NOTES - Surgical Procedures :

Femoral Nerve Block anesthesia - - Posted by wofford99 (wofford99), 27 August 2003

I am getting ready to have my 13th knee surgery to debride what is left of my patellar cartilage.  The doctor wants to do a femoral nerve block and give me IV medication. Has anyone ever had a femoral nerve block and do they give you pre-op sedation? Thanks! Margaret
Posted by Jennie (Jennie), 28 August 2003

Hey Margaret

I have had a femoral nerve block on 4 out of my 5 surgeries but only after the op never for the surgery, my os uses it as pain managment after the surgery.

Good luck
Love,Jennie
Posted by Erin (Erin), 28 August 2003

Margaret, I had knee surgery 3 years ago and had a femoral nerve block but I also had general. They wanted the block for pain control for after the surgery. But I had gotten the IV first with the pre-med and I was in and out of unconsciousness, so I was out when they did the block. I hope this helps, and I hope that your surgery goes well with no complications.
Good luck  
Erin
Posted by missmyknee (missmyknee), 28 August 2003

HI Margaret

I also had a femeral nerve block with my surgery. I t was given while I was still under anesthesia and used for pain control after. I was pretty sore at the injection site when it wore off .

Pam
Posted by wofford99 (wofford99), 28 August 2003

Thank you to everyon who responded to my email! This femoral nerve block is my anesthesia along with the IV sleepy medicine. I am not having a general so I just don't want to feel anything because after 12 surgeries I have already been through enough. I have a fear I am going to feel them digging in my knee and not be out of it enough. I get very uptight for surgery. Anyway, thank you to everyone! Margaret
Posted by sha22 (Sharon), 29 August 2003

Margaret,

I had a femoral nerve block with both my TTT last year and my tibial elevation surgery 2 months ago-it is a wonderful thing! For my most recent surgery I had a spinal and IV sedation but I was very very sedated to the point where I was totally out for the whole surgery. They did the nerve block and the spinal both when I was sedated so I have no memory of it happening. Try not to worry, the anesthesiologist will make you as comfortable as possible. Good luck!!!

Sharon
Posted by Chuck (Chuck), 9 September 2003

Margaret;

I had TKR and a subsequent manipulation. Both times I had a femoral nerve block and general ana. My os uses suggests them to help with pain management for the 24 hour period after surgery.
I had 6 previous surgeries, I wish a few of them had used FNB's.

Chuck
Posted by wofford99 (wofford99), 19 September 2003

I had my surgery on Wed morning at 7:30 and my femoral nerve block has not worn off yet- it's been 48 hours. My doc said to call his office tomorow (Fri) if it has not worn off by then. Most of my leg is fine except the numb area of the quad muscle- ugh! Margaret
Posted by neil (neil), 27 September 2003

i had a nerve block done just prior to surgery this past monday. i was told it would last 15 to 18 hours, ended up being more like 30hours. a good alternative to my otheer option of morphine drip, but once it wore off, during sleep on cpm machine, pain was off the scale, but i would opt for it again.
neil
Posted by Kimby (Kimby), 22 November 2003

Had a TTT and ligament reconstruction - the doc put the line in my low back prior to surgery and they started the block sometime while I was knocked out.  Strangely enough, I was moving my feet a few short hours later, but though I could move them I couldn't have stood up to save my life.  The morphine drip was fed into the same line.

But since I was only in the hospital overnight and the meds did help with pain, I was very very pleased.  But I can't imagine not having a general - you are a brave soul.  Too many tools to listen to for my liking.  I get freaked out when the dentist turns a drill on!

Kim
Posted by Jennifer_G (Jennifer_G), 24 November 2003

Sounds like you already had your surgery but I will write this for all the poor souls out there getting ready to have one.  I had a femoral nerve block with my first surgery and was given it before I went into surgery.  I was in the anesthesia room before I went into the OR and the head anesthesiologist came in and adminstered it.  I was given a sedative that made me relaxed and a little out of it but I could hear what they were doing and everything.  The doc and the nurse were using some type of hand held device to send waves through a tiny needle to find the nerve.  It didn't hurt one bit!  The put the needle right near my bikini line and I felt my leg twitch every now and then.  Once they found the femoral nerve it was all over.  A few seconds later my surgeon was there and I could see that he was touching my leg but I couldn't feel it one bit!  I was very worried about this whole procedure but the IV was way worse than the block!  
Posted by Kimby (Kimby), 26 November 2003

It's funny you mention the IV - I don't think I had a nerve block; they didn't go into the groin area.  I don't like needles - and after my surgery when I was using the very small orthopedic bedpans, I must have pulled the lines out of the bags - I woke up later in the night and found a huge puddle on the floor.  Thank God the morphine line was in my back.  Of course, I was lucky - the lines were wide open and in my arm and I didn't end up with an infection which was very cool.  So, on that front, I can see what you mean.  But I can't imagine the surgery part - when they told me they were doing a spinal I freaked out until I realized they were going to do the general too.  Like I said, even the dentist's drill scares me - I can't imagine what hearing a whole toolbox would be like.  But I'm glad you had a good experience - I'm hoping like crazy for you that maybe you're done with surgery now and won't have to make that decision again!  Have a great Thanksgiving.

Kim
Posted by bbaby471 (bbaby471), 19 February 2004

Hi ,I wanted to give you my opinion about femoral blocks as I know it.
I was told I HAD TO BE FULLY AWAKE FOR IT ,they numb the groin area and then go in with a LARGE needle and push until they HIT the femoral nerve (which makes your leg jump like crazy) after that they back up a little bit and start injecting the meds for the block .
There is an imuense amount of pressue which I found to be QUITE UNCOMFORTABLE. Afterwards I dont remember feeling any different in that leg ,but I can say that my pain in post-op was a whole lot LESS so I have to say it is a cross between GOOD AND BAD it hurts like heck having it done but afterwards it is worth it .
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROCEDURE
Posted by Beauzer (Beauzer), 19 February 2004

Hi,

You don't have to be awake for a nerve block (Anesthesiologists have things called nerve stimulators which help them locate nerves while doing blocks)

For my MCL/medial capsule recon I had a nerve block and didn't even know it.  They wanted to do an epidural and I refused   (Had a REALLY bad experience, won't talk about it unless someone really, really wants to know).  They asked if they could do a spinal or femoral block once I was asleep, so I said yes.  

When I woke up I was told I would be admitted to the hospital unless I thought my pain was OK enough to go home.  I didn't realize that I had had a nerve block so I went home because the pain was tolerable (I was thinking "wow, for a big operation, that really wasn't bad).  Boy, you should have seen me when that thing wore off at about 7PM...

Danielle

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