Ra suffrer

[Rocky07]

I am going to have another knee replacement last time I had a general anasthetic the anathesist says with a spinal injection pain may not be as long I would like to know if anyone with their expperiences

[ruth_p]

I had an epidural when I had my second hip replacement. It's a very strange experience because when you wake up you can't feel anything below your waist. I can't say if it was better for the pain because I ended up with a severe chest infection and that was so painful I was on pain meds longer and I was in hospital 9 days!

[Cathy777 in reply to ruth_p]

Hi Ruth

My sister in Italy is about to have a hip replacement and is having an epidural. I thought this strange but obviously not. May I ask you what you mean by 'when you woke up'? I thought you were awake with an epidural? Hope your new hips are working well. X

[ruth_p in reply to Cathy777]

They still put you under general anesthetic as well. My hips are great I had my right one done just over 10 years ago and my left just over 9.

[Cathy777 in reply to ruth_p]

Thanks Ruth and glad you are happy with new hips! My sister is having only epidural no anesthetic. I hear this is done here too but want to ask what its like.

[moallen]

I had a TKR and I had an epidural and would recommend anyone to have one.

I told the surgeon that I was scared of seeing the inside of the theatre and I was given deep sedation and remembered nothing after having the injection in my back.

Good experience. I ate a 3 course meal half an hour after coming back from theatre. Go for it. Hope it's as successful as mine has been.

[ROEY]

I had both my knees under epidural. I was given drugs which let me sleep so don't remember anything. The good thing is you stay numb below the waist for a few hours after so no pain & no effects of a general anaesthetic. I did wake up before they finished my first knee but it was fine just listened to the theatre staff chatting good luck with the op I'm sure it will be fine.

[cathie in reply to ROEY]

Me too, epidural on both knees six months apart. I could hear them talking and that was fine, I just floated! I think you recover faster and it was fine having numb legs. I had a little machine which lightly made my feet pump to keep circulation going. I believe this is safer generally for you.

[oldtimer]

I much prefer having an epidural - when you wake up after the short acting anaesthetic it is so much better than the after effects of the deeper one with out the epidural. Recovery times seem much shorter too and I have been able to start moving around more quickly.

[Cathy777 in reply to oldtimer]

Hi there. So a hip replacement can also be done with an epidural but no anesthetic? My sis is in Italy and I wondered why she was not getting anesthesia

[eastbournelady]

I just had spinal for a diff procedure, you may also be offered sedation too, if you are anxious about being in an op theatre. Spinal was good, no pain and recovery time faster, but strange not being able to feel anything below waist level and it can take 3-4 hours to come back fully. Good luck with knee.