hi there,
i was diagnoised with cubital tunnel in may last year after have nerve conduction tests. i have had a phone call this afternoon offering me a place to have it operated on on monday (someone cancelled). so i am going in first thing monday morning to have it done.
the thing i would like to know if anyone out there as already had the op, is can you have it done with a local anasthetic or does it have to be general?
i ask because at the original consultation i was told i could have it under local and yet the women i spoke to has me down as having a general.
i suffer with anxiety and panic attacks and whilst i am quiet calm about the op itself, i am starting to panic at the thought of having to be put to sleep.
so much so if i can't be reassurred about having it with a local i'm thinking in terms of cancelling.

has anyone out there had this op under local? and if so can you explain abit about it.

many thanks in advance
penny

Hi Penny,
I just had my CTS on the left 4 days ago. I had a local and do not plan on doing that again on the right. I had pain with the procedure and the sensation of scraping through the ligament. The neurosergeon had to keep injecting local throughout the surgery to keep me on the table. He is the best surgeon in my area and also suggested a change in anesthesia for the next arm. Not trying to scare you but, I would suggest having an anesthesiologist available for conscious sedation. They can keep you at a level of sedation that does not require intubation with propofol, versed, fentanyl, etc. I thought I would tough it out but the sensation of the scaping made me sick to my stomch, freaking me out more than the actual pain. OR nurses will only give a mg or two of versed but an anesthesiologist will be able to keep you under without the need for a general.

Uro

I HAD WHATS CALLED A BEER BLOCK.
THE WRAP A TURNAKIT AROUND YOUR ARM TO STOP CIRCULATION AND THEN THEY NUMB YOU. I DIDNT FEEL A THING BUT FOR THREE DAYS I HAD NO FEELING AND NO MOVMENT IN MY HAND AND FINGERS. I THINKI WOULD HAVE PREFERRED GENERAL WHERE THEY PUT YOU TO SLEEP.
THATS THE WAY I WOULD GO.
I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU A LITTLE
GOOD LUCK
HURTEN:mad: I STILL HAVE PAIN AND ITS BEEN 6 MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE TO GET MY OTHER HAND DONE

I have had this done and it was under general ansthethia and it all came out fine and was able to go home that same day. I hope you keep your surgery becuase the longer you put it off the worse it is going to get.

I had the local, and good lord did it hurt later that night and next two days. I just had it done on Thursday, and just now is the pain gone. But, it has NOT fixed the numbing that I get when I sleep.

I would get put out for sure the next time, if there is one. I don't see me getting the other hand done as it has not fixed the problem.

NYD -
Did you have a simple decompression procedure or the transposition? I am scheduled for my surgery next week (anterior subcutaneous transposition) and have been told it wll be under general anesthesia - I was not given a choice. Are you feeling any better now? How long until you have your stitches out? How long were you told you'd be immobilized? That is what I am least looking forward to. Hope things turn out well for you.

I recently had surgery on my thumb for stenosing tendonscyvitis and the doctor had said it could be done with a local. However, the anethiesologist told me a local would be extremely painful and was pushing for me to have the general. I asked what the risks difference was and he said about the same since they use the same med for both. Even tho you have a local they also give you something to help but not put you out. I told him to go for the general.

I did not want to flinch or something that might cause the surgeon to nick the nerve. I believe it was Versid they used for the general.

Our son had warts removed from his big toe in the office one time and had local deadening and we almost had to pull him off the ceiling due to the extreme pain. I thought about that and did not want to chance getting the nerve damaged.

I had was was called " Twilight sleep " anesthesia. As one anesethesiologist put it...you can probably hear a low buzz when people are talking, but not really want to listen to what they are saying. A lot like when you are in a light sleep and dreaming, but can kind of hear what is going on around you...you just don't want to really wake up.
I think it is Versed used with another drug. They injected lidocaine at surgical site too as I had a Bier block. From what I understand the Versed affects short term memory...so you don't remember....kind of like being in an alcohol induced blackout. I remember asking if there was a lot of scar tissue, but don't remember the answer...also when they were done, I remember asking if I snored ( thinking I was asleep). I don't remember getting into the recliner chair for ride back to recovery room ....became aware as I was reaching for a cup of water...missed and spilled it.

hiya,
thanks to everyone for your replies. the op was actually cancelled for the day i was supposed to have it.
i ended up having it on the 19th of feb and i had it done under local anasthetic. i must say the anathethatist i had was brilliant. he made sure i couldn't feel anything and was constantly reassuring me all the way through the procedure. i can honestly say i didn't feel anything.
i wouldn't be as worried about it if i had to go through it again and i would definatly go with a local every time.

all the best
penny

Hi all -

I had my ulnar transposition surgery on Feb 21st under general anesthesia. They put something to relax me in my IV before taking me to the OR. I remember seeing the lights in the OR and nothing else until 2 hours after the surgery was over. I'm glad I went with the general, as the surgery wound up being longer than originally planned (my nerve was compressed in 2 different places). It took longer in recovery, but I still went home the same day. Still having pain and numbness 2 weeks later, but they tell me to be patient (not my best trait)..........

Hope you all are doing okay

JP

NYC: Have you had any improvement since February? Because my hand surgeon says I'm a candidate for CT surgery.

NYC: Have you had any improvement since February? Because my hand surgeon says I'm a candidate for CT surgery.

Hello,
Does anyone have any idea if I will have gereral or local for my carpal tunnel and trigger thumb? I have my pre-op on the 26th but I was just curious.Thank you,
Sue :angel:

Sue, read my post above.

Misty

I, too, had the "Twilight Sleep." They strapped me down though and went to wrap a turniquet on my arm and explain the procedure and I flipped. I said "you're either putting me out or undoing the straps cause I'm walking out of here!" I had had my left hand done that way just a month before and was surprised the same surgeon was doing local this time around! They put me out and I don't remember a thing after that. Thank God!

I had my left hand operated on March 1 with twighlight sleep, but I remember everything that went on (including the doctor making the comment, "Well that doesn't look good!" That's something you really don't want to hear during surgery.)

When I had my right hand done on May 17, I told them I wanted to be totally asleep, but they still had me in twighlight sleep. I must have been further under though, because I don't remember anything about it, just that I was barely conscious.

I used to be afraid of the anesthesia, but after five surgeries (three with general anesthesia) and one other type of procedure under general, it doesn't bother me at all anymore. I'd really prefer to be asleep for surgeries. It's the best sleep I ever get. :)

Hi,
I also have had several surgeries and experienced all ways.Local, General and twighlight. With my one surgery that I had the twighlight I remember hearing the nurse sneeze.Needless to say I ended up with an infection and was in hospital for 5 days.Don't know if they are related but makes you wonder, HUH?
I was wondering which they would do since I'm having 2 different things done on my poor little hand.Not looking forward to this :eek:
Sue:angel:

I'd go for general everytime. I don't want to feel anything.

A lot of times if they are working on nerves - it's going to be worse. They even said it would be better to have general when I had a nerve biopsy.