How many have had the femoral nerve block?

[VikingFan]

I saw one post here that didn't speak very highly of it. I was seriously considering that route for my TKR unless I hear a few horror stories.

 

[Jamie]

I'm assuming you are talking about the nerve block that is put into the thigh in the recovery room following surgery, right? I had that as an option but actually never needed it. I wanted to be up and walking as soon as possible.

 

[skichick63]

The femoral nerve block really does not affect how quickly you're out of bed. You will be up first thing in the morning, regardless. In the grand scheme of things, 4-6 hours, really doesn't make that much difference.
I had the block, but would've much preferred the epidural as I had an extreme amount of popliteal pain.

 

[northman22]

I had the femoral block done on both legs before surgery. I also had an epidural. They said the femoral block would last 24 hours or so and greatly reduce the pain. Since I only have that experience I don't really know how much it helped, but I don't have any negative comments about the procedure. It was interesting having them fishing around for the nerve. They moved around until my toes/feet started jerking around and then administered the block.

 

[Jamie]

Ohhh, North.....that sounds gruesome - fishing for the nerve....YUK!!!

In my TKR, I had an epidural (instead of a general anesthetic) right before surgery and they told me with that I would be up first thing the next morning to walk. It worked great and I suffered little discomfort all the rest of the day and night. I had the option once in recovery to take the femoral block as an additional pain killer, but was told since it lasted about 24 hours, it would would likely delay my ability to get out of bed first thing the next morning. It would not be wearing off until the afternoon. Since I was not in any real discomfort (and I had the morphine drip to help), I opted not to do the femoral block because I wanted to be able to get out of bed early the morning after surgery. That worked well for me.

 

[Jamie]

The femoral nerve block really does not affect how quickly you're out of bed. You will be up first thing in the morning, regardless.
I had the block, but would've much preferred the epidural as I had an extreme amount of popliteal pain.

SkiChick....In my case having the femoral block would have impacted when I could get out of bed because it was offered in the recovery room in additional to the epidural administered before surgery. According to the doctor, the femoral block lasts about 24 hours so it would still have been in effect first thing the next morning, as I was in the recovery room until around noon. It sounds like my situation was different from yours. Your post sounds as though you had ONLY the femoral block for your surgery, if I am reading it correctly.

 

[skichick63]

SkiChick....In my case having the femoral block would have impacted when I could get out of bed because it was offered in the recovery room in additional to the epidural administered before surgery. According to the doctor, the femoral block lasts about 24 hours so it would still have been in effect first thing the next morning, as I was in the recovery room until around noon. It sounds like my situation was different from yours. Your post sounds as though you had ONLY the femoral block for your surgery, if I am reading it correctly.

correct, I only had the femoral block which alone does not preclude one from getting out of bed. you sound like you had the $100,000.00 anesthesia...

 

[Jamie]

LOL, SkiChick!!! Surgery was pretty expensive, but not quite that bad. But it was a great orthopedic hospital with many choices and excellent care for the three days I was there. I really appreciated that the doctors explained everything so carefully and allowed me to be a part of the decision making process where possible. It worked well because I actually had very little pain while there.

 

[Nursepair]

I had an epidural then while I wasn't aware (had sedatives too I guess) also had a nerve block. My block lasted until the middle of the 2nd day, but I was still able to walk the day after surgery, just couldn't feel the leg, but it never gave way. No pain in that leg until it wore off.

 

[Doug]

I had the femoral nerve block. It was in for 2 1/2 days. It was great. It also took about a day for the feeling to come back after it was removed.
I was out of bed and walking with it the next day.

 

[grannynanc]

My sister had a femoral block and had virtually no pain for several days. In addition, she was up and walking comfortably and for fairly long distances very quickly.
Nancy.

 

[Gretchendz]

I had TKR on right knee April 23. I had both the epidural and the femoral nerve block. The nerve block was great as I had no pain the first 24 hours--and no need for morphine. It was strange not being able to feel the leg, toes, etc at all. They still get you up and moving the same as if you don't have it.

The only downside was that it took almost a week before I could lift my foot or leg unaided. The muscles and nerves needed that long to "reconnect." I think it slowed my PT for a bit. The muscles and nerves just couldn't remember how to work

I need to have my left knee done later and I think I will use the nerve block again.

 

[JenniferG]

Hi Gretchen, welcome. You're about 4 weeks? Isn't it great to be on the other side of TKR?!

 

[Annemarie]

I never knew of femoral nerve block until I read about it here. I did not have one but did have a pain pump which allowed me to self medicate when ever needed. However, due to the constant prior sciatic pain, femoral nerve pain, groin pain and a welt like, swollen and painful band of muscle that wrapped around the outer hip, throbbing with every step (can't recall the name for that nerve just now) for years the immidiate process of awakening post op felt more like pain relief for the first few hours and not until the actual procedural pain set in did I experience pain again.

 

[Gretchendz]

Hi Gretchen, welcome. You're about 4 weeks? Isn't it great to be on the other side of TKR?!

Thanks--it is and I am enjoying each little victory (like being able to go all the way around on the stationary bike). I'm a bit frustrated because I have a long way to go in PT--this is not due to the surgery but because of the extent my muscles and nerves had gotten messed up over the years with my limping and poor use. As a result my extension is still a problem (muscles shortened up over the years) but with lots of hard work and PT, it's getting better every day

By the way, as to fishing for the nerve, there was no pain (they numb the area first and the sedation was kicking in)--it's just funny because they check around until you twitch.

 

[JenniferG]

Gretchen, You'll get there! But it sounds like you know that, those victories keep us going.

 

[Rowdy66]

I had femoral nerve blocks in both legs before the surgery,as I was getting both legs done. I had general anesthesia because of my bad back; which I understand but boy do I ever wish I could have had it. The femoral nerve block worked great in my left leg but did not work as well in my right however I have to say, 2 1/2 days after surgery when it was time to remove the block from both my legs I realized how wonderfully well it actually worked in both legs. Not that I was in terrible pain then but I could certainly tell how much it had blocked the pain in both legs. I was able to walk with the blocks the day after surgery it just gave me a chance to do so with far less pain that I would have had otherwise. I don't know why anyone would refuse the blocks, the benefits far outweigh any risk which in my opinion is minimal. Rowdy

 

[blondie42550]

Rowdy, I had the femoral nerve block and it was the opposite with me, worked good on the right but not so good on the left. In fact in recovery, I woke up with my left knee hurting really bad. First words out of me in recovery," My left knee hurts really bad, that must mean I'm alive, huh?!" The anesthesiologist said it block in my left leg must have missed the nerve, so they turned up the volume and it fixed it. I too had them in for about 2 1/2 days, I left the hospital on the third day and they took them out the day I left. I was able to walk around, the pump velcroed around your waist and you just take it with you. I shudder to think what it would have been like had I not had the nerve block. On the flip side, I had no need for the morphine pump. I managed the pain with Loratab. I was not given an option for or against the nerve block, they knocked me out and when I woke up it was there!
Before I had surgery my GP sent me to a pain management Dr. that was a joke! He wanted to do the femoral nerve block on me but I refused. They were going to do it and send me home. My fear then was that if there was no pain, what would keep me from hyper extending my knee and possibly doing more damage. After all, the AC ligament was tore there was no cartilage so there was nothing holding my femur and tibia bones together.
Hope this helps!
Lynne

 

[bumleg]

When I talked to the anesthesiologist she didn't say anything about a nerve block but she did tell me I would be pain free for 24 hours after surgery. So does the epidural block the pain for that long? Hopefully I will remember to ask when I see the docs before surgery.

 

[Josephine]

She'll be talking of a nerve block.