Spinal Anesthesia

Alternate Names : Intraspinal Anesthesia, Subarachnoid Anesthesia, "A Spinal"

What happens right after the procedure?

A person is taken to an area called the surgery recovery room after the procedure. If sedatives were used, people may feel groggy for a few hours. Pain medication can be given if needed. The pain medication can be given through an IV or through the special tube in the spinal column if one was used.

The numbness and paralysis usually go away within a few hours. People are usually asked to lie flat on their back for an hour or more after the procedure. This may help prevent problems with the injection site, and decrease the chance of headache. A short hospital stay may be needed to recover from major operations. If not, a person may be able to go home later the same day in some cases. If sedatives were used, someone must drive the person home. After a spinal, a person must usually be able to urinate before they are allowed to go home. This lets the healthcare provider know that the medication has worn off.