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Spinal anaesthetic experiences

Posted , 11 users are following.

carol33300
carol33300

Hi, I had my THR 6 days ago and just wondered if anybody had experienced similar problems with their spinal anaesthetic with sedation.

I was awake at the end of the surgery and could feel the stitching being done. More a sensation than pain but in the recovery area I could immediately move my unoperated leg and had excruciating pain in my operated leg. Was able to move this leg shortly after as well. Took a while for any pain relief to kick in and really shocked me, didn't expect to have any immediate pain until several hours after the op. Have to have my other hip done in 8 weeks time so praying the anaesthetic is stronger next time round.

It's quite a shock to the system having this surgery but have to say the information on this forum is brilliant.

2 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • rose0000
    rose0000 carol33300

    Posted

    That sounds horrendous Carol. It does sound like they didn't use enough or it stopped working. My spinal lasted for at least 4 hours after my operation, and you s Gould be able to feel absolutely nothing. I was numb from the waist down.

    Before your next operation I think I would be looking for some assurances this will not happen again.

    It is a traumatic operation even in the best of outcomes - a shock to the system even when prepared and you definitely need to feel confident for your next one.

    I do hope they have your pain under control today -

    • carol33300
      carol33300 rose0000

      Posted

      Hi Rose, took 2 days for the pain to be managed better. I'm home now and it's all beginning to sink in. I had a discussion with the anaesthetist on Day 3, I couldn't talk about it before thenas was so upset and my levels were calculated on various factors, will definitely be increased for next hip. I'm 54 but feeling like I'm 84 right now!

    • rose0000
      rose0000 carol33300

      Posted

      I would be upset too. Especially if you didn't choose to be present for the operation, and would rather not have those memories. Given what happened you could ask for GA to be sure if you wanted to, just to be certain.

      It is a horrible shock - my physio said it was because the primitive part of the brain recognises a serious injury even though you ' know ' and prepare for the operation- your body still feels behaves as though it has been assaulted. This does feeling wear off in a few days. I am on day 14 and feel completely normal now. Have done for the last few days but before I felt like a fragile broken bird - you must be kind and gentle to yourself, follow your instincts, allow others to really take care of you and you will soon feel so much better x

  • dalmation
    dalmation carol33300

    Posted

    Well I woke up as they were just finishing and I had a sensation of something been done but what they were doing I haven't got a clue.

    i think the anaesthetic was expecting this though as he was talking to me as I was waking - if that makes sense - told me they were just finishing and then they took the screen away and I could see the Theatre but it all seemed to be over. Certainly no pain.

    couldnt moved my legs for a good 2 hours maybe more.

    However it seemed to take a long time when they put the spinal in for the leg they were going to operate on to go numb. The other leg went numb much quicker but for this reason I'm glad I was only having a spinal and could say NO still got feeling - this has always been a terrible fear of mine with a general anaesthetic not being properly under, so I was glad I opted for a spinal and had some ability to communicate 

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 carol33300

    Posted

    Carol - Yes I woke up towards the end of my first surgery, but no pain, the anthetisit must have realised, as I clearly remember his face in mine, and saying we are going to put you back to sleep.  Second time round I woke up in recovery area, with someone telling me it was all over, and then the pain kicked in, all I can say is ooooouuuuucch, but they did deal with it fairly quickly. A few minutes later was asked if I wanted to ring my husband to tell him all was well, which I did, I had been delayed all day, and they knew I was worried for my ill husband, as I finally went into surgery.
  • mic71403
    mic71403 carol33300

    Posted

    Hi Carol

    Greetings.....hope you are feeling better now and in less pain.

    To be honest I think you are braver than me cos I had a general anaesthetic which, as planned, wiped be out completely

    I also didn't want to see the gory dvd either!

    Personally I'd go for a GA any time, but someone here wrote the spinal was good and enjoyed chatting to the surgeons!

    Happy healing

    Mic.x

  • Thursday_Next
    Thursday_Next carol33300

    Posted

    I was awake before they ended but couldn't feel anything.  I was wearing my iPod and I remember selecting and changing the music I had on, chatting to the anaethetist and some of the operating room staff, asking when I could have my cup of tea etc.  Whilst I was doing this the surgeon was sewing up the wound and I also heard them doing their counts to check they could account for equipment used, swabs used etc.  The spinal did not start to wear off until I was well back into recovery and I had no pain at all.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 carol33300

    Posted

    hi carol, 

    well, you get a vote from me !!!  

    seems like a nightmare  hence my choice is GA ... 

    wow, 2nd one in 8 weeks ???? Are you sure you go for spinal again?

    take very good care of yourself the coming weeks Carol - 

    big warm hug

    renee

     

  • carol33300
    carol33300

    Posted

    Thanks for sharing your stories. This forum makes such a difference knowing someone will have had a similar experience or can relate to your situation. I don't want to think about hip no.2 just yet but will need a great deal of reassurance before opting for a spinal again!

    Happy healing everyone!

    • rose0000
      rose0000 carol33300

      Posted

      I don't blame you. Way too soon. Forget about it and focus on being well, and getting your first hip fixed and out of the way. Two weeks onwards you will feel much more positive about the whole thing but for now it is too soon. Sending you big hugs x
  • jo37353
    jo37353 carol33300

    Posted

    Hi Carol , that just sends shivers thru me , they talked me into the block, but I made them promise to put me under if not all well, It came to my time and they tried and tried to put it in, it wasn';t happening, so they knocked me out, they could see I was getting disturbed,and it was so painful as they were trying, I could hear the surgeons, and was praying for them to just put me out. Then voila, they gave up, I was so grateful. Under I went. I have to have other hip done eventually, and I will asked to be knocked out this time lol I think they will agree with me this time, my spine def doesnt like needles.

    Hope all gpoing well with you smile onwards and upwards ...... Thank you for sharing your experiance, 

    • carol33300
      carol33300 jo37353

      Posted

      Thanks Jo, I think I may have a general next time round,it'll be hard to reassure me it won't happen again. It's early days for me, taking if easy at home but can manage with one stick round the house so I'm pleased with that. Still need the pain meds though and sleeping is awful!
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 jo37353

      Posted

      Jo37353 - I having had spinal three times, once for hysterectomy, for pain relief afterwards they told me. They seemed to have probelms getting it in, and knocked me out before, they did it as I woke up with spinal, 2nd time with THR, grinding feeling as it was put in, but no pain, 3rd time for THR, a little more nervous, but had met young chinese heritage Dr when he put in needle in back of hand, very gentle, and very kindly, and very re-assuring, telling me he would hold my hand when they did the spinal, but time came, and he was the one doing it, I said something about holding my hand, he laughed, and said this will have to do, and gave me a rub on my back, he got the spinal in sooo easy, and then told me all done. I think it comes to the skill of the Dr, some have the skills on paper, but no ability and others have the ability but are lacking the paperwork. My sister who is a director of nursing told me there are certain Dr's out there who she would not let them touch her with a 40 foot barge pole, good people to ask are the nurses, they will tell you who are the good Dr's even if not in quite so many words, scary, but I assume that goes across all trades, I know it does in the building trades, a neighbour of ours, even though he knows my husband has heart failure, has come recently, and got him to supervise his builder, after half and hour my husband said get rid of him, hopeless, but he has the paperwork saying he is qualified, what to put up shelves??????, but structural building, we just don't know, my husband 50 years a builder said he doesn't have a clue.
  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK carol33300

    Posted

    Doesn't sound right to me - I had no sedation, but couldn't feel anything below the waist for ages afterwards, and definitely couldn't move leg or toes after the op.

    Let the anethetist know how it went, maybe you needed a bigger dose of painkiller next time.

    Graham

    • carol33300
      carol33300 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hi Graham, we talked it through and apparently I'm in the small percentage of people who just need more than the norm required dosage. No way of knowing without prior experience. Bad luck really. I'll be given a much higher dose next time round.
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK carol33300

      Posted

      Oh good - you'll be fine next time then.  It really was the best way for me - no pain, less risks and you recover much quicker than a general.
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