Hip Replacement :: Epidural Or General Anaesthetic?
Due to have op on hip next month and I'm not sure whether to have a general anaesthetic or epidural. Part of me would like to be knocked out for the whole procedure, but I want to be up and about as quickly as possible.
View 27 RepliesHip Replacement :: Spinal Or General Anaesthetic?
I am booked in for my first hip replacement surgery next Wednesday. I was really surprised to hear that my surgeon does this under spinal anaesthetic, I've been told I will be awake but oblivious to my surroundings. Just wondered if anyone else had surgery this way and can reassure me. I am 45yrs old with osteoarthritis, I require both hips to be replaced but surgeon only does one at a time with at least 6 months in between for recovery. Any advice or reassurance will be gratefully received!
View 45 RepliesKnee :: Anaesthetic For TKR - Epidural Nerve Block Or General?
I have my op coming up in two weeks on 17 September and my surgeon tells me that the would prefer me to have epidural and nerve block instead of a general as it will lessen the chance of DVT post-op.
i have always had a general for other ops and the thought of being awake during all that sawing, drilling and screwing going on is not comfortable, to say the least. Some of the people I know who have had it done this way say that the sedative they give puts you off the planet and you don't know much about it. I'll probably go with the idea anyway, just a bit cautious I suppose.
anybody else had this experience? Was it ok?
Ankle Surgery And Bone Spur :: Spinal Vs. General Anaesthetic?
Two years ago I broke my ankle and had pins and plates put in. On Monday I am having them taken out because they are irritating my tendon. I am also having a 'bone spur' basically shaved off and they are going to 'explore' the damage done to the tendon.
When I had them put in I had a general anaesthetic, but I wasn't asked what I'd prefer. This time, at a different hospital I have been.
I don't know what to do for the best. Obviously I can talk about this when I arrive on Monday I'd just like people opinions on which they prefer and why. Or even which they think would be suitable for my surgery.
I was fine after my anaesthetic last time, no side effects etc I just think I feel more comfortable not being 'put to sleep'... just in case. I'm a bit of a worrier!
I am leaning towards opting for the spinal anaesthetic combined with a bit of sedation as I do think I may get anxious. The only thing that is putting me off is what I will hear. Obviously they will be using screwdrivers etc and the thought of hearing them and knowing what they are doing makes me feel a little queasy!
Disc Prolapse :: Facet Joint / Epidural Injections Experience
Just had my procedure and in recovery now, waiting to be discharged!
I have severe prolapse of L4/L5 with bilateral impingement of nerve roots. This results in severe back pain and constant sciatica. Worse on my right side.
Whole process took less than half an hour and I feel just fine after. Was offered sedative, but refused as I'm personally cool with stuff like this and very relaxed/able to keep still.
Very little pain during the actual procedure. In fact the worst bit was the initial injection of local anaesthetic!
Hip Replacement :: Type Of Anaesthetic
I sometimes have pain down the whole of my leg, especially the outside below the knee. Is there any way of knowing if this is due to the hip or back, as both are dodgy?
I am due for a hip replacement on 9 June and the bit I have been scared stiff of is getting in the skin to start it. I felt I could only cope with a general anaesthetic but could not persuade him to give me anything other than a local.
Total Hip Replacement :: General Vs. Spinal Anaesthesia?
Wondering if anyone has had a THR with a spinal and REGRETTED it. Trying to decide.
View 21 RepliesKnee Replacement - My Encouraging Experience
Here's a bit of encouragement for those of you who think it will never get better. I'm 76 years old and 12 weeks post op. for L. TKR. After constant pain, sleepless nights, frustration, cursing the day I agreed to the op. etc. etc. now each day seems to bring new hurdles surmounted. Have finished 6 weeks physio (quite enjoyed it and achieved 126 bend) and am now exercising in the local pool - can't manage the ladders into the main pool yet so use the warmer leisure pool and spas; have seen my consultant and he seems happy with the x-rays. Decided to risk wearing 'heels' (3" today with a 15 minute walk to church for a memorial service and my knee was fine BUT my feet were killing me!!! I've been in slippers/sandals/walking shoes/trainers since the op. and wasn't used to my feet being so constricted. Sooo, if you are tempted to try heels, suggest you make it a short time and carry some 'flatties' or book a 'piggy back' home from a close friend. Hang in TKR buddies and keep up the exercises. ps Am now booked in for my R. TKR and waiting for a date but not in any hurry.
View 20 RepliesBig Toe Joint Replacement Operation? Experience?
If so, I would like to hear how you are getting on. I had the op 10 weeks ago, I am still in pain and have tendonitis. I go to physio and can bend my toe which is great but the pain is still as bad as before the op, hoping its because its still early days after a joint op.
View 6 RepliesHip Replacement :: A Right Choice? Experience / Tips / Advice?
I've pondered my own need for a hip replacement. I'm sports mad and always have been, playing competitive squash for 20 years (probably the cause of my hip degeneration), followed by many years of rowing and subsequently cycling - which I still do with a passion. I was diagnosed with arthritis about 6 years ago (at 52) and have lived with it since then. Mine's been odd - I've never had the excruciating pain that most people seem to complain of - pain, yes - but bearable. My main issue has been with a gradual loss of range of movement. At this stage, I can barely tie a shoe on my right foot, putting a sock on is a nightmare - and cutting toe nails on that foot is pretty much impossible. But in the absence of severe pain and being still able to cycle with relatively little discomfort, I've never really known what to do about getting it fixed. That being said, I did decide to do something about it this year - and it looks as if I may actually be going in to get it done next week!! As I'm sure most of you did pre-op, I'm feeling pretty apprehensive - and still questioning whether I'm doing the right thing, even though I know I'm having many more 'bad days' and that the constant lack of a full quality of life is getting me down. So I guess I'm curious as to whether anyone has been in a similar position - and whether all you experienced hippies think I'm doing the right thing.
View 41 RepliesBack Issues :: Spinal Cord Stimulator Or Spinal Fusion Surgery?
I had back surgery in March 2013 that left me with mechanical instability, acquired spondylolisthesis and lots of pain.
I have 2 ortho spine surgeons telling me that I need a bi-level spinal fusion surgery to repair the damage, but after the botched first surgery, the thought of another surgery scares me to death. Plus, since surgery is what spine surgeons do, the recommendation seems obvious.
I also started seeing a new pain management doctor (we moved to a new state) and he is suggesting that I consider a spinal cord stimulator trial, with surgical implantation if we find that it helps the pain.
So...I'm left confused. I see the positives and negatives of each, but I'm just not sure if one makes more sense over the other. I think that my spondylolisthesis will worsen over time and could pose a threat of nerve damage, while the spinal cord stimulator is designed to mask pain and does nothing to address the instability.
I'd love to know if anyone else has faced a similar decision...or has thoughts, ideas, comments, suggestions for considering one over the other.
Adverse Reaction? Facet Joint / Epidural Injections?
I wanted to know if anyone had facet joint spine injections or Epidural injections for pain management, whilst taking Remicade?
I would really like to hear from you if it went fine and if you had any negative reactions, such as an infection, or any other adverse reaction after the injections?
Disc Prolapse :: Facet Joint / Epidural Injections? With Or Without X-Ray?
Hello, I read about root nerve block and the like, what I was offered is an epidural steroid injection, is that the same?? And X-ray led or without X-ray (?)The doctor said he would give me a steroid injection around my tailbone as it is safer (further away from spinal cord) and it is without X-ray.
View 2 RepliesBack Pain After Epidural Shot/changing To Opana?
I had spinal epidural on lumbar area which is very successful, as always. Same time I transition from Long Acting 30 mg Oxycontin every 6 hrs and short acting Oxycodone to 10mg Opana Long Acting every 6 hrs and 20 mg Opana short acting 3 times a day.
I feel such terrible upper back pain! Due to shot, i don't feel treated area much, but upper back never hurt me more than it does now.
I know that Opana not working well for me, although was told Opana is stronger then Oxy's, this why my Dr decided to start from lower doses first. I take 20mg of short acting hoping at least some relieve, but 3 hrs later I am still in agony; this can't be normal.
Pregnancy :: Natural Labour Or Epidural Shot - Pros And Cons?
I'm a first time mommy and will be delivering my first baby August 21. I'm scared..I hear it's one of the worst pains a woman goes through, yet worth it :) but my question is "would it make a difference if I get the epidural shot? I heard it just numbs the lower part of your body but not that much. Than I hear others that it does." I also hear from my mom and mother in law that I shouldn't and I should do it natural. I don't know what to do. I kind of don't wanna do the shot just because I also heard it causes back pain later on in life and plus every time I've gotten shots to numb me (example dentice) it never numbs me or works. It is probably way different than the shot they give you for labor but I just need some help and suggestions. I wanna hear from other moms that have gone through this I'm kind of scared too...
View 9 RepliesDisc Prolapse :: Surgery? Epidural Injection Didn't Work
I opened a heavy window at work in April this year 2014 (twice in a matter of a few days) I've had 11 sessions of physio to which this didn't respond to. I've had horrendous pain over the months and now had a scan to show a prolapse disk. On Thurs 27 November I had an epidural injection which doesn't seem to have made any difference and I am currently off work this is my 5th week off. Prior to this had four weeks off intermittently. I am due to see the Neurosurgeon again on 17 Dec to discuss surgery that he said he can offer me. I keep as active as possible but to walk sometimes if really painful and I can't work with this. This has gone on for so long, any advice on how to treat this? Should this have gone off for this long? The L5 S1 disk is prolapsed.
View 14 RepliesGastroscopy And Sedation
I had a gastroscopy within the last few days. I was “sedated” with 2mg of Midazolam but this did not seem to work very well. I did not feel drowsy at any time and had considerable problems of retching and discomfort throughout the procedure. I was very much aware of the tube, and being spoken to by the nurse during the procedure.
The nurse insisted on inserting the cannula on the inside of my elbow (which has dodgy veins and was clearly very badly bruised by previous week’s blood test), and not in the back of my hand as I had expected (and had experienced on all previous cases of anaesthesia). I did query this at the time. Is it possible that the drug was not in fact administered correctly? Or are some people just not very much affected by this drug?
The hospital also discharged me nearly an hour earlier than they had led me to expect – so presumably they too thought that I did not need the usual length of recovery time from the so-called sedation!
It would be very helpful to know what might have caused the sedation to work much less adequately than expected – in case there is another time. I realise that I may have had unreasonable expectations – but other patients I have spoken to seem to have had very different experiences and several hours of drowsiness (but all these cases were private and not NHS so it is possible that they may have been sedated differently or with bigger doses).
Sigmoidoscopy With Sedation?
Had an examination a few months ago but he couldn't go far because I was in so much discomfort. They found piles which they are going to band but haven't properly looked into the bowel because of the discomfort. I'm hoping the blood on toilet tissue is due to the piles
This time in having sedation. Will this knock me out completely or will I be awake during the procedure ??
Endoscopy Without Sedation
I had an Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy this morning. I didn't know whether I wanted to do with or without sedation until the last minute. I had read this forum and asked about every single person I know, and everyone said I was crazy to consider doing it without sedation. In the end, talking to the nurse, I decided to try without it. And I am so glad I did! I would be surprised if the endoscopy itself lasted longer than 5 minutes. It is very unpleasant, don't get me wrong, I did not gag or vomit, but there were a couple of moments where I thought I was going to have a panic attack, so I just concentrated on breathing deeply and keeping calm. When it was over I was up and out of the hospital in 10 minutes, which is great!
View 1 Replies