I had a spinal with sedation. Never felt a thing and woke up fresh as a daisy.
yes a general is the safer of two options.
My problem was the painkillers.They made me I'll. It took almost to months to get my eating back.Stomach was really affected.I had epidural and something to put me under. Knee is progressing well 135 degrees. Had it done Jan. 5. Good luck. At least you know what your in for.
Wow, I guess I'm very fortunate. Had left PKR two years ago and right TKR eight weeks ago today. No spinals for me! Big chicken. Had general for both, as well as two colonoscopies (tmi) under, I think, propafal (sp.) I had absolutely no after effects. No headache, nausea, hangover or pain. Woke up feeling like I had a great nap. Might have a discussion with your anesthesiologist prior to surgery. Pain blocker lasted a good 24 hours and they saw to it with other IV drugs that I didn't get behind the pain curve. So sorry to hear of bad results.
Pain meds made me sick also so just took paracetamol in the end for the pain. Right knee really good, hopefully left will be the same.
Hi Tracy, In the area I live in, I was told I would have no choice but an epidural for a knee replacement. I need my two knees done. I am a bit wary of having the operation as I am a carer to my daughter who has severe M.E. and If anything went wrong she has no one else to help her.If I did get my knees done I think I would prefer a general anaesthetic, but it's not an option.
An epidural is a much safer option. It is much easier on your entire body. General will affect your entire body while the epidural will only affect the lower portion. It is also eaiser to recover from.
The biggest reason it is safer/better is because you are breathing on your own. With general, you have to have the tube stuck down your throat in order to breathe.
Of course it has its own side effects but they are much better than general anaestheics.
I can't have an epidural, they don't work on me. My first knee I used general and nerve block. Second knee I went without the block. Pain was more doable without the block. That's just me tho. I had done a good job of getting my leg muscles ready for surgery too. I felt that with the block that when Iit wore off the pain was just miserable all at once. Without the block it was less intense. Good Luck. Let me know how it goes.
Hi Mary
I am 7 weeks and still get lot of pain
What is it like for you
I get so upset and frustrated
L
I had an epidural. They kept me sedated throughout. It was the best. I was scared at first but I was advised by the anethesiast that general is hard on the whole body, lungs, heart etc. Just try it.
An old friend who is a surgeon herself suggested I'd find it very interesting to be awake during my TKR and that the orthopaedic surgeon could talk me through it. I like a challenge and had had two pleasant and relaxing cataract ops, so it was worth considering the prospect. I'm a nurse myself and have worked in theatres, so I wasn't scared as such, but the idea of noisy drilling and sawing and hammering bits were definitely off putting! Often surgery is a refined and delicate process, but orthopaedics isn't. I don't think ear plugs or music would've been much help.
The dilemma resolved because I wasn't suitable for spinal anaesthesia. Of course, there isn't that nice nerve block effect with general anaesthesia, but they did use a lot of long acting local anaesthetic at the op site and that kept me comfortable overnight and some of the next day. Day 2 was grimmer, but I noticed that other patients found it sore then, irrespective of anaesthetic method. Not sure type of anaesthetic made much difference to our postoperative pain by then.
As long as you're asleep and they manage your pain afterwards, modern anaesthetics are pretty safe.
I too wasn't suitable for the spinal tap which was discovered 5 minutes before he was going to injection my spine.
He then it would be better to give me a general.
It as ok when I came round - I didn't feel sick at all.
Hi Tracey l had spinal anaesthetic 12 wks ago you are not aware of anything as they put a drip in hand l don't even remember it being done,they prefer the spinal because they say it will help with the pain when you come round. Good luck keep posting.
And no sickness .
Hi l had spinal brilliant and it gives you a few hours of pain relief after, like previous follower one second l was lying on table they did something on my hand sat me up the next thing l remember is waking up in recovery all done.
Tracy,
i am am in the states. I had 2 nerve blocks and then they put me out for surgery. My nerve blocks back of leg lasted 24 hours...front of leg above knee was what they called a pain ball...continuous numbing med t
they removed it the day I left hospital...2 days after surgery. Then pain meds every 4 hours too.
Hi Tracy
I had a spinal block and a light sedation with my TKR. I was so scared that I would wake during my surgery and hear things. I did wake during the surgery but I don't remember a thing.
I woke up without any nausea and pain. Hope all goes well for you for your second TKR.
Hi, Pam,
Big chicken me would have nothing to with an epidural. Had. PKR two years ago and a total 9 weeks ago. Both under general anesthesia. I believe I was given propafal (sp.) both times ( and two colonoscopies but that's TMI) but all times awoke after having a great nap. No headache, no nausea, no after effects. You may need to have more conversation with the anesthesiologist. Don't be afraid to ask questions. As to the pain afterward- the nerve block works as well as the other meds
Hi Tracy!
If you don't have any physical problems with general anesthesia I DEFINITELY would recommend that route!
I had a spinal with my second child, and I was 100% awake and aware of EVERYTHING. For a birth that is GREAT. Listening to them sawing bones and banging around INSIDE your knee....UH...NO! I would NOT want any part of THAT!
For both of my TKRs I was under, WAAAY under. That was a VERY GOOD THING in my opinion!
Cheryl, when you have a spinal with TKR you are not awake during the surgery. They also give you a sedative (like the dentist gives you for an extraction), so you are not aware of anything until after the surgery.
Tim the CPA