“What are the side effects of having spinal anesthesia?”
I am a 39 year old female. I want to know what are the side effects of having spinal anesthesia?
5 Answers
Other than being numb for about 2-3 hours, nothing else.
Awareness, residual paralysis in rare circumstances and at times headache.
It can affect your breathing if the level is too high , but this is not likely as the anesthesiologist is very careful as to choosing the agent and the dosage depending upon your height and weight , and you are carefully and fully monitored . It can cause your blood pressure to drop , but this is of course treated by the anesthesiologist with the necessary amounts of fluids both before and during the spinal anesthesia . Medication agents can also be used to maintain your blood pressure ,if necessary .
Hypotension; bradicardia; nausea and vomiting. Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing are same day side effects 24 hrs after; headache is the most common complication and also back pain.
The side effects of a spinal are now thankfully very few. With the new very small diameter pencil point needles, the chance of a spinal headache is less than 1% and decreases with age. Low blood pressure is common and easily treated. Nerve damage is rare.
