Spinal anesthesia: What's your experience?

wiredtrucker11 said:Hi everyone!
I have a quick question regarding spinal anesthesia... basically, I’ve been scheduled for a C-section on October 22nd. If I get the choice, I would really prefer the spinal, but I'm not entirely sure if it's an option for me given my back issues.
To give some context, I have a curved spine—nothing extreme, but it shows up on X-rays—and I deal with chronic sciatica and a herniated disc at L5-S1 that's been acting up for about five years now.
Back when I had my last MRI, the report noted that my "spinal canal is of appropriate width"... but that was a while ago...
I'm currently 37 weeks pregnant, so my water could break at any moment, which would mean heading straight to the ER for an emergency C-section, assuming I understood the process correctly. However, if I make it until the 22nd, I believe I might be able to choose, and they usually recommend a spinal. My first baby seven years ago was a natural birth, but this baby is breech and quite large, so it looks like a C-section is likely.
I'm honestly pretty nervous about all of this, especially with my spinal issues... Scott Allen10, I see you know a lot about this stuff, so maybe you could let me know if my back problems will affect my ability to receive spinal anesthesia? Or is it still an option regardless?

You've got it right... if it's an emergency C-section, it's general.

James Cox6, thanks for getting back to me... I know the most important thing is that the baby stays healthy, but since my first birth was vaginal, I'd really love for this one to be at least partially that way too. I suppose I just want to be awake the moment my little one arrives 🙂. But if that isn't possible, it’s fine... just like you said, as long as everything is okay with the baby, that's all that matters! 👍
I guess I'm just a bit worried about the anesthesiologist potentially damaging a nerve in my lower back. I was actually immobile for a month and a half after a herniated disc, so I know exactly what it feels like when you can't even hold your head up on a pillow or move your legs, let alone roll from your back to your side. And don't even get me started on the pain!!! So, I think I'm mostly just dealing with a fear of the unknown since I've never experienced a C-section before, and the anesthesia part is adding to it. I was wondering if it's actually possible for a nerve to get injured, or if that's something that basically doesn't happen..!?? 😕

Thanks for taking the time to get back to me and everyone else... My only real worry now is what happens if I have a panic attack right there at the desk.😲😕

urbangull25 As I was saying:
The only thing that’s really weighing on my mind right now is this one nagging thought: what happens if I just lose it? What if a full-blown panic attack hits me while I'm sitting right there at the table?😲😕

Go ahead, try jumping off the table. 😁

fadedmarlin402 said:

urbangull25 As I was saying:
The only thing that’s really weighing on my mind right now is this one nagging thought: what happens if I just lose it? What if a full-blown panic attack hits me while I'm sitting right there at the table?😲😕

Go ahead, try jumping off the table. 😁

Nice one.👍

urbangull25, don't worry—you'll probably be prescribed something to calm you down before that happens.

wiredtrucker11 said:James Cox6, thanks for getting back to me... I know the most important thing is that the baby stays healthy, but since my first birth was vaginal, I'd really love for this one to be at least partially that way too. I suppose I just want to be awake the moment my little one arrives 🙂. But if that isn't possible, it’s fine... just like you said, as long as everything is okay with the baby, that's all that matters! 👍
I guess I'm just a bit worried about the anesthesiologist potentially damaging a nerve in my lower back. I was actually immobile for a month and a half after a herniated disc, so I know exactly what it feels like when you can't even hold your head up on a pillow or move your legs, let alone roll from your back to your side. And don't even get me started on the pain!!! So, I think I'm mostly just dealing with a fear of the unknown since I've never experienced a C-section before, and the anesthesia part is adding to it. I was wondering if it's actually possible for a nerve to get injured, or if that's something that basically doesn't happen..!?? 😕

Sorry, I totally lost track of this thread for a bit...

Just so you know, a spinal isn't quite the same thing as the epidural you're probably thinking of when people talk about labor.
Don't sweat the nerve damage stuff too much...🙂

James Cox6 said:You've got it right... if it's an emergency C-section, it's general.

Not necessarily though... I actually had an emergency C-section but they gave me spinal anesthesia instead.
I was already up and moving about 12 hours later without any issues at all—honestly, after just three days, I was practically strutting down the hallway with my little one in tow.
Maybe I’m just one of those lucky outliers?

While an epidural can be used during a C-section, a spinal block is typically preferred because it provides superior anesthesia. Regarding the choice of method, several people here have incorrectly assumed that the patient always gets the final say. That isn't how it works; just like any other medical procedure, there are specific indications and contraindications. Doctors offer what is clinically recommended, and if a patient refuses the recommended path, they may be left without viable options. General anesthesia is a serious matter and remains a life-threatening procedure regardless of the surgery involved. This is why regional anesthesia is strongly advised whenever it is appropriate based on the patient's medical profile. Following a spinal block, we administer plenty of fluids because the procedure can cause a significant drop in blood pressure. Combined with proper positioning, this helps prevent post-procedure headaches and protects against the risk of cerebellar herniation into the spinal canal.
ps. The clinician does not decide when to attempt or cease spinal anesthesia efforts 😁

urbangull25 said:Thanks for taking the time to get back to me and everyone else... My only real worry now is what happens if I have a panic attack right there at the desk.😲😕

That’s exactly what gave me the most anxiety—it was pretty much the biggest thing on my mind.

Look, the umbilical cord connecting the placenta to the baby isn't some kind of "antenna"—if that's even the right way to put it—for sensing or reacting to shifts in blood pressure.
I found out during my first pregnancy—it can lead to major complications sometimes, though it doesn't happen all that often.
I was trying to stay calm... honestly, I was terrified my blood pressure would spike or my heart would start racing. I kept worrying about how all that stress would hit the baby—you know, how it messes with the pressure and circulation. I was absolutely exhausted by the end of it. 😲

My operator and I reached an agreement that my bedsheet would just pulse until the cycle finished. I wasn't about to hand over any master station codes—not under those typical "North American conditions" where if you even raise your voice, the hospital basically washes its hands of you. So, we decided to just wait it out until the pulsing stopped.

I’ve been diving deep into the medical side of things lately—specifically umbilical cord stem cells—and comparing the Anglo-Saxon approach versus the European school of thought. Honestly, the American style of medicine feels much more intuitive to me. That said, waiting for the placenta to pulsate can be nerve-wracking. If that doesn't happen within a minute, it just drags out the C-section process—which, frankly, only ramps up my panic levels.

Since I don’t have any issues with anesthesia—had four surgeries under my belt already—they decided to go straight to general anesthesia pretty quickly in my case.

Forget that crap. I’ve been through the ringer twice—once for knee arthroscopy and again for ACL reconstruction—and both times were absolute misery. When I was recovering at the hospital in Chicago just two days after my surgery, the headaches were so brutal I was actually contemplating ending it all. Seriously, don't even bother; just tell them you want to be knocked out...👍

Thanks everyone, seriously, thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! 🙏 You all made things so much easier for me, and I don't feel like I'm in a coma or constantly terrified anymore... 👍
Nicholas Brooks4, I'm hoping that was just a one-time thing based on how your body reacted 🤷
To be honest, I've never actually had a headache in my entire life 🙄 so I wouldn't even know what it feels like... I'm really hoping I never have to find out 😲
And why wasn't it... hmm 😂 well, I guess that's a topic for a new thread 🤣

So, I had a spinal block during my C-section. Honestly, the surgery itself was fine—nothing to complain about there—but everything after that... man. I just didn't know, and nobody bothered to tell me, that I was supposed to stay flat on my back for 24 hours. I ended up propping myself up in a sitting position because it felt way more comfortable, totally clueless about what I was doing. Every time a nurse came in, they’d lower the bed, but since they didn't say a single word to explain *why* they were doing it, I'd just sit right back up again. Later on, I dealt with these brutal headaches and neck pain, especially whenever I actually tried to lie down flat and relax. It wasn't until I got home that I found out about the whole 24-hour lying flat rule, and I honestly felt like going back to the hospital just to 😠. Plus, I was expected to be up and moving by the second morning, even though I'd only had the surgery the afternoon before.

Just my thoughts on the "attentive" staff.

wiredtrucker11 said:Thanks everyone, seriously, thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! 🙏 You all made things so much easier for me, and I don't feel like I'm in a coma or constantly terrified anymore... 👍
Nicholas Brooks4, I'm hoping that was just a one-time thing based on how your body reacted 🤷
To be honest, I've never actually had a headache in my entire life 🙄 so I wouldn't even know what it feels like... I'm really hoping I never have to find out 😲
And why wasn't it... hmm 😂 well, I guess that's a topic for a new thread 🤣

And they’re saying you won't even deal with that headache if you just stay put and don't get out of bed for a day or two after the surgery. Honestly, as far as the head pain goes, I’ve never actually dealt with that in my life, so the whole theory feels pretty flimsy to me. Good luck!👍

Thanks 🙂 🙄

Hey everyone. Please ignore my typos; I'm typing this on my phone. To give some context, I had knee arthroscopy surgery two days ago. Naturally, the anesthesiologists decided on spinal anesthesia. I mentioned my issues with a herniated disc in my spine, but they insisted it wouldn't be an issue. Before this, I’ve undergone two other surgeries and always i
Regarding the choice of anesthesia. To continue, this hospital is a well-known orthopedic center located near Cleveland. Anyway, they numbed me with ice, administered the anesthesia, and asked if I felt warmth in my legs. I told them it was just a mild sensation. They took me to the operating room, and about 15 minutes passed, yet I could still move my legs lol lol lol. I DIDN'T SUBMIT TO THE ANESTHESIA JUST OUT OF SPITE. (These doctors think they know everything and have swallowed all the wisdom in the world.) Eventually, they called the anesthesiologist back because he was busy prepping and monitoring the surgery. When he arrived, he just laughed, muttered to the nurse to give me something intravenously, and that's when I fell asleep. NEXT COMES THE MEMORY—that was waking up in the recovery room where my legs felt completely cemented. It was a strange feeling. About two hours passed, and then I started feeling them again. I overheard the nurses saying they actually had to give me two spinal anesthesias. When they moved me back to the ward, they told me I couldn't get up until tomorrow and needed to use the restroom. I tried, but I'm not used to doing that while lying down. Of course, I got hungry right as dinner was served. Mmmmmm. I thought, great, now I can finally eat, but then they brought me a tiny bowl of grits ABCDEFGHIJKL!!!!!!! It wasn't even sweetened, and there wasn't even a bit of sugar ABCDEFGHIJKL!!!! Which also wasn't sweet. CATASTROPHIC (Note: next time you go to any hospital, bring 1kg of sugar and 1kg of salt). Anyway, I dealt with that and they discharged me the next day. As for the drive from that hospital back to my house on the Mediterranean Coast, I suffered through headaches and vomiting. It's been two days since the surgery and I still have TERRIBLE HEADACHES. Being a med tech by profession, I know this is from the anesthesia and that I should probably rest for a few days. I know the risks of these... let's call them complications... are very rare. But if I could go back in time, I'd tell that anesthesiologist, "Good for you, just stick to general anesthesia and leave me alone, Bo." We'll see how many more days my head hurts; I'll pray for that anesthesiologist to master his craft XD XD XD

Hey, just wanted to vent a bit about a situation. A close friend of mine scraped her knee pretty badly and ended up needing surgery. Before they went under, they tried giving her spinal anesthesia, but it didn't even touch the pain. Then they moved to general
which also failed to work—she didn't actually drift off until they hit her with the third round of general anesthesia. Now that the surgery is over, she’s dealing with constant aches and pains from every direction imaginable. It’s mostly her head, stomach, and back where the spinal was administered... (we're talking intense pain here). There isn't a single day where she isn't hurting somewhere, whether it's a joint or something else entirely. Looking through her medical paperwork, there’s absolutely nothing mentioned about administering extra anesthesia or anything like that, so it's all a bit vague.

I'm curious to hear what you guys think. Was it even okay for them to handle things that way, pushing those kinds of doses of meds and drugs? And is there any chance that whatever happened during the spinal procedure is causing these ongoing issues? She’s never dealt with anything like this before the operation.

Thanks

urbangull25 said:Nothing? Seriously? ☕

Back about eight years ago, I had to undergo spinal anesthesia for a hernia repair, and man, let me tell you, I felt totally foggy for nearly ten days straight. It was this heavy pressure, like my brain just wouldn't let me do anything but lie down.
Even after a week, I couldn't handle driving for more than thirty minutes at a time without feeling off. It took a full two weeks before things finally leveled out.
Fast forward to the last nine months—I’ve had three general anesthesias, and honestly? Every single time I wake up, my head feels crystal clear, almost like I just had the most refreshing sleep of my life.
My best advice is to stick to a clean diet and keep moving; if you take care of yourself, you might never even need a doctor or surgery. But if it ever came down to a choice again, I’d take my chances with general anesthesia over spinal any day of the week.