Anesthesia experiences?

I play sports purely for recreation, but over the last few months, I’ve been dealing with this persistent shoulder pain whenever I try to do push-ups or move my arm into certain positions. It feels like there's an issue with the joint, and honestly, I don't think it can be fixed without surgery. My real concern, however, is the anesthesia. I'm under the impression that they usually perform it via a spinal injection, and that idea really doesn't sit well with me. I have no desire to risk any potential spinal damage, even if the statistical probability of such a thing happening is incredibly low.
Is it actually possible to undergo this type of procedure using just local anesthesia? What has your experience been like with similar surgeries?
Thanks

Look, first off, nobody really knows if you’re actually going to need surgery or not yet. From what you wrote, it sounds like you're still just guessing at this point. Honestly? Don't rush into anything. Try every single conservative treatment out there first, and even if a doctor starts pushing the surgical route, please go get a second—or third—opinion before deciding.

When it comes to how they pick your anesthesia, the doctors usually look at a few big things: how sick you are, where exactly the procedure is happening, how long it’ll take, your medical history, any meds you're currently on, and honestly, sometimes they'll even let you have a say in it if the situation allows.
Just a heads up though, you can pretty much forget about getting a spinal block. Those are usually reserved for stuff involving your legs, hips, pelvis, or lower abdomen... the shoulder area is way too high up for spinal anesthesia to work effectively.

But hey... let's say... you're active, maybe dealing with some shoulder pain... hmm... and if the procedure itself isn't super long... hmm... they might go with something like an enhanced peripheral nerve block. That's basically where they inject anesthetic right near the nerve or nerve bundle controlling that specific part of your body, then give you a little sedative or painkiller through an IV, plus maybe some light gas through a mask so you aren't intubated.
Basically, you drift off for a bit while the target area is totally numb, giving nimbleskipper13 enough time to work her magic for maybe thirty minutes to an hour.😁

Scott Allen10, a regional (Beer) block isn't used for the shoulder, and an axillary one is even less likely...
Most "orange" cases usually involve arthroscopy...
I'm not quite following what's going on with Tonin... is it a rotator cuff tear?
The shoulder actually responds pretty well to conservative treatment, especially early-stage frozen shoulder... surgery is typically reserved for more severe trauma... though, again, this isn't my area of expertise.
All I know is you should be careful with "blocks" and try to avoid them, even if orthopedists love using them... intra-articular corticosteroids are a ticking time bomb. 😈

I appreciate you sharing this information. 👍
Scott Allen10, am I truly forced to undergo general anesthesia on top of all those additional anesthetic options you listed?
nimbleskipper13, would you mind clarifying this point for me just a bit?

a regional (Beer) block isn't indicated for the shoulder, and an axillary one is even less likely...

one should be cautious regarding "blocks" and avoid them whenever possible, despite how much orthopedic surgeons seem to love them... intra-articular corticosteroids are essentially a ticking time bomb.

What does a conservative treatment approach for the shoulder actually entail, and what is the clinical definition of a frozen shoulder?
How risky is anesthesia, particularly when it involves spinal injections?
I realize I am asking far too many questions...
Thank you once again.

nimbleskipper13, I might have been a little loose with my terminology there, but I think when you say "Beer," you're talking about regional IV anesthesia where they hit a block before starting the actual anesthetic. Honestly, that’s pretty much impossible for a shoulder procedure since the site is just too high up... What I actually meant was using a local lidocaine infiltration paired with a quick IV dose of something like Diprivan, Rapifene, or even Fentanyl—all without needing an intubation tube while breathing through a mask... It’s really nothing out of the ordinary, and yeah, I totally agree that most of the heavy lifting usually happens during arthroscopy.

Raymond Bennett9, I’d highly recommend this kind of nap to a sleeper like you... you might feel a little groggy afterward, but from what it sounds like, you're basically just drifting off for a bit.
Look, any anesthesia, much like any surgery itself, carries some level of risk—nobody's offering 100% safety here. But in this specific case, I really think the danger is minimal.
That "spinal shot" you mentioned is done routinely in all our hospitals, and in my experience, it carries way less risk than going under full general anesthesia. The only real complication that pops up occasionally is a headache, which can be absolutely brutal and a total pain to manage with meds. All those horror stories about paralysis and whatnot? Honestly, in my book, that's just stuff people tell to scare kids...

Scott Allen10, I’m no anesthesiologist, but from a surgical standpoint, complete muscle relaxation is absolutely critical. You just can't achieve that level of stillness with local anesthesia and IV sedation alone... you need muscle relaxants, which necessitates endotracheal intubation—essentially, general anesthesia.

That said, I think you and I have started overcomplicating things and probably confused the general public more than necessary.😁

We run the risk of starting to sound like MacGregor, God forbid!😈

nimbleskipper13 said:Honestly, I feel like you and I are just overcomplicating things now and making everyone else totally confused 😁

We might actually end up acting like MacGregor, and God forbid that happens! 😈 [/B]

First off...👍
And second...🙂

I went through spinal anesthesia for knee surgery recently, and honestly, the procedure itself isn't painful at all. First, they administer the local anesthetic in your back, followed by this slightly odd numbing process to ensure they hit the right spot on the spine—but you don't really feel much after that. Then comes this strange sensation of warmth spreading through your legs, and suddenly, everything just goes numb. They do give you some sedatives during the surgery to help with the nerves—it makes things feel a bit hazy, sure, but I’d much rather be a little foggy than lose my mind lying there on the operating table. For me, the anesthesia went smoothly without any lingering side effects.

The only part that feels a little surreal is when it starts wearing off. It begins with feeling your toes again, then moving up your leg, and finally, the sensation returns in the groin area. It can be a bit unnerving wondering exactly when the full feeling will return.

The most important thing, though, is having an anesthesiologist who is actually kind. Someone who checks in on you, asks if you're okay, and stays by your side talking to you throughout the procedure (ideally in a language that lets you relax). That human connection makes a world of difference. A huge shout-out to my anesthesiologist 👍 thanks for being such a decent human being

I appreciate all the advice. 👍
Justin Fox, firsthand experience is always the most valuable, so thank you. Have you spent any time in Savannah, perhaps near the waterfront?
nimbleskipper13, I fail to see why this couldn't be explained in plain, simple English.
In my experience here in the States, shoulder surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Does anyone know if that is the standard practice elsewhere?

I ended up having a spinal myself, even though the whole idea of it terrified me at first 😱—it actually went quite smoothly. Honestly, I wouldn't opt for total anesthesia unless it was absolutely necessary 😉.

Now, they didn't give me any local numbing before the spinal itself, and despite my absolute dread of needles, it wasn't nearly as bad as I anticipated. The needle is surprisingly thin and small—I think I was picturing something massive, maybe 8 inches long 😵—and all I really felt was this odd sensation once they had worked their way to the target area 😳
.
By the way, if we’re talking about shoulder surgery, I suspect most hospitals across the US perform those under general anesthesia 😉 because, just as they explained to you, the shoulder is simply "too high up" for a spinal to be practical
.

Thanks, Elizabeth Foster20 👍 ... spinal without local 🙄
Does anyone know what kind of side effects general anesthesia can actually cause?
And is there truly nobody from the US, Europe, or Australia here who can share their experience with how things work over there?

Raymond Bennett9 said:Thanks, Elizabeth Foster20 👍... a spinal without any local 🙄

Look, I’ll admit it—I have a bit of a phobia when it comes to needles—but this wasn't actually that bad at all. Honestly, even the IV needle felt 😱
worse by comparison. And I don't really see the point in requesting a local anesthetic; if anything, it just seems like more pain twice over—first the spinal itself, and then potentially having to deal with the soreness from the local injection later on 😬

If you want some quick context, check out these links: general info on anesthesia, and there's a bit here regarding side effects, at least until the specialists weigh in 😉

A few months back, I underwent a liposuction procedure. It was done under local anesthesia. Once it was over, I stood up and honestly, I saw stars. I had to sit there for about fifteen minutes, just staring at the floor and focusing on my breathing, trying to steady myself...
I eventually managed to walk out of the clinic. :P

Raymond Bennett9 said:Thanks for the info on the 326 👍 ... spinal without local 🙄
Does anyone know what kind of side effects you might deal with from general anesthesia?
And is there anyone here from Europe, the US, or Australia who can chime in on how things work over there?

That question is way too broad, honestly. What kind of consequences are we talking about? Give me a little more to go on.

The way anesthesia is handled is pretty much the same all over the world.

Someone posted a couple of links earlier covering some specifics... you can actually find plenty of stuff right here if you just take a second to poke around...

Raymond Bennett9 said:Thanks, 326 👍 ... spinal without local 🙄
Does anyone know what kind of side effects general anesthesia can actually cause?
And isn't there anyone from the US, Europe, or Australia who can weigh in on how things work over there?

I'm not from abroad, but I can share my own experience—two instances of general anesthesia within a single month. The first was for surgery; I was back on my feet within two hours, no nausea or lingering issues whatsoever. The second was for some uncomfortable diagnostic procedures—an injection, then out like a light—they woke me up shortly after, and the whole thing lasted maybe thirty minutes. The only real consequence was that I didn't quite trust myself enough to drive immediately.

Thank you, everyone. Has anyone else here, or perhaps someone you know, gone through anesthesia? I would be interested to hear about your experiences or any insights you might have.

Raymond Bennett9 said:Thanks, everyone. Is there anyone else here, or maybe out in the real world, who has gone under anesthesia? Any experiences or thoughts you can share?

Anyone who has ever had surgery—from tonsillectomies to appendix removals—has been under anesthesia.
I'm not quite sure what you're getting at. Anesthesiology is a highly advanced and incredibly safe medical field. The drugs and equipment used in America are exactly the same as those used anywhere else in the world.

If you really want data, why not just stand outside a local hospital and conduct a survey? 😈

Or, you could just stop by a surgical ward during visiting hours and ask around...
Honestly, the easiest way would be to head over to the anesthesia department at any major hospital and ask a few questions. I'd bet anything they won't kick you out for asking.🙂

nimbleskipper13 said:Anesthesiology is a modern and incredibly safe field of medicine.

Pa, let's just say I'm interested too, since I've got my own shoulder surgery looming on the horizon. But after those incidents a year or two back, your little statement doesn't sound particularly convincing to me.

And frankly, I don't care about the theory or being lectured with medical jargon. I want to hear about the actual practice. (Look, if you asked me a single question about IT, I could give you the exact same response—drown you in technical terms and tell you to go take a tour of a Silicon Valley firm because why bother asking questions on a forum when everything is supposedly "standardized" anyway 😈).
I assume people, myself included, are looking for real human experiences here, not some clinical survey. Honestly, I've already been through two total failures and talked to anesthesiologists myself, but I still find value in hearing what others have gone through. Despite everything, I still get nervous. Maybe it's irrational, but there’s something to be said for reading about someone else's reality.

I truly believe the side effects of anesthesia hit older folks much harder than they do younger people. I remember being in the hospital myself once, and there were these women who were just completely disoriented—so out of it that when they finally stepped out of their rooms, they couldn't even figure out which room was theirs.

Karen Brooks, if you ask me, you're feeling this anxiety specifically because you've actually experienced anesthesia before. When it’s your first time, you don't really know what you're up against, so everything tends to feel a bit less daunting.

After major procedures, it's pretty common for people to throw up afterward, which some say is actually a good thing—just a way for the body to clear out all that junk from the system.

I’ve personally gone through one major surgery and one minor one involving anesthesia. Interestingly enough, I handled the big one much better; of course, that’s mainly because I spent the entire recovery period passed out cold and didn't have the slightest desire to rejoin the living.🙂

The job of an anesthesiologist carries an immense amount of responsibility, though it’s something people rarely stop to consider. You see patients showering surgeons with flowers and gifts, yet hardly anyone shows any appreciation for the anesthesiologists who quite literally held our lives in their hands. Though, in the end, everything is ultimately in God's hands.

To whole situation honestly has me a bit on edge. I can’t quite put my finger on the exact timeline, but there were those incidents maybe a year or two back. Anyway, the thing is, I basically lost my soul after both times I underwent anesthesia—I couldn't stop throwing up. And the second I came around? I was wired, jittery as hell, just completely on edge. So, yeah, I'm fully expecting a repeat performance, and likely sooner rather than later. 😢