HI everyone,
i'm having my knee replacement in 10 days time and have been advised on friday it will be by spinal block and a sedative.I'm a little nervous of having it done this way although it looks like the recovery time ect is much better.has anyone had their op this way and if so how was it..many thanks
Hi Lou
I can TKR with an extensive synovectomy and some other stuff 14 weeks ago with an epidural (spinal blockage) and sedation. It worked well and also provided extra painkiller in my leg for some time afterwards. I was up and out of bed 24 hours later as is the norm. Positive experience here. Good luck with your op. MM x
Hi, I had mine with a spinal and sedation and I was also very worried and almost cancelled because of it. But, the spinal was very easily done and the sedation felt like a general. I woke up thinking they'd put me under. It took a good 12 hrs for the feeling to come back into both my legs which was strange. A lot longer than a previous epidural I'd had.
It's not as bad as it sounds and you'll be fine. Be brave and good luck
Julia x
I think most people have the spinal block now. I had my op 17 weeks ago and had spinal with a bit of general just to knock me out. I was told by my consultant that he didn't want me conscious as my op would be longer and much trickier than a normal TKR...it lasted 4 hours so I'm glad I listened. Recovery was brilliant, I felt fine as soon as I woke. Nothing to worry about, all you'll feel is a bit of pressure on the spine and a little trickle as it goes in x
Thank you,i really dislike general so im ok with having it done this way,you have put my mind at ease x
Hi Lou,
Please don't be nervous of this procedure, it is fantastic and has a much quicker recovery time. I was so afraid when this procedure was suggested to me and almost made myself ill worrying about it. When the anaesthetist came to my room to finalise details with me just prior to my op, I confided my worst fears with him, he assured me that I had nothing to worry about and that I would be given a sedative along with the spinal block. They took me into the little room adjacent to the theatre and I sat on the edge of the bed whilst they checked my back, he then told me that after a tiny prick (which I didn't even feel) my legs would begin to feel quite heavy. I remember starting to feel this and then knew nothing more until I was back in recovery room, and very shortly after taken to my bed and given a light meal. I just couldn't believe I had just come through a major op and felt so well. It took a few hours for the numb feeling in my legs to wear off and was so pleased I had gone ahead with the spinal block and sedation. Hope this eases your worries.
Dorothy
Oh Dorothy,that is just what i needed to hear,thank you for easing my mind.Just cant wait now to get it done x
It seems to by country. In the US it is almost exclusive general. I don't know anyone in my area that has had a spinal. Moist are using the femoral wire for pain relief
Just before surgery they insert a wire in the femoral artery and start a drip that numbs the leg and then it's hooked to a self serve pump for extra distribution. Thats left in 24 to 48 hours. In the meantime they start on the or a l meds so you don't have the massive escalation in pain. I go to a medical school and the surgeon is an associate professor and instructor. He always has 2 or3 residents trailing him as does the anestheology professor.
My pleasure Lou, pleased it has been of some help to you. Best wishes to you for the coming days and weeks.
Hi everyone,
I have had 3 TKR in last 18 months and so a 4th.
I have always had a spinal block and it is great ,no after effects of ikky feeling
dont be nervous.
you will be fine
just have them sedate you before you go into room and see the tools the use.
in last surgery i was still up when igot into OR i asked if they just left Home Depot
you will be just fine
Spinal and sedation definitely the way to do it. I was a little nervous on the way to the theatre but it was absolutely fine and I have no knowledge of the actual op.
Hello Lou don't be worried. They will do a spinal tap, but you won't know anything about it. They give you a sedative before that and you will knocked out. They do spinal tap, I was told because we have involuntary movement of our limbs during surgery sometimes and they do not take a chance of your leg moving at the wrong time and mess up stuff.
Hi Lou
I am in Chicago 8 weeks post op on right and 2 weeks post op on left
I had the spinal and a light sedative
Felt nothing first op heard everything and was even asking questions not realizing where u was at second op was out didn't hear a thing
Woke up from both not feeling my legs for a couple of hours
After the pain med was available thru the IV
Have to say this is the way to go
Never regretted getting TKR can see the improvement although little each day
Looking forward to the day when I can finally ride my bike with my husband after years of dust collecting on it
Maybe I will get a new bike to celebrate?
Good luck to you
Good luck on your surgery.i had it done in Dec. same as you, I was sick about it. It was wonderful and will do it for the 2nd one soon.
Hi Lou. I had mine 4 weeks ago and was petrified of the spinal. But like everyone says on here it was good and no problem at all. One thing which I think helped me was listening to an hypnotherapy/deep relaxation track for a few weeks before. Then, when they were putting the needle in I was able to breath and relax and it really was easy!
Good luck with your op - there are lots of good people on here who will give you some great advice and lots of support when you need it.
Hi Lou, I had a bilateral TKR in March using a spinal block and sedative and didn't know a thing about it, only woke up once for a minute it so. I was scared and nervous also but it was great, one thing tho, ask for a catheter lol my surgeon doesn't use them and it wasn't nice ☺️
Good luck x
I have general and never have side effects. I did with the older stuff.....some naseau. With the drug they administer these days they have all but eliminated that. Sometimes abdominal surgery is different but they don't ordinarily give spinal for that anyway. I ate a full meal within 2 hours after surgery the last 2 times. I have been told spinal block is a less expensive way to go so may be why hospitals are using it to a greater degree. Seems like cost is playing a bigger role than it should in a lot of things medically. I encourage people to ask questions and be their own decision makers when given the opportunity. As for me, I want nothing to do with the spinal. The 1st tkr they were using a spin a l block for pain abatement and some how it got shut off. I was without pain meds for over 6 hours until I screamed and ranted loud enough for them to really have to check it out. Then they had to pump morphine in me iv every 15 minutes for relief. I was so knocked out they couldn't get me up for PT for 24 hrs. My 4 day stay turned into 12. As our MD nephew says, you have to be your own best advocate when it comes to your health. Thursday I have my 11th surgery on this leg and all have been general anesthesia. A couple of advantages I have, I am not extremely overweight nor am I a smoker. Also , I haven't any organic or diabetic conditions which often times play into the methods used.
Not to worry. There is nothing to it. I had both a spinal block and general. I didn't know the doctor had done the spinal, til I slid into the doctor who was standing in front of me. They had me sit on the edge of the OR table, while a doctor behind me did the spinal...hence the doctor standing in front of me, so I wouldn't fall on the floor. I vaguly remember being laid back on the table. Next thing I was in my room and feeling fine. The doctor came in and asked me if I could feel my toes yet. I said yes and he said good. (I am now 8 weeks PO)
Hi Lou, spinal is the only way to go. I had a hip replacement in Dec and bilateral TKR 5 wks ago both by spinal. You wake up after the op from the sedative really lucid with no ill effects like you can get from a General. You will have no feeling in your legs for several hours after which is a very odd sensation, but also helpful in masking the post op trauma to your knees. The femoral drip into your thigh is also brilliant for post op pain relief. I really had no serious pain at all during my hospital stay after my knees - which totally amazed me. (I was expecting much worse)
Good luck Lou. Hope all goes great.
alison
Hi Lou I had TKR on 19th May and was down for general anaesthetic . On the day anaesthetist told me pros and cons and zi opted for spinal . I can thoroughly recommend it. You are totally free of osin for several hours after op , by which time the oral painkillers have started to kick in and you have no nasty side effects. I was sat having tea and biscuits soon as I got back on ward , others who had general we're nauseous for couple of days Only thing was physio couldn't get me up 4 hours after op as foot was still numb and couldn't move toes so that had to wait till following morning and I had to use bed pan first night rather than commode but I was home on third day ! But I will def do it again if I need other knee doing. Good luck Linda