I felt same as you Mark. Had bilateral total hips 4 weeks ago now. Anaesthetist told me having a spinal gives more options for pain relief after. I had spinal with sedation and didn't know a thing. Went into theatre at 7.45 and was sitting up in recovery by 10.10 having had both hips done! Other benefits from having spinal with sedation is that you come round v quickly, and have good pain relief which lasts til next day. I too was sitting up having lunch and stood within a few hours of surgery. Have a chat with your anaesthetist on the day. Some places don't seem to offer physio as standard. I saw one each day until discharge and followed exercises etc. I should ask about physio when you are admitted - each consultant has their preferred protocol in terms of rehab.
After your op - if you are offered pain relief - take it! You may not feel much pain when in bed and not moving, but you will do when you move about so best to get some on board at least half an hour before getting up. I could go on and i'm sure lots of people on here have given you good advice and tips - you may feel overwhelmed by it all. Ask any questions of us that you want and ask when you are admitted too. The very best of luck to you. BTW - i am walking around house unaided and use 1 stick when out. I drive and take dog out (not on lead - drive to field and let her out)- lovely to be mobile again. 😊 keep us posted! 😊
Hi. I'd be guided by your anaesthetist. I had an operation cancelled on the day of surgery and the anaesthetist for that advised spinal with sedation. The anaesthetist for the rescheduled operation advised spinal and GA on the basis that there was a lot of carpentry involved with the operation and it was better I didn't know about this!!
Mark,
I elected to be awake for my operation. I didn't see a thing of what was going on - they put up screens to reduce the infection risk. It was fun chatting to the anasthetist though, he was a great guy. Didn't feel a thing, and was ready for a cuppa immediately I was wheeled into my room following initial recovery.
It is a noisy operation, when they are cutting the head of the femur off etc., and you can hear them screwing and tapping the ceramic parts into place (except they misplaced them for me )
Graham
hi mark ---
I noticed that you posted your 1st discussion 2 years ago ... wow, how did you do these last 2 years ...
that must have been a tough decision -
Have you read Graham's (aka Rocketman) web site ? https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-then scroll down to A Layman's guide ... 487147 -
I chose GA for both surgeries - did not want to take any chances to smell, hear or feel anything -
Pain meds were injected in wound (or something like that), so did not wake up with pain - no catheter and had feeling in both legs .. except for some drowsiness I felt fine -
I just took a deep breath , opened my eyes and was done ...
please keep us posted and come back here any time okay ---
big warm hug
renee
Hi Mark you will be fine I am just one year post tlhr and doing really well
I myself had a leg block and g a, no pain at all after op just a little uncomfy
where scar was but no problem after the years of bone on bone pain.
I would have the nerve block and g a again no sickness or other side effects
after ,remember to rest well as well as doing exercises after op ,you will sleep
lots at first this is when a lot of healing is done.
I wish you all the best try not to worry.big hugs from UK 😷🙋
Hi, I had spinal with sedation, didn't hear or feel a thing, was woken up when it was over by the surgeon saying that it had all gone really well. Lunch an hour later. Wishing you all the best, Judith