Re: Anesthesia for arthscopy

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi all,

>

> I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right knee - where I

have

> Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first wanted to hold

off

> until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

> My question is - is it better to have local or general anesthesia

> (sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about 1 hour). He is

> recommending general. I am looking for a quick recovery but also

> would rather not know what is going on during surgery (don't need

to

> see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

>

> Thanks !

> Jane

Wow you are one lucky girl... My doctor is having me wait a year for

a scope and I have grade III/IV!! Waiting 7 weeks for me would be

a miracle! I don't know much about anestesia though I've never had

any surgery on my knee yet...

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane

Glad you asked this question because I'm in the same boat as you. My scope is

scheduled for October (I postponed it due not wanting to be crippled for the

summer) The pre-app nurse told me it would be general anaesthetic not local.

I'm sure i've read on this forum people actively conversing with their surgeon

while he/she is poking around with the camera. I thought a knee scope could be

done witht a local?

I think I want to be awake for this.

Anesthesia for arthscopy

Hi all,

I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right knee - where I have

Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first wanted to hold off

until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

My question is - is it better to have local or general anesthesia

(sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about 1 hour). He is

recommending general. I am looking for a quick recovery but also

would rather not know what is going on during surgery (don't need to

see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

Thanks !

Jane

Boston, MA

[Guest guest]

My doc wouldn't even do a local. I was all too happy to wake up when it was

over.

Don

On 6/28/06, jd12622003 <jd12622003@...> wrote:

>

> Hi all,

>

> I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right knee - where I have

> Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first wanted to hold off

> until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

> My question is - is it better to have local or general anesthesia

> (sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about 1 hour). He is

> recommending general. I am looking for a quick recovery but also

> would rather not know what is going on during surgery (don't need to

> see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

>

> Thanks !

> Jane

> Boston, MA

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't know whether they do this for your operation, but for my partial

meniscectomy last Friday I had " light anesthesia " . I was totally out, but they

didn't have to stick a tube all the way down my throat & help me breathe, just

down to the larynx -- no sore throat. Also I woke up quickly (they put caffeine

in the drip?) and they added some kinda anti-nausea stuff to the drip. I felt a

little queasy but didn't throw up. I never felt out of it or like I needed to

go back to sleep like I've done with deep anesthesias in previous operations.

Another interesting thing they did for the nausea was put an " acupuncture " band

on my wrist that sent an electric charge into the right spot and by God it

actually stopped the queasiness!

A little caveat: I have syringomyelia (cavities inside the spinal cord that are

filled with spinal fluid -- they may or may not be symptomatic -- mine aren't --

I found out about them because I got a spine MRI once -- I keep getting them

checked because if they get too filled with fluid, they can compress your spinal

nerves & you can get paralyzed -- irrelevant to this discussion but I always

need to tell the whole story). If an anesthesiologist knows you have

syringomyelia they won't give you a caudal/spinal and for very good reason. I

don't know how they guide the needle to the subarachnoid space for anesthesia on

a normal person, but on someone with syringomyelia, it must be a lot more

difficult to be sure you're in the subarachnoid space and not IN THE SPINAL CORD

ITSELF or in the spinal-fluid-filled cavity. I talked to an anesthesiologist

about this once & asked if maybe the reason some people end up paralyzed from

spinal anesthesia is they have an unknown syrinx (the space) & he said it could

be. Therefore, unless you know for certain that you don't have syringomyelia, I

highly recommend that you not get a spinal/caudal.

They CAN do a nerve block, but when they operate on the knee, they use a really

tight tourniquet & they say that makes your leg hurt even with the nerve block.

Also, some people end up paralyzed from a nerve block. I think the light

anesthesia is the best way to go. Least pain, least risk.

Ann

Anesthesia for arthscopy

Hi all,

I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right knee - where I have

Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first wanted to hold off

until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

My question is - is it better to have local or general anesthesia

(sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about 1 hour). He is

recommending general. I am looking for a quick recovery but also

would rather not know what is going on during surgery (don't need to

see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

Thanks !

Jane

Boston, MA

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm sure you'll get all sorts of answers and all are

worth thinking about. I've had two knee surgeries.

One was with general anesthesia and one was with an

epidural. By far, I liked the epidural much better.

Coming out of the general was a bit disorienting, but

not horrible. For me, I liked the epidural because I

was awake the whole time, talked to the OS and the

anesthesiologist the whole time, and by the time they

wheeled me to the recovery room I was getting feeling

back in my toes and I was walking out of there in less

than 2 hours. I enjoyed seeing the procedure and felt

a lot more " ownership " if you will, of my knee and

it's problems. The surgeon was very gracious about

explaining the different parts of the knee (the good,

the bad and the ugly) and in short, I guess I was sort

of fascinated by the whole thing. I had no nausea, no

headache, no lack of appetite after (hmmm, maybe that

wasn't a good thing <smile>) and was able to ask for

the right amount of pain meds. By the time I got home

I was as clear as could be, whereas with the general I

was just about out of it for the next three days.

Lots of caveats here.......if you are adverse to the

process of the surgery (i.e. kinda freaked out) ask

for more " sleepy " drugs. The anesthesiologist told me

that I could be as awake or as asleep as I wanted. If

the surgery is more extensive (mine was a

cleanout/ " looksee " and a lateral release) the surgeon

may want you under a general. My first operation

involved the arthroscopic microfracture technique and

since that involves more concentrated effort on the

surgeon's part, I doubt he wanted me aware and asking

stupid questions. Some people are better

candidates for general, some are better candidates for

an epidural. Talk to your doctor about it and see

what he prefers.

Good luck...when's the surgery date so we can cheer

you on??

nne

Re: Anesthesia for

arthscopy

>

> Hi all,

>

> I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right

knee - where I

have

> Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first

wanted to hold

off

> until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

> My question is - is it better to have local or

general anesthesia

> (sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about 1

hour). He is

> recommending general. I am looking for a quick

recovery but also

> would rather not know what is going on during

surgery (don't need

to

> see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

>

> Thanks !

> Jane

Wow you are one lucky girl... My doctor is having me

wait a year for

a scope and I have grade III/IV!! Waiting 7 weeks

for me would be

a miracle! I don't know much about anestesia though

I've never had

any surgery on my knee yet...

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your responses. I know that with

" general " , it can take a long timefor the anestesia to

get out of your system and can leave you feeling very

tired for weeks after the surgery. I would prefer to

be asleep but also want a quick recovery time.

Jane

--- Don Franck <panteradon@...> wrote:

> My doc wouldn't even do a local. I was all too

> happy to wake up when it was

> over.

>

> Don

>

>

> On 6/28/06, jd12622003 <jd12622003@...> wrote:

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right

> knee - where I have

> > Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first

> wanted to hold off

> > until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

> > My question is - is it better to have local or

> general anesthesia

> > (sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about

> 1 hour). He is

> > recommending general. I am looking for a quick

> recovery but also

> > would rather not know what is going on during

> surgery (don't need to

> > see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

> >

> > Thanks !

> > Jane

> > Boston, MA

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

This " light " anesthesia I had last Friday -- my wake-up time was instantaneous.

I was a little high on the pain drug, but fully awake. I wasn't tired the next

day, either. I don't know exactly what " light " anesthesia means, but whatever

it is, it's not heavy enough to require that they intubate you (i.e. very small

risk of stopping breathing). I did have to ask for it, though. No one has ever

volunteered it.

Ann

Re: Anesthesia for arthscopy

Thanks for your responses. I know that with

" general " , it can take a long timefor the anestesia to

get out of your system and can leave you feeling very

tired for weeks after the surgery. I would prefer to

be asleep but also want a quick recovery time.

Jane

--- Don Franck <panteradon@...> wrote:

> My doc wouldn't even do a local. I was all too

> happy to wake up when it was

> over.

>

> Don

>

>

> On 6/28/06, jd12622003 <jd12622003@...> wrote:

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right

> knee - where I have

> > Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first

> wanted to hold off

> > until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

> > My question is - is it better to have local or

> general anesthesia

> > (sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about

> 1 hour). He is

> > recommending general. I am looking for a quick

> recovery but also

> > would rather not know what is going on during

> surgery (don't need to

> > see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

> >

> > Thanks !

> > Jane

> > Boston, MA

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I have had other surgeries (sinus for one) where they said I would need to be

kept awake, but would remember little afterwards. It was a not unpleasant

experience (even though I remember somewhat waking up and seeing the doctor

pounding on a chisel up my nose . I agree it was nice to be almost totally

awake coming out of the operating room. I have never asked for it in a knee

operation, and no one has offered it.

Mike

MT

Re: Anesthesia for arthscopy

Thanks for your responses. I know that with

" general " , it can take a long timefor the anestesia to

get out of your system and can leave you feeling very

tired for weeks after the surgery. I would prefer to

be asleep but also want a quick recovery time.

Jane

--- Don Franck <panteradon@...> wrote:

> My doc wouldn't even do a local. I was all too

> happy to wake up when it was

> over.

>

> Don

>

>

> On 6/28/06, jd12622003 <jd12622003@...> wrote:

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right

> knee - where I have

> > Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first

> wanted to hold off

> > until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

> > My question is - is it better to have local or

> general anesthesia

> > (sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about

> 1 hour). He is

> > recommending general. I am looking for a quick

> recovery but also

> > would rather not know what is going on during

> surgery (don't need to

> > see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

> >

> > Thanks !

> > Jane

> > Boston, MA

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

My sister in law just had a hip replacement done with an epidural rather than

full anesthesia. Hard to imagine really and she was really concerned she would

remember the sound of them cutting off her leg (gasp). But she came out and

didn't remember a thing.

Philip - http://www.xcskiwinn.org/community/blogs/panmanphil/default.aspx

Re: Anesthesia for arthscopy

Thanks for your responses. I know that with

" general " , it can take a long timefor the anestesia to

get out of your system and can leave you feeling very

tired for weeks after the surgery. I would prefer to

be asleep but also want a quick recovery time.

Jane

--- Don Franck <panteradon@...> wrote:

> My doc wouldn't even do a local. I was all too

> happy to wake up when it was

> over.

>

> Don

>

>

> On 6/28/06, jd12622003 <jd12622003@...> wrote:

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I have finally agreed to have a scope of my right

> knee - where I have

> > Grade 2-3. My doc is very, very good and at first

> wanted to hold off

> > until I had about 7 weeks of PT.

> > My question is - is it better to have local or

> general anesthesia

> > (sp ?) for this procedure (supposed to take about

> 1 hour). He is

> > recommending general. I am looking for a quick

> recovery but also

> > would rather not know what is going on during

> surgery (don't need to

> > see it on a T.V. screen). Any recommendations ?

> >

> > Thanks !

> > Jane

> > Boston, MA

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Re: Anesthesia for arthscopy

I have had other surgeries (sinus for one) where they said I would need to be

kept awake, but would remember little afterwards.

That's when you start wondering whether you're out at all or they just give

you an amnesia drug to make you forget the torture.

It was a not unpleasant experience (even though I remember somewhat waking up

and seeing the doctor pounding on a chisel up my nose .

Hey -- that does sound like fun.

I agree it was nice to be almost totally awake coming out of the operating

room. I have never asked for it in a knee operation, and no one has offered it.

They didn't offer it to me for this one, I just thought about it & brought it

up & voila! They said " Sure! "

Ann

Mike

MT

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[Guest guest]

I wonder how they do that selective amnesia thing. They told me when I woke up

that I probably wouldn't remember most of the transition period. I do remember

what happened after that though, except for the name of the wonderful pain drug.

Or -- do I? Who's to say? I remember the names of 2 nurses, and I'm really bad

with names. I remember telling a male nurse he was cute. I remember

recommending the pain med to anyone that came within 10 ft. I really do think I

remembered the whole recovery thing that they told me I'd forget. I took it as

a challenge.

Ann

Re: Anesthesia for arthscopy

My sister in law just had a hip replacement done with an epidural rather than

full anesthesia. Hard to imagine really and she was really concerned she would

remember the sound of them cutting off her leg (gasp). But she came out and

didn't remember a thing.

Philip - http://www.xcskiwinn.org/community/blogs/panmanphil/default.aspx

__________________________________________________