15Feb/111
What is spinal anesthetic and how does it work?
I'm wondering as I'm getting surgery tomorrow on my leg, and decided to go with a spinal instead of a nerve block. I'm wonder what it consists of, how much it hurts, what are the biggest risks.
I choose this instead of the nerve block due to having severe nausea last time with it and minor nerve problems (numbness going on about 5 months now).
Thank you so much for any help!
February 15th, 2011 - 11:21
This is also called an epidural block. They will have you sit on the bedside and lean your upper body over the bed table although some do it with you in a fetal position on the bed. They numb the area they will put the spinal needle,a catheter tube that is inside the needle and place the needle into the epidural space (the area between the spine and outer covering). It usually takes only a few minutes. It’s the same thing that pregnant women get before child birth. When the surgery is over,you will be numb and tingling in your legs and will have to stay flat in bed until you are told it is OK to raise your head. If you get up too soon you can have a major headache. The best thing is you want have any pain from the surgery until your feeling returns. Depending on how major the surgery is,sometimes they leave the catheter in so they can medicate you or hook you to a pump so you can medicate yourself with a pain medication (not the same medication they used to numb you in the first place)It will be a timed pump so you can’t over medicate yourself.
The risks: Headache,someone not experienced in doing epidurals and putting the needle too deep causing nerve damage (not likely).Good luck tomorrow