Epidural

tonesp

Finally!! All my tests OK went to see the anaethetist yesterday I should have a new hip in a month.Just one thing She said it will be done using an epidural.Anyone had this procedure and can tell me what to expect?Thanks Tony :?

frogmorton

Hi Tone

Good news!!

I am well-impressed at the speed it's all going.

Now I am no expert on this epidural malarky but I know you recover way quicker than with a general anaesthetic so that hAS to be good.

I beleive you are out of your tree and dont feel a thing, but i will let those who know first hand fill you in.

Love

Toni x

julie47

Hi tonesp

good news for you.

dont know about epidurals either , just to say I am happy for you

juliepfx

angel1

Pleased to hear that you are about to have your op, Tony.

Regarding the epidural, I had this when I had my TKR, and firmly believe that it really helped my recovery. You will be offered some sedation along with it, if you are bothered about hearing what goes on. I wasn`t, so refused - I`m a nosy ****, and also like to stay in control as much as possible - and I found the whole procedure amazing. I was monitored every minute, and kept informed throughout.

Whilst I was fully aware that I had had a major operation, it never felt like it. Whilst fellow patients, who had GA took a day or two to rid their bodies of it, I was up having physio later the same day. I left hospital after three days, walking with just one stick. I can`t praise this procedure highly enough, although this was just my experience, of course, and may not work for everyone.

Good luck Tony, and let us know your exact date, when you have it. I think you have said that you are originally from my part of the world...Liverpool, so tarra well lad........Ange.......X

dorcas

Hi tonesp

I've not had a hip op with epidural... but there is at least one peep who has so I hope s/he will be along to offer you some first hand advice.

I did have an underarm nerve block to have my elbow op and would be happy to have that again.. As well as the nerve block I was given light sedation and also had headphones on with my choice of music playing. They screened off the arm so I couldn't see what they were doing but you do hear some of what's going on.... but absolutely no feeling/ pain. The arm felt for all the world like a block of wood. A nurse was also beside me the whole time which was reassuring. Recovery is immediate and the advantage of the block is that you have complete absence of post op pain for 12hrs or so.

I know that's not the same as a hip op but hope it helps a little anyway.

Iris x

cthornley

I had one when I had my son, which isn't quite the same.... yours should be less eventful as it took them ages to get the needle in as I had to stay dead still , great but I was in the midst of having some very powerful and painful contractions!

It was a weird sensation, I didn't feel any pain but I could feel that something was going on, and for a c-section, that is that somebody was rootling around in my tummy :shock: , it wasn't very pleasant, and I really didn't like it much. I was also terrified so being awake when wheeled in wasn't a great helper but I guess this was more to do with it not being planned and being an emergency proceedure.

I have however had a GA before and the recovery with the Epi was far far better, just a bit tender afterwards.
I'm not sure if thats much help sorry
Chrissie

tkachev

Hi Tone,

I opted for a spinal and like Ange felt more in control and recovered well. I also took my I pod into the op to take my mind off things. there were a few hammering vibrations but no pain.

Had a nice chat with the Russian anaethesist too.


Elizabeth

dachshund

Yes i agree with Ange i had epidural and i got over it a lot quicker than a ga.
dont worry its soon over.
joan xx

speedalong

Hi
Wow that's good - just enough time to get organised and not too long to think about it or have to wait.

I had an epidural and a GA for my first THR ... I don't think they did them without a GA in those days. The epidural was great though and took care of the pain post op until the next day when it gradually wore off and was replaced with painkillers.

I had a Polish anaesthesist this time round and he spent ages telling me that in Poland they preferred to use an epidural and he then gave me reasons for why it was better. Then he told me, that unfortunately he didn't have that option - I was to have a GA as that was the procedure at this hospital ...!! I had a nerve block too - but it was less effective than the epidural had been at dealing with the pain post op.

Speedy

marion1952

HI Tony

I had a 'spinal block' when I had my hip replacement in May. It's a similar process to an epidural, I think..

This is what happened to me:
The Anaesthetist and Anaesthetic Nurse met me in the Anaesthetic Room, which was just next to the Operating Theatre. I had to sit on a trolley with my legs over the side, feet resting on a chair. I had to bend forward slightly and put my arms round a pillow so that my back was curved. I had to keep very still. The Anaesthetist then injected the anaesthetic into my back.. it was just a prick. He then asked me if my bottom felt 'tingly' - which it did - which was a sign the anaesthetic was starting to work. I had also asked to be asleep during the operation, so he also injected a sedative.. that's the last I remembered until the operation was almost over, when I woke up and could hear voices and was aware of the theatre staff moving me around, but could not feel any pain. The consultant surgeon spoke to me and told me everything had gone well and I was wheeled to the Recovery Room. After about an hour the Recovery Nurse touched my feet and asked me if I could feel them - which I could - so that was a sign the spinal block was wearing off. I had one of those morphine drips in my hand and was told to press it if I could feel any pain and that would release the morphine in limited doses..

I would have a spinal block again. The only thing is that it can cause a drop in blood pressure afterwards - that's what happened to me when I got back on to the ward - so I had to stay in bed for the whole of the next day and the nurses took my BP every 15 minutes - day and night - until my BP returned to normal.

Hope this is helpful!

Marion

hileena111

Hi...yes I had a spinal block as well.....as far as I know {in our hospital anyway} the difference is....... you have a spinal block and painkillers afterwards orally. Whereas with an epidural after the op it stays in {not like when you you give birth} and it realeases painkillers that way.

Marion......like you say I sat with my legs hanging over the table while they gave me the spinal block.....when I was on the trolly afterwards I said......my knees are bent...I was flat.....the porter said no they aren't I said yes they are....he then said were you sitting on the table when they gave you the spinal block? yes.....well your brain still thinks your knees are bent LOL LOL but I can assure you that you are completely flat...Isnt the brain a weird thing???
Love
Hileena

marion1952

Oh Hileena - that's very funny!

Marion x

hileena111

LOL But Marion I was so sure they were bent LOL

Love
Hileena

frogmorton

Hileena

That sounds quita alarming!! If I was there I'd have bent em for you and straightened a'em again to see if you felt better

Tone - do you have a date to tell us?

Love

Toni xx

hileena111

Hi....sounds like younwill be going in about the sametime as me....8th Oct.....which is 5 weeks today. Youmight be in beforeme and out recovering.....Let us know

Love
Hileena

speedalong

Oh Hileena - that must have been a very odd sensation .. the brain is intriguing isn't it. I wonder if you will have the same sensation this time round?

Marion - EVERY 15 mins?! Day and night?! Nightmare! Bet the nurses were willing your blood pressure to go back up as much as you were. Perhaps it is a technique to try and annoy the patient so that the blood pressure shoots up again?! (joking!)

Speedy

elainebadknee

I couldnt do an epidural...I am terrified of needles and i dont like the thought of being awake..They can do whatever they like to me as long as im asleep.....My dad did have an epidural for his TKR but he said it was a weird feeling of cold liquid going into his back and that he remembers talking throughout the op but not in detial to the anaesthetist and some background noise....He was really ill after his op too, projectile vomit, he lost consciousness and they tried 2 lots of painkillers for him before threat of one up the bum!!!

Epidural terrifies me...but most hospital stuff does mind you..

Elainex

happyhopper

tonesp wrote:

Finally!! All my tests OK went to see the anaethetist yesterday I should have a new hip in a month.Just one thing She said it will be done using an epidural.Anyone had this procedure and can tell me what to expect?Thanks Tony :?

When I went in for my resurfacing op I had a full general anaesthetic. I was not given the PCA button and suffered from extreme stiffness for months afterwards. I have since learnt that the norm is an epidural or a spinal with a light general. If you look at the Good Surgical Practice on the internet, you should have the chance to make an informed choice.
When I was in hospital an 86 year old man presumably was given the same anaesthetic and lost his mind for several days. He recovered after a few days, when I heard he was asking the nurses for sex!!
My new surgeon has assured me he will make me more comfortable next time. The old surgeon will be getting a formal complaint!! Good luck Happy hopper