Posted by medlib on October 17, 2000, at 13:53:00
In reply to Upcoming Knee Surgery - A Question, posted by Greg on October 17, 2000, at 8:48:05
Greg--
I hope that all 14 previous operations haven't been on your knees! Have any of the earlier surgeries been on this knee? If so, were they arthroscopic or had you a long incision? From your description, this coming surgery sounds like it will be an intracapsular arthroscopic procedure. Is that correct?
I would request a meeting with the anesthesiologist ASAP--at least a week before surgery, even postposing the operation to do so, if necessary. You'll need to take in a list of ALL drugs and amt.s you take regularly, RXs, OTCs, and PRNs, also any supplements.
Tell him/her about your recent gen. anes. experiences and ask in detail about alternatives. Possibilities might include a spinal + local bloc, local or systemic skeletal muscle relaxants, and/or "twilight sleep" IV to manage anxiety reactions. Find out which daily meds you should take when before surgery and how soon they can be restarted after.
Surgeons often want to operate under general anes. because it's easier for them; the body part can be manipulated however necessary and muscles are relaxed. Ask your anesthesiologist to consult with your surgeon to come up with an appropriate non-general alternative. MarkH is right; your mental and physical health after surgery are at least as important as (and, IMO, *more* important than) the surgeon's operating preferences. There are plenty of orthopods, particularly sports knee specialists, who wouldn't dream of using a general for scoping a knee, even a complicated scope. Whether arthroscopic or not, there are alternatives to general anesthesia for most operations, when necessary--and, to me, this sounds like a clearcult case of "necessary."
Good luck! Keep us posted, please.
Well wishes--medlib
I'm having knee surgery on Oct 23rd. Pretty basic stuff, torn and frayed cartlidge and loose stuff floating around in the knee joint. Doc says I might even be up walking around the next day. This isn't my first surgery (by a long shot, #15), but I'm getting very apprehensive about it. The thought of surgery doesn't bother me, it's my reaction to the anesthesia. Up until my last few surgeries, I've always been very tolerant of the anesthesia, but the last few have been pretty nasty. I get very sick and feel horrible for days. I'm sure my age has something to do with it. It's also my first one since being diagnosed Bipolar II.
>
> Can anyone suggest something I might do help counteract the negative side-effects either before or after the surgery? I've even give thought to requesting a local, but I'm sure my surgeon would have issues with a patient having a panic attack while lying on his table...
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> Any advice/input/feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Greg
poster:medlib
thread:1188
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20001011/msgs/1206.html