general anaesthetic or epidural for Knee replacement

Always always have the general. i wouldnt have anybody sticking needles in my spine. Things can go wrong and you are far safer with the general. You can always ask for them to give you something to combat the sickness.

I had wanted a spinal for my TKR, but I'm not flexible, so it wasn't possible. I had a GA and it was impeccable. I've always been well with anaesthesia, which may be just luck, since the rest of my family are sickies. I wake cheerful and thirsty, craving for tea.

I'd certainly tell the anaesthetist in advance about previous problems. Any problems! They have many solutions and you might find something that really works for you.

Best wishes for your second op - hope you're really comfortable!

Initially I said i wanted a GA when I had my first TKR but I was persuaded by the anaesthetist that I could be made completely unaware while the surgery was carried out with an epidural. I am glad I did. I was completely out of it and when I came round I felt fine and had the added bonus of not being in pain because of the epidural. I was actually looking forward to my dinner which I ate with gusto! I didn't eat more than some cereal for the next six days. Last time I had a GA, like you I was very sick afterwards and very drousy. When I go in for the second TKR next month I will definitely go for the sedation/epidural again.

I had spinal and sedation for both my knees and was fine afterwards no groggy feeling had tea and something to eat as soon as i got back to the ward

I had a spinal with sedation. Never felt a thing and woke up fresh as a daisy.

My problem was the painkillers.They made me I'll. It took almost to months to get my eating back.Stomach was really affected.I had epidural and something to put me under. Knee is progressing well 135 degrees. Had it done Jan. 5. Good luck. At least you know what your in for.

Wow, I guess I'm very fortunate. Had left PKR two years ago and right TKR eight weeks ago today. No spinals for me! Big chicken. Had general for both, as well as two colonoscopies (tmi) under, I think, propafal (sp.) I had absolutely no after effects. No headache, nausea, hangover or pain. Woke up feeling like I had a great nap. Might have a discussion with your anesthesiologist prior to surgery. Pain blocker lasted a good 24 hours and they saw to it with other IV drugs that I didn't get behind the pain curve. So sorry to hear of bad results. 

Hi Tracy, In the area I live in, I was told I would have no choice but an epidural for a knee replacement. I need my two knees done. I am a bit wary of having the operation as I am a carer to my daughter who has severe M.E. and If anything went wrong she has no one else to help her.If I did get my knees done I think I would prefer a general anaesthetic, but it's not an option.

An epidural is a much safer option. It is much easier on your entire body. General will affect your entire body while the epidural will only affect the lower portion. It is also eaiser to recover from.

The biggest reason it is safer/better is because you are breathing on your own. With general, you have to have the tube stuck down your throat in order to breathe.

Of course it has its own side effects but they are much better than general anaestheics.

I can't have an epidural, they don't work on me. My first knee I used general and nerve block. Second knee I went without the block. Pain was more doable without the block. That's just me tho. I had done a good job of getting my leg muscles ready for surgery too. I felt that with the block that when Iit wore off the pain was just miserable all at once. Without the block it was less intense. Good Luck. Let me know how it goes.

I had an epidural. They kept me sedated throughout. It was the best. I was scared at first but I was advised by the anethesiast that general is hard on the whole body, lungs, heart etc. Just try it. 

An old friend who is a surgeon herself suggested I'd find it very interesting to be awake during my TKR and that the orthopaedic surgeon could talk me through it. I like a challenge and had had two pleasant and relaxing cataract ops, so it was worth considering the prospect. I'm a nurse myself and have worked in theatres, so I wasn't scared as such, but the idea of noisy drilling and sawing and hammering bits were definitely off putting! Often surgery is a refined and delicate process, but orthopaedics isn't. I don't think ear plugs or music would've been much help.

The dilemma resolved because I wasn't suitable for spinal anaesthesia. Of course, there isn't that nice nerve block effect with general anaesthesia, but they did use a lot of long acting local anaesthetic at the op site and that kept me comfortable overnight and some of the next day. Day 2 was grimmer, but I noticed that other patients found it sore then, irrespective of anaesthetic method. Not sure type of anaesthetic made much difference to our postoperative pain by then.

As long as you're asleep and they manage your pain afterwards, modern anaesthetics are pretty safe.