Re: epidural anesthesia

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim - I had an epidural for 2 different surgeries on my toes. It was great

for me.

Barb

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim, glad the surgery went well for your son.? I have had 3 epidurals without

any problem. I had two total hip replacements and a total knee. I am 53 years

old.

Betty

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim,

I have had 2 epidural anesthesias with no problem!

Penny

[Guest guest]

I had a little trouble with an epi. I was really sensitive to the

medication. I was tested on a half dose and that was way to much. I just don't

have enough muscle to absorb normal amounts of medication.

[Guest guest]

Yes, I've had several over the years and prefer them to a general anesthetic. I

have not had any problems associated with the epidural. I've had them for a

total knee, major abdominal surgery and have had biracial blocks for several

hand surgery's.

Jerry

[Guest guest]

Betty -

Thanks for the information on epidurals. I almost got on line to check out

information in the group's directory the morning of the surgery! Hope those

surgeries helped you.

We are starting PT with my son and it's hard to watch - it really hurts him to

move and he's very crabby.

Jim

[Guest guest]

I don't know if this is the same thing, but I had a spinal block 3+

years ago when I had my C-section for my daughter. It was a most

horrible experience for me. After they had the spinal block in I was

numbed pretty quickly up to my hips. That is, I couldn't feel anything

from my hips down. But it didn't numb my stomach region properly and I

felt them perform the C-section. The anesthesiologist couldn't give me

anything until the baby was out and I cried the whole time. The surgeon

didn't believe me when I told her that I felt pain. She kept referring

to my pain as a tugging feeling. (Which I later felt as she was sewing

me up, and that didn't hurt at all just felt wierd.) I told her that she

wasnt tugging, she was cutting and she still didn't believe me. I kept

screaming and crying the whole time until they got the baby out then

something was put into my IV and I didnt feel anything anywhere after

that. Although I was coherent (barely), I was relaxed and finally felt

no pain. I barely remember my husband showing me our daughter and soon

after passed out. Bul like I said, I don't know if a spinal block is

the same as an epidural. I just know that if you live in Wayne County Michigan,

do not go to Garden City Hospotal, in Garden City Michigan.

It was a sad, painful, and disgusting experience for me and a few

others I know who went to Garden City Hosp. for something.

[Guest guest]

I have had 2 epidurals for surgery, The second one was my own fault. After the

first I lost a lot of muscle mass on my legs and the downward spiral began. The

second I didn't think to talk about the first. I just forgot to tell the doctor

about the first epidural, after the valium the 2nd epidural was just fine by me.

Again my legs got worse. Since then I make sure to tell them to use the least

nerve killing anesthesia,usually that seems to be a general. I've had a sinus

surgery and my ankle fusion since the last epidural with no worsening of my

symptoms, but I'm still fundimentally screwed up so worsening would simply be a

matter of degree.

Ed

[Guest guest]

I've had the same great experiences as Donna from London had with having an

epidural.

Barb

[Guest guest]

I cannot promote nerve blocks enough for surgery. My doc and

anaesthesiologist told me that about 90% of pain post op is due to surgical

trauma, and a nerve block means you get a dead limb for about 24 and a bit

hours, so that the post surgical trauma pain is not really there when your limb

" wakes up " .

I was worried about this in my recent elbow stabilisation, given my CMT, but the

anaesthesiologist I had worked with CMT before. It

was just brilliant from a pain management point of view. My hand took a while

to feel ok again (about 30 hours compared with the 24 the doc said) but frankly,

I knew it would take a bit to come alive again and I trusted the experience of

my medical team to do the right thing.

All the best,

Donna from London

[Guest guest]

I had this type of anesthetic during knee surgery a couple of years ago. I did

have a problem. As soon as the injection was made in my spine my heart started

to race and I felt very strange. The doctor administered medication to bring the

heart back to a normal pace.

After the surgery, the Doctor asked me if this had ever happened before. I told

him I had a similar, although less severe reaction, when getting freezing for

dental work. The dentist had told me that it was a reaction to epinephrine,

which is added to local anesthetics to reduce bleeding.

I didn't realize that the same was true with the epidural and the epinephrine

had created an adrenaline rush, that caused my heart to race. I now make sure

that I tell my dentist or doctor not to include epinephrine in my anesthetic. I

wondered if this reaction is common with CMT? I hope this is useful

information.

Warm wishes,