I’m Wondering if anyone has had a surgery that usually requires general anesthesia but instead with just local anesthesia?
Due to PD, I really do not want to be “put under.”
Hard to share this but I am inquiring with doctors soon and would appreciate advice. My online search for this did not turn up much. Obviously most people don’t want to be awake. I don’t want to tamper with my fragile brain but I need to have a surgery.
I had a c-section with twins and I figure if I can handle that okay I can do this.
I had more than 4 hrs of GA for a cardiac ablation for Afib in 2018 from a top UK hospital team. Came round from the GA in a confusional state and discovered in the ward that same day that my tremor had become much worse - now bilateral and additionally affecting my jaw. I guess I must have been atypical as I have seen very few similar posts. I was diagnosed 2012, not on PD meds till after the op, age 67 at that time. The length of time under GA must have been a factor. There are a few papers on GA saying it can affect older patients cognitively but all saying the effects were temporary.
For myself I am now very cautious about ops and would go for local anesthetic whenever feasible. However I guess shorter GA sessions would not be a problem. The tremor reduced afterwards for a few years as I went on to meds - and the successful ablation was a win!
Putting the brain temporarily to sleep and thinking it won’t possibly alter it seems very optimistic to me. You have validated my concerns. Very glad your ablation was a win!
I wouldn’t. It’s complicated subject matter. Lots of acronyms and abbreviations too.
“Anesthetics' interactions with neural receptors alter how neurons work, and as a consequence, how different brain regions communicate. These alterations manifest as highly structured oscillations in brain activity that are associated with the dramatic behavioral changes characteristic of general anesthesia”
Share your concern. I had two bouts of GA in about 6 weeks (long story) and PD symptoms emerged in the next 30 days. I am probably looking at valve repair or replacement surgery in the next few years...my neuro advised waiting as long as I can. Your surgeon may refuse to do the procedure under local anesthesia...largely due to trauma concerns. I know other patients with that experience. Good question to explore early as you meet your surgical team.
You are correct to be concerned. I wonder why GA is so overused. I shattered my ankle a little more than a year ago, had propofol with spinal block, came through okay. The CRNA who was part of the ankle surgery was great.
Recent surgery for kidney stone, propofol plus fentanyl, progressed my ALS, increased left side weakness.
The worst case scenario was the same surgery pre-diagnosis of ALS. I was given succinylcholine and went into cardiac arrest. This was preventable. I will not have surgery in a same day center, in hospital only. Generally, you want an MD anesthesiologist.
Do you have a history of anesthesia reactions, getting over sedated, vomiting or nausea, malignant hyperthermia or family history? Can you consult with the anesthesiologist prior to surgery to discuss your concerns? 🌺
If it’s spinal surgery there are some surgeons who are experimenting with “twilight” anafes thesis (spinal block plus sedation. I’m in California, there’s one at YCSF and one at Stanford.
Just about a year ago I had double Hernia repair in a day- surgery in our local Hospital, with a Spinal with a mild sedation. If it is possible, that is, IMHO, all operations be done.
I take the opinion that it is the patients choice. I sure would NOT have had my open heart surgery .
I had read on these pages about that the fact that Parkies (us) are prone to various memory issues after full blown gas anesthetic.
My mother, passed now, awoke 3 weeks after the surgery with , in my opinion easily identified loss of a lot of her ability to speak and REMEMBER!
We only have so many cells to knock with the gas treatment!
Hey CCyou could go back to a rope chew and wait until you pass out.... like they did in days gone by! At least you would be chemically free but significantly more painful 😬
Great topic as this is the kind of thing that can creep up on you and you never really think how it could affect your central nervous system.
HWP had 2 major surgeries the first before he knew he had PD and it really made symptoms more noticiable (hence easier to diagnosis) For the 2nd surgery (spine 6 hrs) we met with the anesthesia team and they were very careful in the selection of drugs they used to put him out. He did much better. Many surgeries can be done with IV sedation and spinal etc. However, the abdomen can be very difficult and a simple umbilical hernia is done under GA because it is difficult to numb. There are healthy choices to be made with any anesthesia , ie. no night shade vegetables as they will keep drugs in system longer. (wish there was spell check I have trouble spelling that word anesthesia. )
My father and my mother had hip replacement surgeries and both were 80 at the time. Neither had a general anaesthetic. My husband had a GA for his hernia 2 or 3 years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I’ve always wondered if it had anything to do with it (not any more).
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Surgery
Painful toes due to Parkinson’s 
Parkinsons and General Anaesthetic
It’s a lonely road with PD. 
