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THR WITHOUT GENERAL ANAESTHETIC

Posted , 18 users are following.

sarah22500
sarah22500

Hi, I read on here about someone who was nervously awaiting a porter to take her to theatre for a THR without a general anaesthetic. I can't find that particular thread so just asking if anyone has had it done with just an epidural and what it was like? I'm one of those people who gets very anxious when not in control. Trying to wake up properly from a general anaesthetic leaves me very anxious and my pulse rate is very fast until I gain control and can keep my eyes open. I've had this phobia for decades so it's not going to change now. If anyone can give me their own experiences of their epidural THR I would love to hear from you. Thank you.

0 likes, 46 replies

46 Replies

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  • renee01952
    renee01952 sarah22500

    Posted

    hi sarah, 

    I might be the only one responding who chose General Anaesthesia - I absolutely did not want to take any chances to feel, hear or smell anything and certainly not to worry about it prior surgery .. 

    It took some talking but got my way ...

    I took a deep breath, opened my eyes in the recovery room, sucking on sweet popsicle - I was done --

    no side effects , except for some drowsiness - no pain - had some toast and tea, was taken out of bed to stand on both legs (now that is scary) -

    Same story with 2nd THR surgery ...

    I am just such a coward and more afraid that it would not take and being punctured numerous times, you see 

    what dat is your surgery ?

    big warm hug

    renee

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen renee01952

      Posted

      Dear Renee

      I certainly did not want to hear anything during my revision and had part general and part spinal and it was all very easy.

      My previous surgery some five years earlier for a total ankle replacement under a general triggered AF and so I made my concerns clear at the pre op.

      Cheers Richard

    • renee01952
      renee01952 RichardKen

      Posted

      It is good that we have a choice, and spinal, block, epidural are the preferred methods - 

      I know with GA I would be out - not sure if that would be the same with spinal - 

      In the holding room, before taken to OR, I watched how the patient next to me had to be re-injected 5 times before it "took"  - and that is a big needle ...

       

  • anneee95728
    anneee95728 sarah22500

    Posted

    Hi SArah

    I had epidural and sedation for my secondTHR, 3 weeks ago. It was perfect for me. I had my first THR 3 months ago in the same way equally perfect. I just woke up, never felt groggy or sick and was awake for the rest of the day, eating, drinking and going to the loo. 

    It was excellent without grogginess. 

    All the very best. Anne XX

    • Anne68156
      Anne68156 anneee95728

      Posted

      Anne, you mention having two hip replacements in the course of three months. How is that working out for you? May I ask how old you are? Did you have the anterior method?
    • anneee95728
      anneee95728 Anne68156

      Posted

      Hi Anne

      I was 65 between the 2 ops. It's going well. Am just over 3 weeks post second op and am over the immediate post-op awareness shall we say. I had some uncomfortable nights, the leg swelling was a nuisance but all in all am so happy I have had them done this close because both were so damaged. I had epidural and sedation which was perfect for me both times. Back to normal as soon as I woke after the op apart from the numbness from the epidural which works well as pain relief. I didn't have strong pain relief once I left the hospital on day 3. 

      I believe it's the anterior, ashamed to say I forgot to ask. I was 'glued', fantastic recovery. No discharge at all both times. Second scar already looking good. I do the exercises religiously and try to increase my walking distance every other day. My Physio says it's the quality of walking not the quantity so I follow what she said.  I still use 2 sticks until my walking perfect hopefully when I see her again in 3 weeks. 

      I am in the U.K.  

      I wish you so much luck with your hippie pathway. 

      Best wishes. A XX

    • Anne68156
      Anne68156 anneee95728

      Posted

      Thank you for the information Anne. I'm 72 and I'm in the US although I was born and raised in the UK. When I spoke with the surgeon he asked me which hip hurt more and I told him both, but that x-rays indicated that the left hip is in worse shape.He agreed. However, since then I have been experiencing much more pain in the right hip so that is the one I want done first. I was wondering how soon the other hip could be done and I admire you for getting both done in three months. Two more weeks to go and I had a bit of a cry today in fearful anticipation!

    • anneee95728
      anneee95728 Anne68156

      Posted

      Hi Anne

      Your story is like mine. My left was worse on x-ray and scheduled to be done first, then quite suddenly my right became so painful so we swapped and got it done first. 

      Try to be strong, you will be so relieved when you have one done, the awful arthritic pain is gone. Just make sure you have enough pain relief afterwards which will enable you to get more mobile as soon as is possible. Listen to your body, rest if you need to and truthfully for me by 3 weeks post op I am doing so well. I take mild pain relief but that is all. 

      I really had to have the second done because it was slowing my recovery for my first. I am sure your surgeon will advise how soon to go back for the second. 

      Hugs and best wishes 

      Ask me any questions which might help. 

      A XX

      I found baby wipes incredibly useful for a quick fresh-up. I have raised loo seats and a raised chair but that is all. I used in hospital a frame on day 1 of the op and then straight on to 2 sticks. 

      Life without that pain is so wonderful. 

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK sarah22500

    Posted

    Yep - done that ... twice now!

    no pain at all, but aware of everything that goes on.

     

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      I had just a spinal block (not epidural, that is usually reserved for giving birth - there IS a difference), with no sedation.

      The spinal block stops the pain reaching your brain, but does not 'knock you out'.  for most people they then sedate you so that you are unaware of what is going on.  

      See my website for tips on anaesthetic and other things from other hippies on this forum, 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 - 🚀💃 🤸

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hi Rocketman, a lot of people who think they had epidurals obviously had spinal blocks. I blame the hospitals for this misconception. When I went to the pre op presentation they started off by saying "You will normally have an epidural rather than a general". When I asked if they did spinal blocks the trainer said it was a spinal block they did. There was then a discussion on the difference and someone brought up childbirth. It all became a bit chaotic, and probably at the end everyone was totally confused as I am not sure that the trainer knew the difference between spinal blocks and epidural!! 

    • michael11283
      michael11283 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hi Graham

      Ptolomy may well be right that people are confused about this. I had a spinal for my stage 1 and an epidural for my stage 2.

      After the spinal I had sensation in my legs and could get out of bed the day after my op. But after stage 2 the epidural was still in place when I woke up and they wouldn't let me out of bed until a/ the'd removed the tube and b/ I had feeling in my legs.

      But both worked well for me - no pain at all.

      Mike

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK michael11283

      Posted

      Yep - to anyone else reading this :-

      Spinal Block is a 'one shot' pain relief - it cannot be topped up if the operation lasts longer than expected.

      Epidural CAN be topped up, and is used for things like childbirth, and THR's that may take longer than the 'normal' time to complete.

      The tube would have been used to 'top up' the pain relief, and not surprisingly they wanted you to stay still until that was removed..

      They are very similar, but the time frame of the block cannot be extended.

      Graham

  • annone70291
    annone70291 sarah22500

    Posted

    Hi. I debated this question when I had my THR. I'd had GAs before and, as an asthmatic, always woke up very breathless which was frightening. However, the surgeon I went with generally prefers GAs I think. Partly because you have feeling in your legs as soon as you wake up. I was on my feet 4 hours after the op and putting full weight through my operated hip and that was quite reassuring as I knew everything seemed, and felt, OK. I think you can be knocked out with an epidural but it seemed to me the worst of both worlds.  And a very non-squeamish friend who elected not to be tranquillised during the op said it sounded as if they were building a shed! So I had the GA and a very good anaesthetist who made sure I was brought round slowly so I wasn't breathless. It was fine. I'm sure you'll be fine whichever you choose. 

  • anneee95728
    anneee95728 sarah22500

    Posted

    Yes Sarah

    I had spinal and sedation. Bent over in pre-op room for the spinal, it seemed to take longer second time but I only felt a teeny scratch as they say with the local they use beforethe spinal. Last epidural was with twin pregnancy so bending over so much easier this time. 

    Then I was asked to lie on the op leg, they then injected antibiotics thru the cannula in my hand and I was told they were about to put the sedative in, next thing I remembered was waking up in post-op. All done, no sickness and back to room via x-ray. 

    No catheter often nowadays. 

    I hope you have the same journey as me. 

    Much love, luck and hugs. A XX

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