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2nd time Around TKR

Posted , 13 users are following.

Michy
Michy

Hi All I am waiting now for my Right Knee Replacement on waiting list

Having Had My Left Knee Replaced when I was 49 11+ years ago was very successful

I know what to expect rolleyes However I believe that it is now common practice to Prepare  for Spinal Nerve Block Procedure As to General Anesthetic

I am Very Nervous about having this.... let alone another TKR 

Any Reassurance Much Appreciated

Michy 

0 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • tony19105
    tony19105 Michy

    Posted

    I am now 6 wks post-op. Like you, I was very concerned about a spinal block but after speaking to the Anaesthetist I was persuaded it would be the better way to go. It was. A small area of spine is numbed with a local (barely felt) then the block is administered ( didn`t feel a thing), your legs feel warm then everything slowly goes numb.      I stayed awake thro surgery and felt quite at home - the sounds were just like the workshop, drilling, sawing etc. I talked to the surgeon throughout and this helped because I could hear that there were no nasty surprises in my knee. 

    Because I had no sedation I was sat with tea and toast 10 minutes after theatre. 

    I was pain free for over 24 hours but even then, with pain relief, I only had a sort of deep ache which I could cope with.

    So, from my experience you need have no fears about a spinal.

    The hard work starts after - as all these other posts will tell you.

    Go for it !

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo tony19105

      Posted

      How did yu manage to be pain free for 24 hours?  Did they leave some sort of spinal block in place?  they don't do that here in spain unfortunately . .the pain comes back almost immediately. 

    • tony19105
      tony19105 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Practice may differ from surgeon to surgeon - this is where it pays to find out as much as possible beforehand so everything can be discussed before surgery.   My spinal lasted about12 hours but I had a massive local anesthetic in the knee during the procedure, no problems for 24 hours and by then I was on the stronger meds for about 3 days, after which time I needed less.
  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo Michy

    Posted

    Everywhere seems to be different.  I had a spinal . . or what they call an intradural here in spain, no sedation whatsoever.  it doesn't really hurt a lot, although they do have to poke around with the needle a bit.  I came out of surgery at about 4 p.m. and by 6 p.m. the pain was as strong as it was going to get, so the idea of it giving you longer without pain is not really of much importance.  I do get nerve pain and don't know if it's a result of the intradural or just a side effect of the tourniquet and the operation itself.  One thing I would suggest is that you talk to the surgeon about the pain control he is going to prescribe for the post op period,  before you have the operation, as in this country at least, after the second  day they think that a parcetamol three times a day is enough, and it isn't. 

  • michael82177
    michael82177 Michy

    Posted

    Hi. There's really nothing to it. They gave me versed in IV and I was in la la land. Never felt a thing. You don't want to wake up during surgery I would think. Good luck

    • deb56781
      deb56781 michael82177

      Posted

      Hello Michael: I had a partial Left knee replacement Sep 8 2015 and then a revison on Feb 8 2016. BOTH times I had a spinal and it was great! The 2nd time I felt a small sting but that was it. In the operating room I was asked (both times) to sit up with my legs hanging down and bend over, was given the shot, laid down and not sure what else I was given but I was OUT! I never heard anything and GLAD I didn't. The 2nd time I also opted to get a nerve block while in the recovery room. Sonogram on my upper thigh by the anesthesiologist and adminstered some type of pain med that was supposed to help with the pain. WELL, when it wore off in the middle of the night, the pain was horrible! The nurses weren't tracking my pain and I like bottomed out (don't know how to say it) and then they gave me too strong of meds which lead to vomiting. OMGosh, my hubbie was furious... the anesthesiologist was called and told the nurses not to give me anything by mouth only intravenously. Had to end up staying in the hospital for 2 days to get my pain under control. Long story short, the spinal is awesome (make sure you know that you will be adminstered something to make you not hear anything - I think I got what Michael Jackson liked). I would not suggest the nerve block cause if you are not monitored and crash like I did, the pain is horrible. Don't fear the spinal - go for it! Good luck and keep in touch!  Deb

    • michael82177
      michael82177 deb56781

      Posted

      Hi. I had.my RTKR on Sept. 6, 2016. Spinal block, with versed to put me out. For pain I had percoset, with bumps of fentynal in IV. Worked great.
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