spinal vs general

Hi Annette:

I had general anesthesia. They were originally going to give me a spinal but while in prep for surgery the nurse told the doctor.....my last chest ex-ray revealed multi-level spinal stenosis so they couldn't do the spinal on me...Wishing you luck....Barb

General. No queasiness, woke up at 11.30, lunch an hour later, no ill effects

Hi

I had spinal plus sedation and it was fab. I do not remember a thing and woke up as bright as a button just as the surgery ended - put my make up on in recovery and ate croissants and had a latte. My spinal didn't wear off for a few hours after surgery and the nurses made sure I had plenty of pain relief. I had no sickness or nausea or any side effects - defo recommend it x

I had general both hips as. I requested it l has heard a few stories of people waking up during the spinal in the middle of op and even though you can't feel anything you can hear and see them which is something thats scares the life out me. Yet l have heard a lot of goos stories aboutt the spinal to where people don't wake up at all.. i used to get a scope every 6 months for years and you get sedation for it but after about the 4th time the sedation never worked its like l have built up a resistance to it so for me it was general both hips they also gave you a sort of epidural into the sistica muscle so my bottom half was numb to l came round after my op and felt good the 1st night as l waas numb and cld not feel any pain until both ga and the sort of epidural wore off.

But my reason was thst sedation tends not to work well on me. And l was not to groggy until 2nd day.

X

Hi Annette, 

So many great responses - 

I chose GA for both THR surgeries - Just the thought of waking up in the middle of surgery, or smell or hear anything was just freaking me out -

I just took a deep breath, opened my eyes and was done !!!!

No ill effects - but to be honest I never had spinal or local so can't compare -

Good luck .... do you have a surgery date yet?

big warm hug

renee

Hi Annette, I was petrified of having a SB & after having GA in the past with no complications I convinced myself that was the way to go. Fast forward to joining this forum & several consultations with my surgeon & I did a complete U turn!! I went with SB + sedation & it worked a treat. Despite the anaesthetist having to wake me up during the op (my blood pressure was low), I felt nothing & could hear general chatter & other noise but it was very surreal & felt like it was all happening on the other side of the room to someone else! I would have another tomorrow if I had to. Best wishes x

Hi,i had spinal,wld fully recommend it,u stay numb 4 quite a few hrs aft op and dont have the groggy feeling u get with a general,good luck with op👍 x

Spinal, both times., 

You can choose sedation level too - no sedation (my choice), mild (makes you woozy)or complete (like a general)

The advantages are listed on my website - basically safer and a quicker recovery.

Graham