Re: foot surgery anaesthesia

[Guest guest]

Hi O,

For me a nerve block was a blessing when I had elbow surgery. The key is to

actually meet with your anaesthesiologist before surgery and ensure they

understand CMT and can choose an approach that is best for you.

Let me know how the hammertoe surgery goes. I am always loathe to do

surgery, but some days I wish my toes would uncurl!

Donna from London

--------------------------------

Stay tuned for my 2009 fundraising efforts, on behalf of Breakthrough Breast

Cancer!

[Guest guest]

I had a nerve block and a general for ankle surgery back in December.

It was my 3rd operation on my ankles, but my first nerve block. I opted for it

because although there is a slightly elevated risk of nerve damage, you need

less general anaesthetic. I react pretty badly to generals, and end up being

sick repeatedly, so for me that was reason enough. In that respect it was great

- I wasn't sick from my anaesthetic.

However, it was really weird having my whole lower leg be numb when I woke up!

In terms of pain, I don't think it was any better or worse than my previous

operations. I guess if you don't have a nerve block then they give you more pain

killers before you wake up so it evens out.

Caroline

also from London

and who has been reading these emails for years but hardly ever posts!

[Guest guest]

Many years ago I had an old refrigerator that kept things cold, but just barely.

Then the power was off for four hours and the refrig never got cold again.

I think that's what the nerves in my legs are like. After the nerve block behind

my left knee left me numb from the knee down, I do not want that to happen on

the right leg. Since the only pain I feel in either foot seems to be phantom

pain, I'm willing to risk some discomfort. In fact I would welcome it.

Tomorrow (Monday) is the surgery. I met with the anesthesiologist last week and

was very clear that I did NOT want a nerve block. When they called toconfirm on

Friday, I reiterated my wishes. Her reply was " Oh, I thought you just didn't

want the pain pump, we were planning the nerve block. "

Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't write on my knee " NO NERVE BLOCK " . Gak!

Thanks for the replies. I'll let you all know how it goes when I get back at the

PC.

O

[Guest guest]

My non-CMT wife had the same experience after a block for knee

surgery. As the doctor predicted, it seems to be slowly going away.

It's over 4 months.