Epidural

[Rls29]

I'm shortly to have a partial knee replacement by epidural. (Apparently, the hospital doesn't use GA's.) I'm worrying now how this might effect my RLS. Does anyone have experience of surgery via an epidural please?

[SueJohnson]

I can't answer your specific question but here is some advice for your upcoming surgery:

Tell your doctors and anesthesiologists about your RLS and its symptoms and that you need your medicine and ask if there will be any drug interactions from what they will give you. . Also talk with the patient representative ahead of time. Tell them not to give you any sedating antihistamines or sedating anti-nausea medications. Instead insist they use Zofran (ondansetron) for anti-nausea.

You can download the Medical Alert Card that you can show your doctors, that tells them about the condition and what will happen after surgery and what medicines to avoid at rlshelp.org/ although you will need to join the RLS foundation. An international membership is $40, but they have some good information on it and you get their monthly magazine. However the safe antidepressants listed on medical alert card are not antidepressants: Lamotrigine, Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine. Also there is a 2 page handout "Surgery and RLS: Patient Guide" on the RLS Foundation website which is very helpful. Also "Hospitalization Checklist for the Patient with RLS"

[SueJohnson]

After the surgery your symptoms may be worse as as result of inflammation. This is temporary,

[SueJohnson]

Also see the related posts to the right side.