Anesthesia-Epidural vs.Nerve Block

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MauiGirl

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I am making surgical inquiries and the choice of anesthesia seems to be one that is very important.

Would you share your post-op experiences and which anesthesia you were given: Epidural vs. Femoral Sciatic Nerve Block? :sct:

Thanks
 
Hi there i had a nerve block 2 times only thing about those is mine kept coming out........If i had a choice i would have had an epidural........my dr didnt give me a choice tho......I wish you good luck on your surgery when is it.............?
 
I had a spinal and wouldn't have anything else! Even though I famously said if they ever wanted to give me a spinal they'd have to catch me first! But I had a terrific anaesthetist and never regretted it at all.

One thing people sometimes run adrift on is thinking that having a spinal (or epidural as some call it) they will therefore be awake during the op but this isn't so. In all my years of nursing, the vast majority of spinal patients were sedated througout. The only ones that weren't were those who had asked to be awake :)pzld:) or had some serious heart or lung condition and the anaesthetist felt it would be in their best interests not to be sedated. Odd thing is, another chap would have been happy to sedate them too so it's all down to personal choice (their's not the patient's!). So I made it clear to my chap that I wanted to be out of it once he'd finished the spinal and he was good as his word! I didn't wake up until I was in recovery and most will say the same.

However, I did also have a femoral nerve block as well which he put in just before I was taken off the table. I'm afraid the sciatic nerve block is not something that is practised much here in the UK so cannot comment.
 
I tend to lean toward spinals though I have had generals also. Your mind will be clear after surgery unlike with a general. Plus, I have asthma and the anesthesiologists prefers the spinal over a general for people with respiratory problems. I woke up during one of my knee replacements and I heard the drill. The anesthesiologist told me they were almost done and then back to sleep I went. It really was no problem. (Coming up on surgery #14 so I unfortunately have a lot of experience)
 
Hi, MauiGirl....welcome to BoneSmart! So glad you joined the forum and we look forward to helping you in whatever way you need.

Usually the surgeon will have a preference for what type of sedation is used. Mine preferred the epidural but would have given me a general if I had asked for it. I was fine with that epidural...up and walking the next morning.
 
The choice really isn't between the spinal/epidural and the femoral nerve block; the nerve block doesn't deaden the entire knee, so it would be unsuitable for surgery. It is used to help with pain after the surgery. The real choice is between the spinal and general anesthesia. I had the spinal with "who knows or cares where you are" drugs and I would highly recommend it. No nausea after surgery, no foggy-headedness.
 
I had my femoral blocks while I was wide awake in pre-op awaiting surgery. Had general as my major hospital in Atlanta only does generals for knee and hip replacement...not sure why that is.

BTKR 8/25/09
 
They put mine in when I was in the recovery room--only for the second surgery, though. After the trouble controlling pain with the first surgery, it seemed like the way to go. It did help.
 
Thanks everyone for your response. I am learning more every day! No schedule yet. I am trying to get Dr. to commit to sending me to a rehab hospital following surgery. I've heard that the rehab is ciritical to the speed and success of the surgery. Your experiences?
 
I came straight home--no problem. They taught me what to do in the hospital, and then I started outpatient physical therapy about two weeks after surgery. It worked just fine that way for me.
 
Rehab kind of depends on what type of help you have at home. If you have a very attentive spouse or friend who can stay with you a week or so, it's possible to go straight home. If it's just you....the rehab center will be a better choice, in my opinion. Or....if you want to make things much easier for your spouse or caretaker, the rehab does give you more therapy and movement than you might get at home. Some people feel that boosts their recovery.
 
Gosh, I would not even consider a rehab place--I wanted to be home. Left the hospital on the second day--what a relief to get home. I did not use crutches or walker and could go up and down stairs by the time I got home. I went to pt in the gym on the third day.
 
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