Total knee replacement

[FlyGranny]

Getting ready for surgery in 3 days. Never had surgery before. Does anyone have experience with how this effects your b-12 needs?

[engels]

Make sure that you are not given nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic as nitrous oxide oxidises B12 and renders it inactive. I don't think it's a major problem for anyone who can absorb B12 normally as the body can utilise its B12 reserves temporarily but for anyone with a B12 absorption problem it can be disastrous.

[FlyGranny in reply to engels]

Thanks. Very good to know. I will go over that with the anesthesiologist.

[Hidden in reply to engels]

Some more about the same in this topic that may be of use:

pernicious-anaemia-society....

pernicious-anaemia-society....

[Waen]

For info really:I have just had knee surgery ( removal of screws and plates) - 3 weeks ago 2 days before being told I was B12 deficient. I opted for a spinal block which I had had 5 years ago on a knee procedure (HTO) carried out to stave off the inevitable knee replacement! My surgeon has said knee will prob last another 5 years and that when the time comes I can have a spinal block for that too. Not sure whats in the anaesthetic for a spinal though so will have to ask...................!

[FlyGranny]

Thanks for all the good information. Wish me luck tomorrow !

[Hidden]

Wishing you lots of luck tomorrow and hoping for a speedy recovery and lots of family/ friends/ kindn people to help you trough the first few weeks! Marre.

[FlyGranny]

Thank you!

[pvanderaa]

To heal, your body needs to reproduce tissue cells. This is done by cell replication which requires methylation of the DNA. B12 is used for this. So ask for extra b12 injections before and after surgery along with folic acid.

More of a concern is the anesthesia. A general is sometimes nitrous oxide - hopefully not for major surgery. This is toxic to B12 and it takes longer to recover. Talk to the anesthesiologist and surgeon and discuss your concerns.

Also have them test your B12 after your surgery.

Discuss a pain management plan. I occasionally get a pain symptom after getting B12. I think the nerves are working better so the pain appears to be worse. I think this depends of the level of neurological damage that one has.