spinal vs general

I had a spinal and general because the spinal lasts around 4 hours and my surgery took 7 and it just wouldnt have been safe. But i wish i could have just bad the spinal because general doesnt half take it out of you. All 14 of my surgeries have been done under general but its so hard to come round from general and you feel groggy, iv been pulling clumps of hair out since and it generally just isnt nice but iv heard nothing but good from those who had a spinal xx

I had spinal and sedation was fantastic x cold feeling on back not painful then they sedated me next thing I was waking up in recovery :-) couldn't believe I had been done lol felt very with it :-) x hope all goes well :-) x

I had spinal block + sedation and would thoroughly recommend it.  There is none of the queasy feeling from a GA and you recover far quicker with the spinal block (and sedation).  The spinal block also gives better pain management too.

I keep adding 'and sedation' because the procedure is usually referred to a 'spinal block' and I was terrified that I would be able to hear/feel/smell what was going on.  Well I didn't - in my case the spinal block meant I was numb from the waist down and the sedation meant I was completely unaware of anything that was going on.

I will have to have my other hip done in the near future and will have no hesitation in having the spinal block + sedation.

So, to summarise from my experience, I have no problem in recommending this method.

Good luck

I had general. I would have beaten them up if they'd given me spinal. I am terrified of surgery... I woke feeling great. I think it doesn't really matter as long as you have a good doc and you get properly knocked out.

Spinal and general both. USA

 

I initially wanted a GA as wanted to be out of it so to speak.

Was convinced spinal was better for pain control post op and less side effects of nausea or drowsiness etc.

I was sedated also and the anaesthetic staff were fabulous.

I dod not feel a thing and slept through most of op. Drifted awake and heard noises but was so utterly chilled didnt have a care and was promptly put out again lol.

However post op i vomited quite a lot, had low bp and needed a urinary catheter for apprx 48hrs. Think this was just unlucky....doesnt mean it will hdppen to you.

You will be in good hands and on recovery before you know it...good luck xx

spinal and sedation, did not know a thing about the Opperation and woke up feeling great. Will not hesitate to have it again when my other hip needs doing. 

Speak to the Anaethatist before and he/she will reassure you  

X

I was supposed to have spinal + sedation but they couldn't get the spinal in so ended up having general. Had to 'enjoy' the side effects of the general! Hope it works for you as heard nothing but good from those it does work for

I had a spinal with sedation and loved it.  So much easier to recover from.  I did become aware of the surgery once or twice.  I could hear the hammer and I could hear their voices -- couldn't discerne what they were saying.  Hearing that didn't really bother me....I was thinking maybe I should let them know.....and then off to Lah-Lah land I went again.  A nurse told me that my heart rate probably increased and they knew to give me a bit more of the sedation.  Because of the spinal I couldn't feel a thing during that 'aware' time.      Good luck -- I think you'll prefer a spinal if it can be done.

I have had 2 hip replacements, the first was done under general due to problems with my spine meant they were unable to get the needle in to do the spinal block. I only had low blood pressure afterwards and no other ill effects.

On the second one they were able use a spinal block, apart from the strange feeling of being moved around and noises during the operation that was also no problem. However it took longer for me to be able to feel my legs when I was back on the ward.

In my case overall not a lot of difference but I preferred the GA.