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comments on type of anesthetic welcomed

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m11010
m11010

I'm having my THR end of this month. I'm in favour of spinal anesthetic+ sedative. Comments would be appreciated....

1 like, 49 replies

49 Replies

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  • lynn23772
    lynn23772 m11010

    Posted

    I am thinking of writing an e-book from the patient's perspective. There is SO much that you will not learn from the "meds", (medical professionals) I have now had both hips replaced; one in 1999 and one on Dec 4th, 2014. Go for general because having a spinal can actually damage delicate areas (as it did for me) and you may have back pain from it the rest of your life! Also, request a vitamin C drip during surgery. Studies show that allows the patient to heal faster. IN ADDITION, ask if you can take a listening device with soothing music via earphones/buds in the OR with you. All the sounds and conversation during surgery will be stored in your subconscious, so it's better not to hear any of it. I envisioned a "hey, let's wrap this up, I have a golf date", or perhaps..."Oh, S**T, didn't mean to do that!"   In addition, since you have time to prepare, I have a few pointers. First see if it is possible to have some home nursing care a few times a week. You'll feel better for it believe me. Someone to help you get a shower, get dressed and get breakfast. Make sure you discuss IN DETAIL, their plan for pain management. I had the WORST in 1999, and the absolute BEST last month. There is a huge difference in recovery depending on what their answer to pain relief is! First time round I could not even sleep!  Your Prep: start exercising as much as you can in preparation; swimming is best, but in lieu of that, your surgeon should provide you with a list of exercises you will be doing during recovery. Start those now! 

    Here in the states, they are sending people home the same day as surgery, or if they are lucky, the day after. INSIST that you stay at least 2 nights in hospital. Set an alarm to insure you DO NOT sleep through the hour you are to receive pain meds. Here, they do not wake you and break through pain is nothing shy of hell on earth. They will sugar coat the entire process with their classes, and their shiny color brochures, but believe me, this is real, it is tough and not for the faint of heart. It's totally doable, just be prepared.  Buy nice shower gel, special tea and chocolates. Move a bird feeder outside your bedroom window. Select some excellent music to which you can do your recovery exercises. Insist on home therapy for at least 3 weeks/3 times a week. Cook and freeze one dish meals ahead. Stock the pantry. Let all your friends know what your date is and ask if they could cook you up a little something! (Even if you provide the ingredients) Accept the fact that you'll feel like hell for a couple of weeks. Just prepare for it. And remember, the more you move around, the better you will feel. Move,....use that walker, keep walking and you'll do fine!

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK lynn23772

      Posted

      Hi Lynne

      There are so many replies t this thread....I was really sjurprised

      Can I suggest when you do your bookwink You stress the difference between the UK versions of the op and the UK {or other places}

      I agree about knowing it from the patients perspective....its completely different to the docs perspective. Thats why these sites are so good.

      Going for a GA, a Spinal or an Epidural is  a personal opinion regardless of where we are.....I would always go for spinal but like I say thats personal.  We can only post our own opinions and let people make up their own mind.

      I could be wrong but hve never heard of anyone in the UK taking in  a listening devise if they are having GA.....yes if you are having a spinal but GA?

      No way could we get extra nursing at home......Someone to help you shower etc.....thats what we would call a "care package" over here and its doubtful that you would get it for a THR  My mam is almost 92 and her mobility is dreadful. She lives on her own and the only care she can get is because she fractured a shoulder bone recently and is in a sling so finds it hard to button things.....Someone comes to get her up and put her to bed.  She had a fight to get even that and it will stop as soon as her arm is out of the sling.....she's 92 {in March} and lives on her own so what hope would I have!!!!!

      I so agree with you about the exercises before as well as after

      We get them from our physiotherapist not from the consultant. They are so important.

      We are usually in hospital for 3 days......I went in on Friday...had the op in the afternoon and home Monday morning. That seems to be the norm. So thats the 2 full days ....you need that I think

      Oh yes.....have treats for when you come home....thats brilliant

      Once again you cant insist on home threapy here {for however long}

      Mostly you get a district nurs coming in to look at the wound, they dont change the dressing if it looks OK and thats it.....nothing then until they come to take the staples out {some people have disolveable stitches} I'm going by my experience

      Yes cook double beforehand and freeze half of it or even buy in frozen meals if your stuck

      Yes keep moving, walking .....even if its small distances to start with

      Lynn......I typed this out not to argue with you but just to show the difference between the UK and the USAwink

      Love

      Eileen    UK

       

    • lee47625
      lee47625 lynn23772

      Posted

      When I had my shoulder and then my knee replaced last year , I had surgery on Friday am and went home Sunday about noon. I don't know how anyone can have a total joint replacement and go home that day😧

      The  replacement surgeries are a tremendous insult to the body; I mean you involve bones, muscles, tendons/ligaments, blood loss , etc. . I guess  I am kind of wimpy that way. And I really, really agree about getting pain meds on a timely basis! I just hate thinking about having to deal with this THR pain & recovery. I'm going to self donate a unit of blood this afternoon and my hubby is also donating for me. My doc wants me to have three units available. Did you do this too? Also did you have to go on blood thinners post op? Our UK friends all seem to have this. 

      No one from docs office mentioned anything about exercise post op. I know I'll have home visit PT for a couple weeks but I would like to start ahead of time like you said, what exercises did you do?. 

      Well, only 18 days until surgery. Having this forum really has helped a lot. Thank you all.

    • val_54026
      val_54026 lee47625

      Posted

      hi lee i have right and left knee total replacement and a hip and a broken femur this was in the last 2 years doing very well and back to work i feel fine eccept thay damage the nerves in my feet and my legs and feet are swollen water tablets do not seem to help seeing the dr tomorrow
  • val_54026
    val_54026 m11010

    Posted

    hi my husband had spinal anesthtic and he said he would not do it agan all though you come out of it qiucker he did not like the numbness of his bady
  • diane24472
    diane24472 m11010

    Posted

    Had a the on 31st October had a spinal and was sedated didn't feel or hear a thing. Back on ward after a hour,hope everything goes well for you x
  • trevor64267
    trevor64267 m11010

    Posted

    I had th spinal anaesthetic and light sedation. Woke during the operation when were cutting out the old - bit weird but felt no pain at all and recovery from the injection to feeling was approx 6 hours and as such ould recommend it.

    Best wishes

    • val_54026
      val_54026 trevor64267

      Posted

      that would be my biggest fear no i think i would only be knocked right out i have heard of people have this spinal and have woke up no not for me
  • trevor64267
    trevor64267 m11010

    Posted

    I can honestly say there was no pain at all. My decision to go with the spinal was what was best for the person operating and they said that general was not their preferred route. 
  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee m11010

    Posted

    I went for general sedation with the spinal block to the side of my THR.  The block is wonderful because they do not have to take you down as deeply with the anethesia, yet you feel no pain during and a period of time afterwards.  Hope your surgery goes well and remember we are all here to support you!

    Take care,

    Dawn U.S.

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK DawnDedee

      Posted

      Hi Dawn

      Never heard of that before......its usually one or the other....well it worked well for you.

      I found the spinal worked really well for me.

      The only thing was when I was in recovery, still on a trolly with a porter beside me I said my knees are bent {at the back of my fuzzy brain I thought about the 90 degree angle}.......he said no they aren't.....yes they are  LOL

      Then he said have you just had a spinal.....Yes....Ahh thats it then,

      I was sitting on the edge of the theatre table with my legs hanging down while they gave me the spinal so apparently thats the last position my brain remembered......so lying on a trolly my brain worked out that my knees were still bentcheesygrin

      \Brains are weird things  LOL

      Love

      Eileen

      UK

  • sue92725
    sue92725 m11010

    Posted

    Hi there

    I had my left hip replaced 4th Nov 2014. I did not want a GA as it takes so long to wear out of your system. I opted for a spinal and light sedation. I dont remember a thing about it and when I go for my right hip I shall do the same. I came round feeling rested and relaxed and not all groggy from the anaesetic. I understand it can take about a month for a GA to clear your system. Whatever you decide good luck. I am now pain free and moving well still abit of discomfort but  only occasionally.

  • eamonn1973
    eamonn1973 m11010

    Posted

    Hi

    I was 39 when I got my THR and I also deliberated for a long time about what to have. In the end I decided on general that way I wouldn't here or feel anything. I am a social worker in the hospital were I got the surgery. After speaking with a number of nurses one description kept coming up and that was a joiners workshop. I did not want to chance being anyway awake for that. There is a website called edheads it here is the link http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/index.shtml

    It allows you to do a hip replacement it a cartoon type thing but very accurate it may give you an idea of what happens. My two daughters want to know about my operation there were 7 and 12 and it was fine for them.

    PS I am a coward at heart so it was general all the way

  • susan52056
    susan52056 m11010

    Posted

    I'm having my THR this Thursday and having spinal anesthetic. Scared stiff but everyone who's had it seems to recommend it. Still worried sick as to how much pain I'll be in after , I'm a bit of a woos!! Like you any positive comments would be appreciated

     

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