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Having reconstructive ankle surgery this week and as usual I have a choice of anesthesia. I have gone under general numerous times. Have never had a spinal. I am leaning towards the spinal since it might be cool to stay awake during the surgery. Hell, maybe even get to watch. Does anyone have experience with both and now have a preference?
They don't let you watch. The spinal gives you numbness but you can feel something going on but no pain. Very easy to deal with, you stay totally alert and there is no risk of nausea or not waking up. It feels like the freezing you get at the dentist.
Now the important things you freeze from the spinal injection point down abdomen, thighs, knees to toes. You thaw (for lack of a better word) toes up. You will have no feeling in your package for a few hours it's freaky but normal and it does come back, don't worry it's basically last to thaw out. Don't try to stand too quick, you will fall if you push it. Otherwise I would have it again being totally conscious is a good feeling.
Spinal + some light sleeping-draught (in case if your surgery would last longer than 1 hour - to not became too bored). It worked fine for me during ACL reconstruction surgery, and without sleeping-draught I'd feel worse because of the asleep waist, caused by something like 3-4 hours in the static position.
General anesthesia has a risk of death anywhere from 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 5,000, depending on the docs and the study.
Local is safer by far.
If you don't wanna hear it and smell it, you can combine the nerve block with "twilight" anesthesia where they put you in a dream state, but dont actually supress your breathing and jam a tube down your throat.
Usually this dream state is induced with Versed, which is a liquid injectibile Valium and quite soothing and yummy. The Versed takes care of your head, and the nerve block kills the pain.
Surgery is done and based on what the doctor said it was very successful. Now I just hope it heals fast. I actually went with general anesthesia. Reason being it allowed me to leave the hospital sooner. I only had to stay an hour and half after surgery. With the spinal I would have had to stay 4-5 hours and I am not a fan of hospital beds. Maybe when I get me knee fixed (Chronic patellar subluxation and dislocation) I will go with a spinal to experience it then.
double up on em and pretend it never happened.
I know this is too late but wtf...
I had general for my ACL (long surgery) and a femoral block for my Achilles. If I had an option I'd go with the block. Much safer and allowed me to leave the hospital about an hour after the surgery. The block is a bit wierd when they seek out the nerves but it's no big deal, about as uncomfortable as when they put the IV in. The block also lasts longer in that you won't feel that leg for a good 12 hours which is really nice post op. Just be sure you are fully loaded on pain meds before it wears off. With the block they put you into a really deep sleep using valium via the IV and you will not have any memory of the surgery. I came out of it in a mad haze as they were putting the final touches on my cast in the OR.
Good luck with the healing.