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pain and the op

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Lakesideview

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I am new here but I will be doing a LTKR in the near future. They cancelled my surgery because of a high white blood cell count but that is another story! I was just wondering what these folks with no pain post-op had for pain during the operation. A spinal or what? Did they leave that in for the first couple of days post op or what. Thanks
 
Hello and welcome to BoneSmart. I moved your post into a thread of its own as being in the middle of a thread as it was, new members' posts sometimes get missed. This way you get your own answers and discussion.

As for your question, the usual thing nowsdays is to use a spinal or epidural. This is often backed up with an extra injection in the main nerve of the upper thigh called a femoral block. Between to two they can last for 24-36 hours and make it really good for when the patient gets out of bed and walks for the first time. Thereafter, they have to revert to some oral pain killers. The spinal makes you totally numb and paralysed from the waist down. Then you can have the option of either staying awake throughout the operation of being given a knock-out which will - as some members here have to eloquently expressed it - put you in la-la land for the duration of the op!
 
Hi Lakeside! Well, I'll be able to give you a good comparison of pain control methods after Thursday, 1/29. For my left knee, I had a spinal and a morphine pump that they disconnected that same afternoon. Then I was just on Vicodin and was ready to kill people. Worst pain of my life. Doc's response was "it should hurt that bad."

New surgeon does the femoral nerve block that Josephine mentioned, PLUS the spinal, PLUS he said he also loads up the entire knee area with lots of local painkilling stuff--all to keep the pain as low as possible for the first couple days. Apparently they leave the femoral catheter in for a couple days so I should be able to sleep. Amazing.

So I'll let you know!

Weezy
 
I had the epidural and the pain was very tolerable. I also was in lala land. I don't think they wanted to deal with me awake. Can't say I blame them

Deb
 
Hi Lakeside.
It is nice to meet you. You will find everyone here very helpful.
They are the greatest. And I have no idea what was used. I was in
La La land.
^i^
 
Thanks everyone. I am having a hard time finding out what the doctor is going to use for pain. They told me that I would not talk to the anithesiologist (sp) until just before the op!!!?? I don't like that much. Anyway I will keep asking questions. This is a great site. Lots of good info. Thanks
 
Anaesthetists (British spelling!) usually don't meet with patients until the night before the op because it's just plain not necessary! They have all they need in the pre-op assessments done by others and just need to do a revision of it all a few hours before.
 
Thanks everyone. I am having a hard time finding out what the doctor is going to use for pain. They told me that I would not talk to the anithesiologist (sp) until just before the op!!!?? I don't like that much. Anyway I will keep asking questions. This is a great site. Lots of good info. Thanks

So sorry you can't get information on the anasthetic ahead of time. I feel very fortunate that my surgeon had all the pain options in a brochure that I was given once surgery was scheduled. I liked knowing all the details of the procedure well in advance - helped me prepare mentally.
 
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