Spinal block and Epi?

[Caz1971]

Are these two the same thing??. Going today to discuss with anasthesiast if Im for a spinal or general. Will go with the spinal..

Caz

[agadoo]

you can have a general?!

[Caz1971]

Nah - I dont want to be asleep..Ive had the epi last time with my c-section so I know what it feels like.

[~mamaspice~]

Apparently the spinal block is a one off injection of anaesthetic in the spine which will numb you for a few hours then it will wear off gradually, whereas the epidural is where the anaesthetic is fed intraveniously into the spine and it stops when they turn it off and pull the tube out. They both serve the same purpose though.

Hope this makes sense

[~Kim~]

THey both go in through the same insertion point but are different drugs.
I had an epi for some hours (while nothing happened) and then they gave me a block for my c section.
The spinal block paralyses as well.

[Beach Mama]

I had an epidural during the labour, and my legs could sort of move, but only just and thought they would just up the dosage or something when they told me I had to have a caeser but they took the epi out (its a catheter tube that stays in your back) and then gave me the spinal block which paralyses from chest down basically and it a single injection.
It started slightly wearing off while I was in recovery and then about 1-2 hours later I was able to move my legs again (gently under the covers!)
Good luck!