Knee replacement

nannyhicks49

I will soon be having a knee replacement and I’m really scared, I’m hoping to have a spinal and we walk to the theatre, can anyone tell me what happens when you get to the theatre area

CarylW

Hello @nannyhicks49

It's absolutely understandable that you are anxious as any kind of surgery is an unknown experience. I had a knee replacement in June last year, and walked to the theatre. I have no idea if your experience will be the same as mine but I hope the anaesthetist is as friendly as mine was! I had to sit on the side of the bed while he explained to a trainee what he was going to do (very interesting) and I didn't feel anything. I was then helped on to the bed and wheeled in to the theatre.

I think I was sedated but didn't really go to sleep. I had a hip replacement some years ago and also had a spinal but was put to sleep. The atmosphere in the the theatre was relaxed and quite jovial. They put a blue curtain in front of me so I couldn't see what was going on but I could hear them chatting and the process of the surgery. I felt nothing at all and the anaesthetist kept checking on me. After it finished I was taken to the recovery area and then back to the ward. It took a while for the spinal to wear off, and as my op was late afternoon they didn't get me out of bed until the next day.

Good luck! I have no regrets at all and I'm waiting for the other knee to be done now!

Best wishes

Caryl

nannyhicks49

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/707888#Comment_707888

How long did it take

CarylW

Do you mean the operation? I'm not sure but maybe an hour and a half.