Spinal Block

anon87974465 · July 28, 2019, 4:46pm

Hi
Reading up on the choices ,
How painful is the Spinal block also
what does it feel like getting the operation without sedation,

Any information would be great as it helps me understand better what to expect

Cheers
Billy

nh_user_1201903 · July 28, 2019, 5:12pm

Hi there
Due to circumstances i had a GA and to be honest that would be what i would prefer. Out to the count from the word go and awake once over. GAs are fairly safe and very effective.

nh_user_1246175 · July 28, 2019, 5:20pm

The spinal block was brilliant with mild sedation. Just fall asleep. absolutely brilliant. hardly any pain at all. it was amazing. I would avoid the general anaesthetic. I was advised the pain would be worse first night if I had taken that option

nh_user_1236633 · July 28, 2019, 5:21pm

I had both hips replaced at the same time
on 24th June this year. i had both spinal (not painful at just - you just have to sit in an awkward position and stay absolutely still) and the GA. Not sure i would want to be awake for the op but its an individual choice

anon87974465 · July 28, 2019, 5:23pm

Hi, I had the spinal block when I had mine done in 2015 but was sedated completely so that I was completely out of it. Didn’t feel a thing and actually thought I was just woken up again after 5 minutes. I believe the spinal block with sedation means that you do not have the groggy after effects of a general anaesthetic. Hope this helps, I did not want to be awake during the op

anon87974465 · July 28, 2019, 5:24pm

I have had both. My first surgery was to put a nail down my fractured femur and a screw into my hip, after an accident that fractured both. For this, I had an epidural with no sedation and it was a walk in the park. I was awake, happily chatting to the very nice anaesthetist who kept me entertained all through the surgery. Your brain remembers the last position your legs were in, and so I thought my legs were straight in front, bent at the knees throughout. I felt no pain at all afterwards.
It takes 4 to 6 hours for the block to wear off and it’s a relief when you start to wiggle your toes.

The second surgery was carried out because the first op dislocated and my screw penetrated the hip socket. This time I had a GA. When I woke after 4 hours, I was in a lot of pain and it took about an hour for pain relief to kick in. Then it takes days to recover from anaesthesia.

So, given the choice, I would opt for the spinal block every time. Good luck.

anon87974465 · July 28, 2019, 5:26pm

Thanks but can’t have a GA due to sleep apenea so Spinal is the safer option
So my choice is very light sedation or no sedation.
I did hear the spinal is extremely painful lol just ruling out the horror stories

nh_user_1226394 · July 28, 2019, 5:27pm

Hi Billy. Spinal all the way!! They rub your lower back with anaesthetic, so you don’t feel the needle. I didn’t want to be awake so they gave me a sedative, he called it his special g and t! woke up in recovery room 40 minutes later, not a dicky bird!!

nh_user_252106 · July 28, 2019, 5:28pm

Exactly how I had mine done and couldn’t recommend it more. Was sedated immediately I went into theatre, pre spinal, and knew absolutely nothing until I woke up in recovery with none of the post-GA grogginess. Awesome!

nh_user_1213725 · July 28, 2019, 5:37pm

I had THR last November. I had reaction to GA previously so sedation and spinal block were amazing. Injection for spinal block not really painful and it took effect very quickly. Sedation was no problem, don’t remember anything about the op. Came to as if I had been asleep and felt fine. Went back to room for cup of tea and sandwiches! Good luck you will be absolutely fine!
Best regards
Sarah

nh_user_629370 · July 28, 2019, 5:38pm

I had a spinal block and light sedation for my THR in Florida in Feb 2018. I was lying on the stretcher in the prep area and the anesthesiologist came to talk with me. I was expecting general anesthesia and was surprised when he told me about the spinal as the preferred method. The benefits are less post op pain, get up and moving about quicker than with general, less nausea. I reluctantly agreed and told him I was very nervous about the spinal injection and that it would hurt. I also said I do not want to be awake or know what was going on the Operating room. Having worked in medical my whole life, initially as an X-ray technologist, a large part of my life was spent the OR taking the films needed during orthopedic procedures, so I knew too much to be relaxed at this point. He said not to worry that they would give me something to relax me and assured me I would not know what was going on during the surgery. I remember saying “I’m still awake” jokingly and watching him fiddle with my IV. Lights out folks. I do not remember going to the Or, getting the spinal injection, getting positioned, draped, nothing. The next thing I knew I was awake in my bed, feeling great actually, not groggy or hung over, hungry. Total time was 3.5 hrs. Ate a sandwich, got up and walked down the hall with the physical therapist and a walker. No pain, just a little tired.. Felt like I could have gone further but she said enough.
From my experience, I would highly recommend it. Don’t be afraid, tell everyone, nurses and docs that you are nervous and they will take care of that for you. Believe me, no doctor or nurse in the OR want a wiggling, crying, patient in pain and they have great stuff to keep that from happening.
So be hopeful and focus on how good you’ll feel when it is over and you are on the recovery side of this. Good luck.

nh_user_1254098 · July 28, 2019, 6:04pm

Spinal block is the best. I did not feel a thing and was sedated throughout the surgery after they put a pain block in and I felt no pain after at all. Wish I had known that with my first one getting over a general anesthetic is awful go for the spinal. Best of luck.

nh_user_1050516 · July 28, 2019, 6:18pm

I don’t remember it being painful at all. I just remember sitting on the side of the bed, bending over, and that was it.

anon87974465 · July 28, 2019, 6:30pm

The spinal really did not hurt at all - they spray the area with local anaesthetic first. It was more a sensation of being touched than any pain.

I had sedation as I really did not want to be awake at all, so I cannot advise on what it would be like without it.

Joan

nh_user_746208 · July 28, 2019, 6:38pm

hi Billy. they start by having you bend over from the waist sitting on the theatre trolley whilst they put the spinal in. I knew a needle was going in but once they inject the drug via that cannula they help you lie down as very quickly you cant feel your bottom half. I had sedation as well as a retired nurse I knew too much as to what they were going to do and I didn’t want to hear it lol. he then put a cannula in my hand and injected another drug then they quickly turned me on my side . the last thing i recall from that bit was them wedging something hard into my back - he sd they were putting my leg in the right position but i knew nothing. i did wake 3 x during the op but each time the anaethetist noticed asked me if i was ok and then i was asleep again. i dont know if he gave me top ups of sedation each time but i dont care lol. at the end i was wide awake . able to thank the staff before i left the theatre room. I’d told the anaethetist i wanted a decent kip and he certainly did that. when he came round to the ward after I thanked him for doing the anaesthetic as I’d wanted it. they constantly check after that your feeling in your legs is coming back ok .
not everyone wants it how I had it but I thought the anaethetist was excellent and certainly listened to everyone and how they wanted things to go.

nh_user_940362 · July 28, 2019, 6:51pm

Hi Billy

No idea why anyone would say that having a spinal block was painful, in my case on both occasions it was a doddle. I had both hips done 12 months apart and though the procedure was slightly different, which may have been down to the
anaesthetist, but in general the procedure in both cases was as follows:

Lower back over the spine was cleaned and I was asked to arch my back like a cat. A needle was inserted - which I didn’t feel at all.
Anaesthetist chatted to me until my feet felt warm and then I couldn’t move my legs.
I was then sedated and taken to the theatre.
I knew nothing and felt nothing until I came round in the recovery room and had a cup of tea and a biscuit.
I didn’t feel nauseous or headachey or have any side effects associated with a GA.

I would whole heartedly recommend this method over a GA!

nh_user_1255211 · July 28, 2019, 7:06pm

very quick and easy, begins working within minutes.
They will give you a sedative so you will be sleeping through most of it, I dont remember much.
good luck

nh_user_165107 · July 28, 2019, 7:11pm

I had spinal with no sedation. I sat in the trolley and they injected into the spine, no worse than having a flu jab but it was in my back. I am surprised someone told you it was painful. I must admit I was having an argument at the time with the assistant to the anaesthetist who said I would not be able to see the bit that had been cut off my hip at the end of the operation. Luckily the surgeon ignored her and a nurse showed it to me on a petrie dish. It was rather as if she were displaying an antique at Sothebys! She turned it round and showed me all sides of it.
The actual op was fine. It was just as if I were lying on a sofa listening to the workmen next door. They wrapped me in a special warming blanket for the op.

anon87974465 · July 28, 2019, 7:42pm

Glad to read this it makes it all the more exciting for getting it done , Some people do over exaggerate , So that is why i though to ask on here :), I know you guys are honest and have been through it ..
Thanks

nh_user_165107 · July 28, 2019, 8:35pm

It is always good to hear things first hand, warts and all! Have you got a date for the op yet?