dutchyswife
06-02-2007, 05:08 PM
I'm having surgery in a week and am deciding between general and spinal anesthesia. There's pros and cons to both but I have just heard about spinal headaches after surgery. Has anyone heard of this? Has anyone experienced such a thing and, if so, were you able to do anything about it?
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butrfligirl28
06-02-2007, 08:21 PM
I just had surgery and used an epidural for pain control after surgery. I had an in-depth abdominal surgery. It depends on how severe your operation is. If you are having a minor procedure and your pain can be controlled by IV and/or oral pain meds (ask for a PCA pump if this is the case), then I would skip it. If not, go for the epidural.
I had experienced a spinal headache and it was one of the worst experiences in my life. I pain is out of this world, and you must lay flat all the time to endure it. I developed chemical meningitis on top of that (from the meds used in the spinal space). I was in agony and bed bound for two weeks.
I was very scared to have anyone touch my spine again, but my surgery was difficult and I didn't want issues with pain control. I could not believe how much the epidural helped! For the first time in my life, I woke up after surgery, and the only thing that really bothered me was the catheter! It was amazing.
The thing about spinal headaches, is they are most often caused by the patient moving soon after the procedure, and the hole not forming a clot. (They actually had me in PT after mine......idiots!) In your case, and mine, I was already on the operating table when they did the epidural, then layed flat right after for the duration of the operation. Therefore, the risk of a spinal headache in this situation is minimal, and the pain control I received was so great, that I was unprepared for the pain when the epidural was removed. I was shocked how well it helped!
I did alot of research to help me decide. Go to a main search engine and type in epidural anesthiesia. You will find alot of information. I wish you all the best, and hope this helps!
Amanda
I had experienced a spinal headache and it was one of the worst experiences in my life. I pain is out of this world, and you must lay flat all the time to endure it. I developed chemical meningitis on top of that (from the meds used in the spinal space). I was in agony and bed bound for two weeks.
I was very scared to have anyone touch my spine again, but my surgery was difficult and I didn't want issues with pain control. I could not believe how much the epidural helped! For the first time in my life, I woke up after surgery, and the only thing that really bothered me was the catheter! It was amazing.
The thing about spinal headaches, is they are most often caused by the patient moving soon after the procedure, and the hole not forming a clot. (They actually had me in PT after mine......idiots!) In your case, and mine, I was already on the operating table when they did the epidural, then layed flat right after for the duration of the operation. Therefore, the risk of a spinal headache in this situation is minimal, and the pain control I received was so great, that I was unprepared for the pain when the epidural was removed. I was shocked how well it helped!
I did alot of research to help me decide. Go to a main search engine and type in epidural anesthiesia. You will find alot of information. I wish you all the best, and hope this helps!
Amanda
butrfligirl28
06-02-2007, 08:23 PM
By the way, I also had general anesthiesia because I didn't want to be awake. Just wanted you to be aware that you can have both.
Fillin
06-02-2007, 08:26 PM
Hi Dutchys,
I am a 50 yr old female who has had migraines all her life. When I had my children I had them all by C section and had the choice of having an epidural or a spinal for my anesthetics. I always (3 times) chose the epidural because I had never heard of one causing a headache and knew about the spinal headaches you can get from a spinal anesthetic. I have also had general anesthesia a number of times and never got a headache. However, if I had to choose and didn't have to be awake for the surgery the way I did with my birth experiences, I would choose the general because the epidural is a little more painful to have.
Lisa
I am a 50 yr old female who has had migraines all her life. When I had my children I had them all by C section and had the choice of having an epidural or a spinal for my anesthetics. I always (3 times) chose the epidural because I had never heard of one causing a headache and knew about the spinal headaches you can get from a spinal anesthetic. I have also had general anesthesia a number of times and never got a headache. However, if I had to choose and didn't have to be awake for the surgery the way I did with my birth experiences, I would choose the general because the epidural is a little more painful to have.
Lisa
MK12
06-02-2007, 09:48 PM
jsut to add to the other posts if you get a spinal headace there is a 20 min fix :) its called a blood patch they put an iv in and remove as much blood as they need to fill up the epidural space because as mentioned above a spinal headaceh is unequal pressure/cs fluid adn filling the space makes the headace go away liek magic :) i had a lumbar puncture adn didnt get the joy of staying at the hosiptal long enough to have a clot form so i endedup with a slow fluid leak and wne tin for a blood patch 4 days later
that said i also have small kids that needed looking after with no help so i know htat contibuted :) lol so for surgery you should be fine as you will have no choice but to stay in bed :) the spianl headache is a lumbar puncture side effect mostly
best fo luck with your outcome
MK
that said i also have small kids that needed looking after with no help so i know htat contibuted :) lol so for surgery you should be fine as you will have no choice but to stay in bed :) the spianl headache is a lumbar puncture side effect mostly
best fo luck with your outcome
MK
dutchyswife
06-03-2007, 02:53 PM
I've had 3 general anesthesia surgeries and I always get sick afterwards. I know they can control that with medication but there are other reasons I don't want general. I know this probably sounds ridiculous but I have a strange fear of not waking up afterwards. Another thing is, I'm going to have a nerve block after surgery and the anesthesiologist said it would be better if I had a spinal because I wouldn't feel it. They have to hit a nerve to make my leg jump so they know they have the right nerve to numb. By the way, I'm having a total knee replacement. So I guess I'll be on my back during surgery so maybe if I had the spinal it would give it a chance to clot up. So the next question is, how much does it hurt to have a spinal? He said they numb the area first but is that just the surrounding skin area or the nerve also? Can you be sedated while having a spinal? I have no clue about this and appreciate any and all replies.
butrfligirl28
06-04-2007, 11:25 AM
Please get an epidural. A spinal is temporary just to get you through surgery. It will not help your pain after surgery. Also, a spinal is one dose.....done. An epidural can be used as an way to receive medications.....including sedating meds, pain meds, ect. Because using an epidural puts these meds right into the spinal space, the dosage is much lower than what it would take through an IV, or oral, ect.
Please take my advice and search epidural anesthiesia. You need to educate yourself as much as possible. I think the spinal is NOT your best bet. I think you would get much more out of an epidural.
Please take my advice and search epidural anesthiesia. You need to educate yourself as much as possible. I think the spinal is NOT your best bet. I think you would get much more out of an epidural.
dutchyswife
06-04-2007, 05:15 PM
Oh, I thought a spinal and epidural were the same thing. I guess I'll have to get busy and research both of them as I'm running out of time before my surgery. I am so scared. I'm used to some pain but this really has me feeling anxious, nervous and panicky. I asked my doctor today how much a spinal/epidural would hurt and he said it's more of an uncomfortable feeling.
I will be getting a nerve block after surgery so that will take care of the pain for a few hours afterwards.
Thanks for the information.
I will be getting a nerve block after surgery so that will take care of the pain for a few hours afterwards.
Thanks for the information.
butrfligirl28
06-04-2007, 07:54 PM
The epidural can control your pain for DAYS afterwards, and you are not doped up on pain meds, so you can more easily endure therapy and other things they want you to do after surgery. There is no reason NOT to get one. I have had MANY surgeries, and this one was the best way I have ever woken from surgery. I was laughing and joking with my family, had a great dinner, like not much had happened. Believe me, when they did take out the epidural, the pain hit me like a truck! I am was so glad I had the epidural for the first, most painful days. I discussed this with the anesthiesiologist beforehand. No problems. Once they stopped the epidural, they put me on a PCA pump with pain meds. Then once I could tolerate oral meds, I got to go home.
By the way, I also ALWAYS get very sick and vomit after general anesthiesia. My anesthiesiologist promised me that I would not have this problem this time, due to a new drug called Zofran. Amazingly, I never had one time when I was even queasy, except a few days later when the epi was stopped and the pain was so bad. It was wonderful. Have you seen a knee replacement? I don't know if you want the memory of that procedure. However, they may give you a med called Versaid. It is a form of valium that has an anesthia effect. So you may be awake, but not remember the surgery.
Please do your research and weigh all the options! Let me know what you decide!
By the way, I also ALWAYS get very sick and vomit after general anesthiesia. My anesthiesiologist promised me that I would not have this problem this time, due to a new drug called Zofran. Amazingly, I never had one time when I was even queasy, except a few days later when the epi was stopped and the pain was so bad. It was wonderful. Have you seen a knee replacement? I don't know if you want the memory of that procedure. However, they may give you a med called Versaid. It is a form of valium that has an anesthia effect. So you may be awake, but not remember the surgery.
Please do your research and weigh all the options! Let me know what you decide!
Summer1972
06-04-2007, 11:21 PM
When I had my spinal a couple months, I was told by the anesthesiologist that 1 in 100 will get this awful headache. I didn't get a choice though. Luckily I didn't get it, but I did get a nice new scar on my back from the needle!
dutchyswife
06-05-2007, 10:18 PM
I know everybodys' pain threshold is different but can anyone tell me how much a spinal hurts? I'm very scared about this. And for anyone who had a spinal, were you catherized? I'm getting so nervous and scared I'm starting to get sick. But don't sugar coat any answers just to help me feel better about the surgery. I need to know what to expect.
butrfligirl28
06-07-2007, 12:26 PM
You have to have a catheter with either a spinal or epidural, as you may have numbness, some or complete, in your legs and not be able to walk safely to the bathroom. It is not really painful at all. They give you a numbing shot first, and it feels like a sting in your back for a few seconds. Then they tell you that you will feel pressure. You do, alot of it for a few seconds. Then I felt stinging on the inside of my back and down my leg as they put medication in. I only felt it on my left side however, so they worked on it a minute or two, then I felt it go down both sides. Then it was over. Not bad at all.
They also gave me a relaxing med before and during the whole thing. Just kept pressing a syringe that was in my iv to keep giving me a relaxing med. Then they had me lay on the table and said it was time for the sleeping med. I felt a stinging in my IV, and that was it until I woke in recovery. I do not even like to get an IV, and it really was not that bad at all. The thought freaks you out much more than the actual procedure.
They also gave me a relaxing med before and during the whole thing. Just kept pressing a syringe that was in my iv to keep giving me a relaxing med. Then they had me lay on the table and said it was time for the sleeping med. I felt a stinging in my IV, and that was it until I woke in recovery. I do not even like to get an IV, and it really was not that bad at all. The thought freaks you out much more than the actual procedure.
dutchyswife
06-09-2007, 09:03 PM
butrfligirl28.....Seeing that I'm so opposed to having a catheter I'll probably go with general anesthesia. But then I have to worry about the pain from the nerve block. Either way, there's something they're going to do that I do not want to go through.
Anyway, I appreciate all your comments, advice and suggestions. And everyone elses'. My surgery is day after tomorrow. I'm such a nervous wreck. But I'll make it through. I'm definately not the only one who has gone through this procedure so I know I can do it. *sigh*
Anyway, I appreciate all your comments, advice and suggestions. And everyone elses'. My surgery is day after tomorrow. I'm such a nervous wreck. But I'll make it through. I'm definately not the only one who has gone through this procedure so I know I can do it. *sigh*
dutchyswife
06-17-2007, 02:38 PM
butrfligirl28........I made it through surgery and I'm home. I decided to go with the general. Didn't even get a little nauseous afterwards and there was so much pain with the surgery that I didn't even feel the nerve block. I was aware they were doing it but at that time I didn't care. So, all went well. Now, for recovering. Whew!