The Types of Anesthesia and When They Are Used

If you have ever heard a doctor tell you that they can do a procedure through local anesthetic, that is true, but with the local anesthesia you aren't asleep. Then, there is the anesthesia that is used to make you completely sleepy, and you don't remember what happened. For myself personally, this is the way I prefer it; I don't' want to remember anything. So, here are the different types of anesthesia and when they are used.

The first and most common is general anesthesia. This is used for most surgeries, so that you are in a deep sleep when the surgery occurs. You won't be awake at all, and you will have no recollection of the procedure. This is the best way to do it! I don't care to know what is happening while I am out cold, so that is fine by me. I don't want to feel it either, so this worked well when I had my thyroid removed in November of 2008. The surgery in that case was three hours long, and my neck was stretched out about 5 inches from each side so they could take it out.

The second most common type of anesthesia is what is called a local anesthesia. This is where you are given an injection into the site where the cutting or laser will take place. I had a local procedure done last year for the revision of the scar from the thyroid surgery. In my case, the scar was keloiding, or becoming very bubbly and red. In an attempt to correct it, the surgeon did a scar revision. The procedure took place in the hospital, in the operating room, but I only had the local anesthesia. He took a large needle and injected the scar all the way through from both sides to number the location. Then, the procedure began. I get queasy very quickly, so if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't.

Another type of anesthesia that is used almost everyday, is an epidural. Epidurals are commonly used to aid in the suppressing pain for a woman to deliver a baby. Epidurals are also used to help with severe back pain for those who have bad back injuries or possibly a hip problem. While they don't last forever, they are very effective for immediate relief. The biggest challenge with getting an epidural, is the fact that this is also like a spinal tap. The only difference is that the spinal fluid is not being removed, and they are administering the medication to help with pain.

These are the three widely known used types of anesthesia. Just remember, that when the doctor says local, look out! You might not be able to feel it, but you can hear everything that is going on.