knee replacment information and help

oneday

hi all
i have a friend who is going to have a knee replacement and hopefully under epidural due to other medical issues that may make a full general anaestihic a problem.
Has anyone on here had a knee replacement with an epidural if they also have problems with their spine, think its spinal stenosis. Friend concerned that because of back problem an epidural may be ruled out but then worried about a general due to other medical problems.
thanks for any help peeps.

tillytop

Hello oneday!

Sorry, can't help with this but I am sure others will be along soon...

Hope it all goes well for your friend.

Tilly xxx

constable

Dont know if it's any help, but I had a hip replacement with an epidural, and I have arthritis in the lower spine, and a curvature of the spine.

Karen xx

oneday

thanks for your replies.
I think from searching internet that epidural seems okay for the op, its just she worried they wont do it cos of spinal problem.

skezier

Hi Oneday,

Hope your keeping ok?

I think stenosis tends to be the S ones and with luck below the lumber sack. I know in my case they couldn't get anything out of the lumber sack as its compressed but they did knock out my legs with some of the higher ones so it might still be possible to do it that bit higher?

I hope someone who does know comes in and tells you but just wanted to leave a hope for your friend that it can be done by a block and that it goes well. Cris x

oneday

Hi Cris
I havent a clue about any of this! Do you mean that an epidural has to go into a specific site? and that someone with spinal stenosis its in an area different to area epidural goes into?..if yes, it should be okay??
She wants epidural as worried about general due to other medical conditions which makes a general a bit of a concern.
I would just like some info to reassure her a bit,
thanks.

skezier

Hi Oneday,

As I remember it would be the lumbers and hopefully that is above her stenosis.....

legs is having one and just asked hr which vertebrae they are going to use. i can't remember but I have had some epidural nerve blocks back along and the used the nerve block in one of the thoracic ones and it worked......

I don't honestly know cus its so long ago and my brain is mashed but hopefully Legs has been told which one it is...

It does tend to be the lumber and I have some vague recollection its done through the sack at the end f the lumbers......

Do you know if her stenosis is the S's ones? If it is with luck it will be ok.

Hopefully Legs will know. I hope she isn't worried too much and I know they will keep her safe. Cris x

bertyboy

hi Oneday i had an epidural for my tkr but i cant tell you where they put it , just that it wasent as bad as i expected , hope all goes well x

oneday

thanks again all.
didnt know what tkr was till now!

oneday

i think the stenosis is around number 4 or 5 if that gives any info?

lindalegs

Hi Oneday,

I don't know which vertebrae they'll insert the needle but will be able to let you know when I've been mended. I've read my leaflet and it doesn't tell you it just says the lower back.

It says that an epidural is different to a spinal block although both involve an injection of local anaesthetic between the bones of the spine, but they work in a slightly different way. I'm having a spinal block.

(Thanks Cris for alerting me to this )

Will let you know later if your friend hasn't found out already

frogmorton

Good to see you Oneday

I do hope all goes well for your friend....l am sure it will and she makes a rapid recovery.

Love

toni xx

oneday

Hi girls, learn something everyday!....having info stops the fear of the unknown. I have told my friend and she has been looking further into it and feels more reassured.
linda-good luck x

hileena111

Hi,
Dont know if thiws is any help but I have scoliosis {curved spine} and had a spinal block for my hip replacement.
Admittedly they couldnt get the injection in at first...I could hear them talking behind me and sayinging...cant get this in......but another anaesthertist came along and did it first go.
Love
Hileena

skezier

Hi One day,

The mums might also know?

L4/5 is more of a dodgy place as thats where the sack is... its bout there anywhere but my anat and phys is so rusty.....

I was thinking about this today. I didn't want to listen to what was being said at the time and could either your friend or you on their behalf phone and ask? If you explained she was getting worried they should be able to tell you.

Legs will know where hers is done and I think its around the l5 area but they can and have nerve blocked me in the thoracic and its taken out my legs for a short time till the local wore off... the migrame dye was around L1 and that left me unable to feel the legs as well so what I am thinking is there will be a way round it..... there must be really.

I got a friend who could do with a nerve block rather than a ga... so if you don't mind could you let me know if they can still do it if L4/5 is no good?

You take care and we will keep thinking... Till legs tells us Cris x

oneday

Hi
she rang them up about her concerns. they were very good and surgeon spoke to her.
i will let you know what happens.
thanks everyone. xx