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General anaesthesia or spinal block

Posted , 20 users are following.

suzanne95756
suzanne95756

I am due to have my TKR this Wednesday. I am considering having a spinal block instead of a general and would be interested in others experiences of this. 

I am very concerned about post surgery pain relief as my previous experiences of morphine and all other opioids has been dreadful. The only pain relief I am able to take is ibuprofen and paracetamol, which hardly seems adequate for this surgery. Anti sickness drugs also don't appear to work. Voltarol gives me stomach cramps so I'm really struggling with what to take. 

The pre op nurse suggested I might be better off with a spinal block, which could be left in and then topped up with pain relief as required. 

I have waited a long time for this surgery under the NHS so am relieved it is finally going ahead, but I'm getting very nervous. 

Any advice would be welcome. 

0 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest suzanne95756

    Posted

    But Suzanne - even with a spinal, you won't know a thing. I remember them giving me the spinal, and the next thing was me waking up in recovery. You will be sedated and won't hear, see, or remember anything.

  • jackie62916
    jackie62916 suzanne95756

    Posted

    7 months ago I had in the 'spine' and found this to be fine, no sick feeling.

    But on the day of discharge you must tell the nurses or doctors the amount of pain that you are in, and it will be painful.

    I was in so much pain that I burst into tears and told everyone to get out of my room and just leave me alone.

    They sent me home on morphine which was a blessing and when that run out my own doctor re-issued for me.

    This has been real hard and even 7 months down the line and physio and gym exercises at least 3 times a week I still get throbbing in my knee. So now take Gabapentin Brown 300mg 1x3 times a day.

    Just remember you don't need to be in pain and suffer, call your doctor.

    This is a long road to recovery, which I now accept.

    Hope it goes well for you,

    Best wishes

    Sue

  • anna59931
    anna59931 suzanne95756

    Posted

    Hi Suzanne I would go for the spinal block. I had tkr 31jan this year a lot better than general would recommend it to anyone you are not sick n drossie . You will be fine xx
  • suzanne95756
    suzanne95756

    Posted

    Many thanks for all the replies and advice.  I will ask for a spinal and hope the hospital and surgeon are happy with this decision. 

    I was able to chose my surgeon via the NHS after getting other help on this forum as I wanted a titanium knee. I am allergic to nickel and cobalt and a very kind lady gave me the name of her surgeon who specialises in titanium in the next county, so this site has been invaluable for me. 

    I will post how the surgery has gone when I am able. 

    Thanks again, everyone xx

    • davidjk22
      davidjk22 suzanne95756

      Posted

      You have made the best choice. Good luck, don't get depressed if your recovery is not going as you expect it to. Everyone recovers differently, do not expect to be anywhere at anytime of your recovery you will get there in the end 

      , I'm almost 20 and 18½ years since mine and have had no problems. You have many years of pain free knee to look forward to. Physio, exercise, ice and use your medication to control pain, easier to do physio and exercise if you are not in lots of pain. 

    • gorillagirl
      gorillagirl suzanne95756

      Posted

      Hi Suzanne,

      How are you getting on? OK I hope and not in too much pain? I have read your post and replies with great interest as I don't know which anaesthetic to choose (I am also having NHS treatment). I don't have a date yet but will have pre-assessment in a couple of weeks. I too have issues with painkillers and normally only take paracetamol. I was given morphine when I twisted my bad knee but didn't like it much. I'd love to hear how you got on, when you feel up to it!

      All the best

      GG

  • climber
    climber suzanne95756

    Posted

    suzanne95756, i had spinal with NHS (Scotland), no pain or discomfort during the operation in fact during the operation i sung a few verses of "Danny Boy" biggrin. Straight after the operation in the "Recovery Room" (before being moved to the ward) i was able to have a sandwich and soft drink (and all the while feeling no pain or discomfort). So based on my experience i would opt for a spinal

  • kathleen_65043
    kathleen_65043 suzanne95756

    Posted

    Hi Suzanne I had a  spinal block  it took him three attempts to get in because I have a spinal fusion He did say if you couldn’t do it on the third attempt and I would have the general which I did not mind either way Half way through the Op I woke up to hammering that was dreadful I did say you knocking down a wall which I thought was funny but I don’t think the  consultant did 😂 if you do have the Spinal make sure that they  catheter you because they did not with me and it was most  embarrassing  when I realised that I had wet the bed 

    Good luck with you  surgery I’m sure you will be fine 🍀

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