This is a bit of a long shot, but I know some of you are in the medical profession and others maybe able to offer advice.


Spinal, epidural or general anaesthetic?

I am having the first of two Knee surgeries next Thursday to reconstruct ligaments with some biodegradable screws. If they offer a choice of all three anaesthetics there must be varying degrees of benefits. I cant find any conclusive evidence to favour any of them.


I had two phone calls from the hospital yesterday, one from the surgeons assistant and the other from a nurse in the acute care unit explaining what will happen. I really, really DON'T want to stay in, but the nurse seemed fairly adamant that I will be staying for pain management, but said they will discuss this with me after the surgery. Also mentioned something about I will need physio that day, if not the morning of the next.


So if I opted for the spinal or epidural, will this mean I have a better chance of being let out that day?

Has anyone had the spinal or epidural form of anaesthetic ? are you relaxed ? what happens if you panic, do they knock you out?

Is everyone sick with a general anaesthetic? The prospect of barfing everywhere fills me with dread too.

.

layperson opinion alert:

I had knee surgery under general (nothing near the extent of yours), but went home the same day. I think you staying in overnight would be more to do with the extent of the surgery, not the type of anaesthetic.

I wasn't sick or nauseous, but I think they can give you anti-nausea drugs if you feel iffy.

Hubby's dad had an epidural for a hip replacement (he's 82). I think he said he could here them chiselling away, but they had him dosed up with something so he didn't really care what was going on.

Good luck. Are they expecting you to recover enough to be able to ski after you recover?

My only experience of anaesthetic is from 2 schedule C-sections when he stuck a big needle in my back (I assume that's a spinal) and I could feel nothing from the shoulders down. I was up an about that night with the aid of morphine. (Hopefully someone else will share a more relevant experience.)

I'm just waiting for someone to suggest homeopathic anaesthesia or perhaps aromatherapy...

Why? Do you want to get this thread closed too?

or cross your fingers and pray to the almighty COD.

Or hypnosis....?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/7355523.stm

back on thread......

xray person so not qualifed to talk about anaesthetics except as a patient

I would go for general if thats what they normally do. You will see the anaesthetist beforehand and you can discuss your concerns with her/him.

I have never been sick after a GA, sometimes have woken up just fine and eaten a meal, once even had some champers.

I dont fancy someone fiddling around with my back, a nice zzz then wake-up and all done. Thats the way for me.

I would not opt for a general but then I have had two epidurals and better the devil you know.

You are young and fit so a general probably carries low risks, but it still has some miniscule risk. But generally I think generals make you feel pants.

But not having a general means being awake whislt they operate and this is scary. You hear noises from your body, which isn't helpful and you can feel things in a strange way, rummaging round inside you. This is probably not as bad for knee ops. Hearing them counting and recounting instruments whilst they then opened me back up to restich was fairly scarey ................

I think if you want info on spinal vs epidural go to birth sites and search there.

Epidurals can be scarey and the consent form can be scarey. My second was inserted by the top consultant and it still had to be done twice. It was later topped up with spinal and not feeling your legs for quite some time is scarey, and you convince yourself you are never going to feel your legs again!!

My house is a mess and I couldn't possibly let anyone in it today!! . But if you are at home now and want to come out with me and P we are off to farmer's markets for a brief time at about 12:45 and could talk whilst I give you a lift there and back!!! and buy some nice sausages too!!!!!!

Gryph

Hi,

I, personally,don't like general anaesthetics as they make me feel like crap and i usually throw up.

I have had 3 spinals, 2 were for c-sections and 1 was for a "wash out" of my knee. I much prefer this. Obviously you have no feeling in your lower body for a while but you don't have that horrible groggy feeling that you get with a general.

Just a couple of things though, if you need a catheter make sure that they put it in AFTER you are numbed up and take an MP3 to listen to music if you can instead of the operating room noise. Also don't look up at the big operating lights as you may see something you'd rather not in the reflection! I'm glad I knew about that before my sections!

HTH and that all goes well.

Really agree with the mirror/lights thing!

I don't but, then, I've never had a C-section and nor am I likely to.

I had a minor op done on my neck years ago, under local. The surgeon set up a mirror, so I could watch.

General anaesthetic has never affected me afterwards. The last couple of operations I had could probably have been done under local. I'm not sure why they weren't. Maybe they figured I couldn't lie still for long enough while awake.

I think it depends upon the level of gore/blood! and maybe size of incision and squeemishness!

As for GA making you feel bad , I had the opposite . I was high when I cam around from mine. I didn't stop talking for the entire half hour I was in recovery (picture the scene from train spotting ) !!!!

When they wheeled me back to my room and I had stopped talking long enougth , Ben asked me how I felt , I said in a puzzled tone "fine , except I seem to have a bit of a headache" . He then pointed out that this was hardly suprising seeing as I'd had my sinuses drilled out !!!!!!!

Did feel a bit yucky stomach wise , not sick but didn't want to eat.

Personally though , I would go for the spinal , cause I'd want to watch and ask endless questions!!!!