What anaesthetics and post op pain relief did folks have?

I had a GA and spinal becausr my surgery was 7 and a half hours long and spinal wouldnt last long enough. All my surgeries have been under GA but the 2 iv had this year were very hard waking up from the GA. It rook me well over 45 mins both times which apparently isnt good. My heart rate after thr was 150, also not good. It takes a lot to shake of a GA and it leaves you groggy and feeling awful. I had my collar bone pin and plated 11 weeks after my thr, when I was back on the ward they tried to get me to stand and walk, well I nearly collapsed on the spot, was shakey, and felt sick. It was horrible.

If id had the choice id have taken the spinal. Yes the pain is bad but they end up doping you up with everything they have after it, i never had a morphine pump but I did manage to battle through the pain. Plus after my GAs i was at the toilet constently, my hair is literally still dropping out in handfuls, and other horrible things they dont mention. Id consider both options carefully before you decide. Goodluck

I had spinal with no sedation at all.

Didn't feel a thing during/after the operation.

I was on Tramadol & Morphine after the first operation, Coedine and Morphine after the second one.

I think there was also some anti-inflammatories such as diclofenac, and Lactulose or Movicol for the constipation that is caused by the analgesics.

I had no problems with pain between spinal and post-op painkillers.  It sounds like you were not given the oral painkillers soon enough after the operation.

hi grainne,

I chose to have general anaesthesia both times ... just didn't want to hear, smell or feel anything ...

just took a deep breath and then woke up. ..

had no problems afterwards except for feeling groggy. ..

got morphine 1st and 2nd night. ...

you will make the right decision .....

big warm hug

Renee 💙

Hi Grainne I'm 12 weeks post tlhr ,I had GA and a

Leg Block which numbs leg for a couple days or

so ,had morphin shot in recovery,from then on just paracetamol and codien,no nasty after affects

no sickness no swelling nothing.Of course sore

from op but after pain of bone on bone nothing.

Walked the next day to loo after night with bed

pan(lovely).Will have again when I have other hippie done hope this helps you .Good luck xx💉💊

I had a spinal and GA when I had my op a year ago. I had trouble being woken up. I remember waking up in recovery just over 4 hours later then surgeon speaking to me telling me all had gone well. Two hours later I woke up on the ward. My husband said I had just been brought up from recovery. Because of allergies I was given morphine tabs for pain relief. My surgeon doesn't believe in having morphine on tap. I was in horrendous pain and also couldn't pee. I had an in  and out catheter the following evening. Next day late afternoon when they checked if I had peed told me to drink more. Well I said I've had 2.5 jugs of water. 3 cups of tea and a bottle of water. How much more do you want me to drink! Nurse put her hand on my bladder and said I will be back. Next moment catheter in and copious amounts came out.  Took another two days before I got back to normal. My pain we later found out was due to nerve damage and once on amityptaline it settled. Don't regret the op though. Good luck x

I had an epidural with sedation and it was great, I don't remember a thing about the op, no real pain after either, didn't need to take all the painkillers they gave me.

Spinal block with sedation, and then a button to push connected to a computer for self admisnistered pain relief, which I didn't need, for about 24 hours, until the following morning, when nurse arrived and said you are going to need that relief the physios are going to arrive in 15 mins.

Pressed button, and started vomiting non-stop with no result.

At that point I knew they had given me morphine even though I had told them not to.

2nd THR again spinal, with sedation, very confident as they told me they would give me fentanol rather than morphine.

Woke up in agony, dr's and nurses in recovery jumped on it very quickly but horrible experience, 10 minutes later on the phone to my husband telling him it was all over and feeling OK.

Again hooked up to computer for on-going pain relief for about 24 hours post surgery.

Only explanation i have is they didn't give me enough long acting pain killer in the theatre to relive that first shock as you wake up, agree it was horrible.

Hi Grainne68

I had a right hip replacement, anterior (under your right palm when your hands are at your sides) with General Anesthetic.  It was replaced with ceramic on ceramic.  I was walking the next day with crutches.  I have had no pain in my hip at all since the operation 4 months ago, so no drugs necessary at all.  I kept all my walking to less than 1/2 mile and spent some time on my back every day to elevate the foot to reduce swelling.  Swelling lasted along time in my view, 12 weeks or so, but it is back to normal now.

The worst part for me was the necessity to stretch the muscles in my thigh to lenghten my leg.  The thigh muscles tore along the top of the knee.  The surgeon said that they just bent my leg out of the way .  But it feels like he stuffed my right toe in my left ear.  So, 4 months out those muscles are not finished healing yet and I still need a crutch or a cane to walk without limping.

I just used a hotwater bottle to help with healing the muscle,  and everything went well without painkillers.  I had an 89 year old friend who had a knee replacement also with no painkillers, because he also had no pain.

I think that it may be that people expect pain and therefore they are geared up for the drugs.

I realize that my experience is not the same as most people but perhaps it is an option.

Also, the surgeon asked me to wait before getting the operation.  I waited willingly about 7 years, perhaps much longer than the surgeon intended. The surgeon was surprised by the amount of atrophy of some muscles, and also the pelvic bone was soft where the cup goes because of the use of a crutch to unweight the arthritic hip.  He is not going to advise a long wait anymore.

Hope this helps to give you a different perspective.

Also, they recommend not crossing your knees, to prevent dislocation.  But I found that if I keep my damaged leg straight, I can put the good foot underneath the ankle and use my good leg to lift the operated leg into the bed.  It worked very well for me. 

Mikey  

Hi, I had spinal block and sedation because I didn't want to hear it all! No pain at all. Straightforward right total hip replacement. Had lunch an hour later, could go to the loo using a frame the same day, crutches on day 1, out on day 2. I think I had morphine, ibroprophin, codeine, not sure what else. I just had everything they offered. It was uncomfortable at night, but I was never in horrible pain. Hope it goes well for you.

Both times pain meds wore off .mthe nurses did not keep my pain meds cut tent when I woke. 

Really difficult to control pain reflexes after THR surgery . The IV pain machine was plugged in a bad wall plug that didn't work the second time. 

Yikes. It took 20 minutes for the staff to figure that one out while I lay there writhing in pain the bed. It's a common thing for many .mas the anesthetic wears off they should have a IV in place  way before the surgery pain is felt which I think is negligence . No reason for anyone to suffer pain like that.

it really ticked me off. Yet held in my anger thank God I could pray for help and relief. Both times the worst pain experience in my life.m

I had GA and PCA for both hip replacement and my knee. The spinal and sedation did not take my fancy. I seem to take sedation and still be awaje and l did nit want to hear or see anything that was happening.

After that i was on oxycodone (shortec) for a while and co codamol. I tried tramadol but it was not doing the job so l changed it to co-codamol.

Laura x

I would keep a bad hip than take another spinal. GA and  PCA works well. Discomfort level 1st night about a 2. Very manageable.