Hi

I have a question about anesthesia. I am planning to have a knee surgery in about a month but I am scared that it will make my symptoms worse.

I've been looking forward to this surgery since last year. 4 months ago I hit my head and am now suffering from pcs... It is not severe (thank god!) but I still have headaches and dizziness.

Would anesthesia make symptoms worse? should I cancel my surgery?

Thanks for your help

I don't tolerate anesthesia well but some have no problem. The lighter sedation and anesthesia they can do for some knee surgery is less problematic. You should talk to the anesthesiologist and ask what can be done to minimize post anesthesia struggles.

As Mark has mentioned, definitely talk to your Anaesthetist about this. I'm not sure how it works there but the problem here where I live is that often one won't actually see the Anaesthetist until the day before surgery or the morning of surgery if it's scheduled for late afternoon.

Hi, do you mind telling us what kind of knee surgery? Reason I ask, is I've dealt with OA knee starting when I was 57, going on 20 yrs ago...So I've got thru my life and no knee surgery, wore knee supports and went to my gym into mid 60's...

For me, surgery, is the last resort. I know an MD here who does work to TRY to save people from joint surgeries. He says often knees can mend but I don't know your issue. If you do a knee surgery, wouldn't they do a local. I had a hip replacement in 2010, and no general, a local was my choice and the surgeon as well. The surgery went good but after 5th month, many complications hit me with this major surgery. Nothing to do with anesthesia. So more than ever I am paranoid about surgery, unless an emergency.

If you care to hear about this type work, let me know and I'll post more info, if you are set on surgery then the best to you. Many people go with locals for this type surgery.

Yes I'll definitely talk to my anesthetist.

The surgery is a little bit complicated... I don't exactly know what they're gonna do yet it was just too complicated for me. What I do know is that they are going to work on my cartilage (I have very little left because of an accident I had when I was 6) and my meniscus. The surgery will probably last for about 2 hours.

Is age relevant for the after effects of a surgery? I am 17 and have never had any trouble with anesthesia.
Thanks for all your help

There are many surgeons who will not do surgery with less than their normal anesthesia. I looked into this for an acquaintance whose father suffered greatly from anesthesia. Maybe a spinal anesthesia would be workable but there are also risks from that.

I've had two ankle and three knee surgeries. I really struggled after the ankle surgeries. I tried to convince the doctor and nurse anesthetist to minimize the depth of the anesthesia for the arthroscopic knee surgeries and they agreed but put me under completely anyway.

also another question about the fish oil! Do I have to stop taking it before the surgery because it's a blood thinner ??

Since you are so young, healing chances are much better...hope all goes well, make sure your doctors know everything and all concerns....

Thank you

You should ask your surgeon about the fish oil. If the surgery will involve the pink cartilage, it has a blood supply and can bleed. The white cartilage is fed by synovial fluid which is why it does not heal very well.

There have been studies that show no risk. http://www.omega3innovations.com/blo...al-procedures/

Google 'stop fish oil surgery.'

But, there is no reason to push it. Stop 5 days before and resume 5 days after.