Hi I am 32 and have my first hip replacement on Wednesday , I am starting to get nervous , I am having it done under epidural and sedation and not too sure what to expect , had to stop some pain meds due to increased risk of bleeding so I am suffering a lot!!!
Can't wait to feel normal again , at least in one leg , I have to have both done .
Just wanting some feedback from you guys that have had it done
Many thanks in advance 😊
Hi Rachael, no worries honestly. I had mine done last Wednesday and I would have the same again, anytime. They talk you through it every step of the way. It is a funny sensation but not unpleasant at all. I would rather that than a general any day. Once they are sure that everything is in place and numb where it should be, you just doze off. I woke once and told the anaesthetist off because I thought he was asleep lols, next thing , it was over and it's recovery for a while. It was the best op I have had, I have nothing but praise for the caring staff. You will be fine and soon home again. I came home Saturday, and each day feel a bit stronger. Good Luck, and just think, you will be able to enjoy life again. xx
Hi Rachel, I've had 2 hip replacements the first many years ago under general anaesthetic and epidural and two weeks ago the second with just an epidural.
I was worried about just the epidural but I thought it was ok. You can not feel any pain at all. Your body moves a bit when they are fiddling about and you can hear and smell what's going on. I didn't have sedation just a blanket as I was really cold and a sheet over my head so you don't have to see anything. I did feel a bit sick with the epidural but they injected antisickeness stuff and it passed. You are clamped in on your side and I was able to almost to close my eyes and relax and feel more like an observer. The anaesthetist did ask if I wanted to go to sleep once they had started so I presume you can still have that option. I would have just epidural again as the recovery is much speedier. After a few minutes in the recovery room I was drinking a lovely cup of tea whereas a lady who had a general the op before me was still looking woozy.
Don't worry about the op itself you won't feel anything during the op and will feel like you have had a long sleep. You won't wake up feeling sick like you would after having a General anaesthetic. You will be back in your bed before you know it. I was eating a main meal a few hours after the op. Previous experience with different ops you feel ill for several days and don't always feel like eating.
You will have certain level of pain and discomfort but that is because you have had major operation. Your body will take time to heal don't expect too much it takes up to a year to fully heal but obviously the major hurdles are the first 3 - 6 months. You will find that you need a lot of sleep sometimes in the day for the first few weeks. Everyone heals differently so don't worry if you feel that you are not reaching goals at the same time as others. You do have youth on your side. Good luck and just take advantage of idle time reading or catching up with a good film. Take care Rachel.
dear rachael ... welcome to this wonderful forum ... you ncouldn't have coe to a better place .... I am so sorry to hear how much in pain you are ...it is so normal to feel nervous ... i was a nervous wreck and it didn;t matter how people (who never had this kind of surgery) were telling me that they heard how easy it all is ... I had general anestesia( personal choice) but many here on this forum had spinal ... I am sure they will tell you about their experience.... lots of strenght and big hug .... come back here, okay -
Hi Rachel!
I am 6 weeks post op and had mine with an epidural and sedation
I was scared to death before surgery.
But the last thing I remember is saying goodbye to my family and then woke up in recovery!
I was even asleep for the epidural!
Good luck to you!
Hopefully this forum and the wonderful people here will ease your mind.
Hello Rachael. I am 66 and had spinal with sedation. Was unaware of getting the spinal jab. Surgeon preferred me to be slightly sedated as there was a great risk of a fracture due to state of bones. Guess he may have cursed a bit if that happened and would not want me to hear!!!
Anyway it did not and woke up refreshed ready for visitors and snacks
Better than a general which takes a few weeks to l
Hi Rachel , I had a double hip replacement done nearly 8 weeksa go .I had general and spinal due to being on the table for longer . Did'nt feel sick after and was able to eat tea and toast soon after I woke and back on ward . Dont be afraid to just having spinal and sedation , from what everyone says it's no where near as bad as it sounds . Did you you have the option of having two done at once ? It is hard work but I am driving by now and going round the house unaided . You are young so recovery should be pretty good for you . Good luck on Wednesday and keep us posted , regards Ruth
Hello Rachael. All of the reassuring thoughts above are quite true. My op was five days ago. I did not have sedation and was fully awake. This means that you do have to help by sitting in the right position as the spinal anaesthetic is given, (with your own kindly nurse talking you through it). It isn't painful, so when they ask you to relax, you really can. I found the operation a very interesting experience. It helps me to appreciate the level of skill and teamwork that goes into these life-changing treatments. I felt well when I went into the hospital and I felt just as well (in myself) all through the experience and during my two days in the ward. There was no feeling that I was ill at all. Soreness around the wound is much less than you would expect, especially when you are aware of what they have done. Good luck.
Hi Rachael,
you will be well prepared before you go down to theatre having had a chat with the ward nurses, anaesthetist and your surgeon. You will know exactly what they are going to do and they will talk you through every step of the way. They try to keep a very informal manner whilst making sure you are comfortable with what they are doing. I had spinal block and sedation and took some headphones with me. However, once they had completed the spinal block, had got me on the table ready for the surgeon and checked all my leg for sensation, the anaesthetist who had put a line in my hand earlier, just put in some sedation and popped my headphones on. Next thing I remember is them getting me off the operating table and putting a warm blanket over me (bit like being in a spa)! Half an hour or so in recovery and then back to the ward. Felt a bit sleepy still but soon ready for a cuppa and a slice of toast.
read a few of the blogs on here because the operation itself really isn't too bad but do prepare yourself for feeling some discomfort after the op - just remember all the muscles they have to cut and the tendons they have to move around I suppose it makes sense that it will take a while to settle down. I am day 10 today and just starting to feel like my leg is my own and is doing as it should be!
good luck with the op and your recovery.
take care
Rachel you will be fine. Have a chat to the anaesthetist beforehand and tell him of any fears you have. I had mine done 2 weeks ago and had a spinal too. After talking it over, the anaesthetist gave me a needle in the back of my hand, then put the spinal in my back - the next I knew I woke up and they were telling me it was all over! It only felt like minutes later and I have no recollection of even lying down. The first thing that you realise is that you have no pain whatsoever. I was tucking into a sandwich about an hour later. Any discomfort you feel when the spinal wears off will be well managed but mine was just that - discomfort. I found this forum great for knowing what to ask and also what to take with me. Good luck for Wednesday x
Hi Rachael
I joined this forum just before my op 13 weeks ago because I was so scared I nearly backed out.
After listening to to what others had to say I realised that most people are scared, it's human nature! I can honestly say that for me, 13 weeks post op, it's the best thing I have ever done.
Like you I had spinal & sedation & the staff at my hospital were wonderful. They are used to people being scared & there really is no need. Ok there is some post op pain afterwards but nothing compared to what I had before.
It it must be awful for you needing this at such a young age but I'm sure you will be much better after the op.
keep us all updated, we will still be here.x
Hi
I don't know many people who have an operation who don't feel anxious before the event but the spinal anaesthetic is very good. Just tell the anaesthetist that you want to be sedated and you won't know anything about it. It's just a bit of a slow recovery but if you follow the instructions given you will recover.
Good luck. Hilary
Hi Rachael! Wishing you all the best! Think positive thoughts! And you will get there! Regards Amanda
I had light sedation and an epidural. The sedation was given first and I knew no more until the anaesthetist was waking me up. I felt fine. They put a nice warm blanket over me in the recovery room and after half an hour the feeling came back in my legs and then it was tea and toast. No fuzzy head feeling and no after effects. You will be fine, don't worry. Good luck.
Thank you all so much for the kind words and reassurance , very much appreciated x
Good luck - If I had found this forum before my op 2 weeks ago I would have been much reassured by all the posts about epidurals!
Hi Rachael!
I had an epidural with sedation.
I knew of nothing from the time I said good-bye to my family until I woke up in recovery.
Good luck!
Hi, I was able to choose my level of sedation, (I chose high!) with my spinal, I'm sure you will be given the option also, it's actually quite a nice warm feeling going down your legs when it goes in, just like your getting into a lovely warm bath! Then I knew nothing more until I woke up, beats a general every time I think xxx
Good luck rachael ....come back here after your surgery and tell us all about it ! God bless !