Nerve block and what happens right before surgery

Hi I assume its the same as a spinal which is similar to an epidural . I had a spinal for both of mine last was 2 weeks ago. I found it a very comfortable procedure when I got to the theatre annex they inserted a canula in my arm then the anethasist uses a local anesthetic in your back really hardly noticable after about 10 mins he inerted the spinal block honestly say that both times I felt no pain just a bit of pushing on my back very quickly you start going numb from waist down not unpleasant at all once they position you on your side I was taken throughh to theatre the anethasist then used some sedation via the canula and an oxygen mask was placed over my nose next thing I knew I was waking up with no pain the numbness lasts a few hours and helps control post op discomfort only problem I had was second time the anaesthesia must have worked a little higher up my abdomen and I wet the bed in recovery !!! Honestly nothing to worry about except the bed wetting !

I assume that you are having a spinal block? That is what I had. I think they gave me something prior to the block to make me not care about it! But I was definitely awake for it as I had to bend forward for the procedure. It did not hurt. They do want you to be at the hospital way ahead of the scheduled surgery as they ask a lot of questions, get you set up with IV, mark the hip with indelible pen, prep the area for surgery. And then you wait!!!

Hi Hannah,

I also had a spinal block before surgery. I had to be at the hospital at 5 am for a 7 am surgery. They go through a list of questions, mark the correct hip, etc.... I also had to wipe myself everywhere with antibacterial wipes - I had to do this the night before also. It left my skin a little sticky, but apparently it helps prevent infection. I was wheeled into surgery & was told to sit on the edge of the bed with my feet dangling. They gave me a pillow to hug & I had to bend over. I felt absolutely nothing after that - I woke up in recovery with no pain or discomfort. The block lasted the rest of the day. But I was up on my feet walking with a walker that afternoon - not too far, but they like you to start walking ASAP. Good luck with your surgery!

I had a spinal block, they seem much more popular than general anaesthetics nowadays for hips. You can also have a little or a lot of sedation as you want. I opted for none at all as I wanted to know what was going on. It means you can talk to the surgeon during the operation. Some people have a small amount of sedation and can listen to music which others go for a bit more and know nothing. You may need the extra time as the block is normally done in a separate room and it takes a short time for it to work. 

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I asked if it was a spinal block because I had a bad result from epidural years ago.  The nurse informed me that it was a nerve block on the left leg only. 

Last week I had exactly same as you will have. Posterior too.  Yes after you get admitted you are right, they put it in, and everyone comes in and takes vitals and then they give block and it’s a needle doesn’t hurt. Then soon off you go to surgery.  

Opps I meant to say put IV in 

There’s a lot of waiting around before the op. I had to be there at about 7.15,  went down to theatre at about 10.00. Take something to read... Had the canular put in in a little room outside the theatre, and waited  for what seemed ages. Then someone came and put in the spinal block. There’s a really big pouch of anaesthetic to go in. Felt a bit uncomfortable, but ok.  Once in the theatre the surgeon eventually tipped up, perhaps he’d gone for a bit of breakfast?! They rang for him twice.. (He’d just done a knee replacement.) I told him that I didn’t really want to hear it all, he said ‘I don’t blame you!’ Something went in through  the cannula, next thing I knew he was telling me that it had all gone well. Having lunch an hour later, walking to the bathroom later in the afternoon, brilliant!

 Good luck with yours, Judith 

Hannah, Have a look at my website for information and tips, the address is in my personal info here ...

   https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025

and at the bottom of the moderator's "useful resources" page at

   https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147

Best wishes

Graham - 🚀💃 🤸    ¯\_(?)_/¯

My first hip replacement about 5 years ago now I was in a study about the difference between patients with spinal and those with general.

?Because I was interested I asked about how the study was coming along, and they showed me some of the stats, lack of pain, clear lungs, stay in hospital, all the stats were amazing, that's why so many hospitals are using this method now. 

?Easy as, first time hip No 1, they asked me to hug an orderly, or theatre assistant as I sat on the edge of the gurney, and then he stepped back, so I was completely off balance and bent over, hip 2, they had a frame they attached to the edge of the gurney, with a pillow, leaned into the frame, again the feeling of being off balance, but assistant standing in front of me said we will not let you fall, sweety he was too.

?Then a feeling of a small prick, explained it was a local, then a feeling of pushing for a few seconds, a few words from the Dr's behind me, and then turned me around and laid down, numbness started taking over after that, still attached to spinal 24 hours later as pain relief, I could push a button if I needed more, and gave me a button attached to cord, and yes it worked, but just the feeling of being more numb, but no pain, as nurses had adjusted so a small amount was going in all the time.  Brilliant compared to general, over the years have had both, no sickness, no mucus in lungs to cough up.

I had double hip replacement 10 months ago.....fretted a bit about the block just because it sounds painful....NOT....... when they did it and told me I could lay back down ....I said Did you do it already? I didn't feel a thing!

The admittance procedures seem to differ from hospital to hospital.  Mine went as follows.

Arrived at reception and reported in.  At the appointed time I was called and followed a nurse through to the pre-admission ward.  I was asked to confirm name, DOB, state of health (other than the hip issue) and then asked to get changed into a hospital gown (the one that shows your backside to everyone).  Once I had changed, I put all my clothes into hospital bags which were labelled with my name.  The nurse came back in and I confirmed my details again, the nurse took my blood pressure.  Then I waited.  After about an hour the surgeon came in and I had to sign a consent form.  Once that was done, he wrote on the leg that was to be operated on.  He then left.  And I waited, and waited for probably about 30 minutes.  A nurse came along and asked my name and DOB (get used to this bit, you get asked an awful lot of times), I then walked down to the anaesthetist (trying desperately not to flash people as I went past).  I asked a nurse why the timings seemed a bit arbitrary and was told that the surgeon doesn't know how long an op will actually take until it is in progress - some hip replacements go really well and only take 45 minutes and others take a lot longer - for example my first THR took nearly 3.5 hours but my second only 1.5 hours).

Once you get to this bit, it all happens quite quickly. The actual spinal block procedure is not particularly lengthy.

The method for a spinal block seems to differ from hospital to hospital and even in my case from year to year.  For my first hip op (2016), first of all, the anaesthetist inserted a canula into my left hand.  I was then asked to sit on the bed and arch my back like a cat and a numbing cream was applied and then a long needle was inserted.  I stayed sitting for a few minutes until my feet started to feel warm (a bit of an odd sensation, but not unpleasant), then, I swung my legs round until I was laying down and after a few minutes, the anaesthetist asked me to lift my legs up.  He asked me a few times until I couldn't lift my legs up at all.  Then he said, ok time to go to sleep.  I woke up a couple of times during the operation but couldn't feel anything and was soon put back to sleep.

The next time I woke up was in recovery, where I was taken care of by a nurse.  I promptly burst into tears because I had woken up and the sound of a bag of old bolts bashing together and of course the pain, was gone.  Up to that point I hadn't realised how much pain I had actually been in.

For my second hip op (2017), the approach was slightly different.  A canula was inserted into my left hand and a mild sedative was given.  I was away with the fairies after a few minutes and pretty much didn't care what happened next - which I can only remember in a dreamlike fashion.  The spinal block was given, but not the full dose of sedative, that was only given once I was in theatre.  I was asked to confirm my name and DOB and which hip was being replaced, then I was rolled on to the opposite side to the hip being done and given the full sedative.

Then I woke up in recovery and was given a cup of tea.  I felt marvellous and sent my husband text to tell him all was well.

In my experience I've now had both my hips done with a spinal block and it's brilliant.

My advice would be take something to read with you!

Hi a block is going to be helpful because you can push it yourself every hour around or close to your incision it is different than spinal or epidural. They numb area so you only fill pressure. The preop is kinda lengthy. They take vitals and info while a nurse puts an IV. Anesthesia talks to you too. I had a posterior total hip replacement surgery and they help you walk the next day. Which sounds painful but after you get going it gets better.