The patello-femoral joint :
Spinal anesthesia?? - - Posted by KM (KM), 10 December 2003
Hi~
I'm having my 2nd TTT (other knee this time) next week, on the 19th. I have always been sick after general anesthesia, and I was told to consider a spinal this time. I was "awake" during screw removal surgery, and didn't mind it, but that was much faster and less involved.
Just wondering what others' recommendations might be-
Thanks so much!
KM
Posted by anasta5ia (anasta5ia), 10 December 2003
KM-
I had a spinal anesthesia with my last Revision on October 22nd. It was so much better than having a general although my reason for having the spinal was so that I could be awake to see & hear what was going on and also so I could talk to my surgeon through the procedure. It was amazing, but a little long cause with everything I had done the surgery was 6 hours and 45 minutes.
I have had problems with getting sick in the past with the generals, but I also had trouble a few hours after the surgery because of the morphine that they put in the spinal. It made me very nauseas and I spent a bit of time puking even after they gave me 4 shots of anti-emetic meds. Also, they usually don't let you get up for 24 hours after they administer the spinal (but sometimes if you throw a fit they let you....Hehehe).
During the spinal they also usually give you heavy sedation so that you are asleep, but it all depends on what you and your surgeon wants.
I am definitely going to have the spinal when I have the same surgery done to my left knee (minus the morphine). I only wish there was a way to have the spinal for a tonsillectomy cause I am dreading having a general for that!!!
Hugs-
Heather G.
Posted by Heather (Heather), 13 December 2003
Just wanted to let you know I'm all for the spinal. I posted on the other thread regarding this if you want to hear my reasonings. I also had a TTT. Good luck!
Heather
Posted by Helena (Helena KTF), 13 December 2003
I had 2 kneesurgeries, I had a spinal with sedation for my scope LR+patellar debridement, just had a spinal for my TTT. The first time the anesthetist gave me a normal dose of pré-meds and a double dose of sedation, that way I was totally knocked out for HOURS! He did is as kind of a "joke", me being the nurse always blabbing and lauching, and he wanted me to be silent during the scope! Haha! (we (anesthetist and me)did the same with him when he tore his meniscus and needed a scope!!!). When i had my TTT i told the other anesthetist I didn't want pré-meds or any type of sedation, that way I was 100% awake during the whole surgery.
I will always have a spinal and not a general anesthetic if I can choose. I have a big fear of vomiting and don't want to be knocked out, plus when U have a spinal your legs stay numb for several hours! I will avoid a general in every possible way! But that's my opinion.
Sticking the needle in your back is not painfull, just uncomfortable. Choose what you want, ask the anesthetist what he/she would choose if he/she was in your shoes.
Helena
Updated Sat Nov 21 2009
