Spinal Block

Hi Billy

No idea why anyone would say that having a spinal block was painful, in my case on both occasions it was a doddle. I had both hips done 12 months apart and though the procedure was slightly different, which may have been down to the

anaesthetist, but in general the procedure in both cases was as follows:

1. Lower back over the spine was cleaned and I was asked to arch my back like a cat. A needle was inserted - which I didn't feel at all.
2. Anaesthetist chatted to me until my feet felt warm and then I couldn't move my legs.
3. I was then sedated and taken to the theatre.
4. I knew nothing and felt nothing until I came round in the recovery room and had a cup of tea and a biscuit.
5. I didn't feel nauseous or headachey or have any side effects associated with a GA.

I would whole heartedly recommend this method over a GA!

very quick and easy, begins working within minutes.

They will give you a sedative so you will be sleeping through most of it, I dont remember much.

good luck

I had spinal with no sedation. I sat in the trolley and they injected into the spine, no worse than having a flu jab but it was in my back. I am surprised someone told you it was painful. I must admit I was having an argument at the time with the assistant to the anaesthetist who said I would not be able to see the bit that had been cut off my hip at the end of the operation. Luckily the surgeon ignored her and a nurse showed it to me on a petrie dish. It was rather as if she were displaying an antique at Sothebys! She turned it round and showed me all sides of it.

The actual op was fine. It was just as if I were lying on a sofa listening to the workmen next door. They wrapped me in a special warming blanket for the op.

I thoroughly recommend the spinal, although I did find it bit painful when the anaesthetic was going in. (Reading all the other comments, maybe I was just unlucky. )

However after that, all totally fine. I was wheeled into theatre, chatted with my surgeon, told him I didn't want to hear it all going on, and he laughed and said he didn't blame me! Then I had the sedation into my hand, and the next thing I knew my surgeon was telling me that it had all gone well. I was having lunch an hour later, and walking using a frame a bit later after that.

I would definitely have a spinal if my other hip needs doing, because the recovery is quicker. I had a GA last year when I had my appendix removed and I felt nauseous for days. (Though of course feeling lousy was maybe because of the appendix and not the anaesthetic!)

Wishing you all the best Billy.

HI!

So... the spinal block. I was terrified of it...BUT(!) it was such a relief!

With my first hip, i didnt have a spinal block and woke up in pain I didnt know could exist. I needed a tremendous amount of pain medicines to get comfortable, then was nauseous from it and threw up...

I was a mess.

My second hip was done 3 years after with a spinal block. I was more scared of that than the surgery. And Im a surgical nurse that assists in these every day!

I was given versed once rolled into ER... told to sit on the side of the OR table with my arms around the very nice OR tech, and then...LIGHTS OUT! Next thing i knew i was done and completely pain free in recovery. I was up walking to the bathroom an hour later at 10am and didnt need a pain pull until before bed.

It was painless and made recovery sooooo much better!!

HOPE THAT HELPS!

Good luck!

hi i had both hips done this time last yeari had spinal and GA

I was dreading the spinal but it was absolutely fine no different to a little scratch on your back x

Just had someone in who said its extremely painful, a friend of hers took 2 hours to get the spinal done lol