My Spine - Lumbar
What are the risks?
Anaesthesia is safer than it ever has been before, but all medical treatments
carry some risk. Some nerves are at risk of being compressed due to the posi-
tion you lie in when unconscious. Very rarely, numbness and weakness may
persist for several weeks. There is a small risk to your life with every anaes-
thetic performed; these risks are, however, extremely small. There is a large
number of very rare complications that may occur with even the most routine
of procedures and you should always have a frank and open discussion about
these with your anaesthetist.
If you or anyone in your family has had a problem with an anaesthetic, you
must discuss this with the anaesthetist. If you have any worries or if you have
any side-effects after your operation, please inform a member of the nursing
staff who can refer you to an anaesthetist.
How long am I going to stay in hospital?
One of the main reasons for staying on in hospital is to control post-operative
pain. You may go home as soon as the specialist is satisfied and you are com-
fortable enough, sooner for minor operations than for major operations.
You will be given painkillers to take home. Do not drive a motor vehicle,
operate dangerous equipment, use any alcohol or make any important deci-
sions for 24 hours after surgery.
Pain relief after your back operation
There are various forms of pain relief after surgery. Depending on your oper-
ation and individual circumstances, the anaesthetist may recommend one par-
ticular method of pain relief for you.
81