Spinal Operation

I've had several GAs over the years. During one I was acting in Emmerdale and another I was riding a beautiful horse across some tropical beach. Talk to your anaesthetist; I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

TwiceAsNice, it's normal to be scared, I was, I've had 3 GA now and am much less nervous. Remember, anaesthetists are considered to be the brightest of doctors, the best trained and I have found lately, the friendliest.
They are there to look after you. Your safety and well-being is their only concern.
In my last operation, a robotic, keyhole hysterectomy, the anaesthetist and surgeon both chatted to me immediately before the operation. I could chose from his playlist what song I wanted to 'drift off' to. I had the operation in Holland, so, as I am a Brit, he suggested The Beetles' and he chose 'Yesterday'!
If you think of the words, it shows he had a sense of humour!
Good Luck!

I totally understand your fear as I am always very nervous about having a general anaesthetic but I have had a few operations including a spinal one, and there have never been any issues .
I don't think you're being irrational at all but the anaesthetist will look after you - they are always so nice and caring in my experience and the operation will be so worth it. Chronic pain is no joke.
Sending you a big hug and best wishes. XX

GA are far in advance than nerve block with sedation in keeping the patient ‘under’. GA do make me extremely sick but I have low BP which crashes under anaesthesia. I have never come round under GA but I have under sedation during a procedure.

Twiceasnice The one thing I would never do is to move to another surgeon if his waiting list is shorter. Especially for spinal surgery. Each prefer their own speciality. Long gone thankfully are the days when a surgeon would tackle anything and sometimes with disastrous results.

I would also question why his list is so short.

You will be fine I am sure. Please try not to fret.

Thank you so much to all the people who have commented since I’ve come back on site. You’re all so kind. Thanks for saying I’m not being silly. I do trust the surgeon I’ve seen in outpatients appts so I think I will stay with him he is very well thought of . It’s been brilliant getting your points of view thank you so much

I have no experience or knowledge of these things but just wanted to acknowledge how worrying this must be for you and wish you the very, very best.

I had a spinal op and was terrified but it went very well and gave me back a life which had become unbearable with Sciatic nerve pain. Go for it!

Thanks so much knspol for your kind wishes and Lilyflower so glad you are better now

TwiceAsNice a friend had a spinal op for SS at the National Neuro in Wueens Sq London, he had an epidural

Non opioid painkiller I now use is Nefopam. Won’t suit everyone of course but might be worth a try if you can’t tolerate opioids and paracetamol isn’t helping.

The anesthesia is the least of your worries. That is to provide you comfort and peace. They have been doing this for decades so dont you worry about that. That is the best. What is difficult is the recovery. I am not going to sugar coat this and say all will be well. Recovery is a toss up and you need to pray a lot. The spinal is nothing to worry about. You will feel better than now but youve got to be very tough and look towards the future. It wont be easy but you will get to a better place. ❤️

Thank you to the last 3 people. I have heard of the painkiller from a nurse friend and will mention it. I’ve been promised a phone call from the pain clinic beforehand.

Unfortunately a spinal block is not an option with my operation I would have considered it but my surgeon won’t . I understand it’s going to be a slow recovery over months . I hope it’s successful. For 5 out of each 100 people it isn’t but my quality of life is so bad now I have no alternative but to try. Thanks again everyone

Can I give you a tip, work on your ‘core muscles’ now before your operation, they make a tremendous difference after your spinal surgery.
Learn how to engage them, they honestly take any strain off your back when sitting down or standing up and make walking a doddle.

Thank you LadyGracie that’s a very good tip, I’ll google how to best do it

I had the op for Spinal Stenosis back in 2018. I’m terrified of medical procedures and my imagination runs away with me. But I can truly say, everything went well and waking from the GA, I was in a very happy place, feeling quite upbeat and cheery. An unnatural high. But it was nice. On day 2, I did get a little emotional and weepy, but thats normal I was told.
Healing was without any issue and the excruciating nerve pain was gone.

Good luck. It will be worth it.

Thanks so much Robin202 that sounds great . To be pain free would be amazing. I can’t remember being without pain