Anesthesia?!?

Question

I'm getting surgery...I was just wondering if it hurts to have it injected into your arm or hand? Like is there a stinging feeling? I'm getting General Anesthesia. Thanks Guys!!

Answer 1

It depends on what is being injected. We frequently put people of to sleep with a drug called propofol, which burns a lot in the IV. For that reason, we mix it with numbing medicine to take the sting away.

All of my patients get a sedative called midazolam (Versed) first, so they never remember the going off to sleep part.

Good luck with your surgery!

Answer 2

Dont worry.. you really arent even going to feel it. You first get a stint put in your arm and fluids are going into your body.. but then they inject a relaxant into you.. it is a little cold but it does not sting. You are so relaxed and more than half out of it that when you are wheeled into surgery that is when they give you the anesthesia. But the only thing is that the stint that they put in.. it is just uncomfortable.. not hurting, but you just know it is there.. lets just say.. annoying. I just had surgery 1 month ago and had it all done.. good luck and dont worry.. also the anesesologist will answer all these questions for you. They know ppl are worried about it sometimes.

Answer 3

The only thing that is usually a little uncomfortable is the placement of the IV. You will be awake for that after you sign paperwork, change clothes, and verify the surgery. Most of the time, you will have the skin numbed up with a little "sting and burn" of lidocaine local first. Once the IV is in and you're ready to go, you can receive sedation from the anesthetist which I like to call "I don't care medicine." If you don't receive sedation, there is an intravenous anesthetic called propofol which may burn a little when injected because of the way it's formulated -- of course there are remedies for this too. Good luck with your surgery. I'm sure it will go fine.

Answer 4

I had surgery on my arm last december. The only think that hurts is when they numb your arm or hand to put your i.v in. But you don't feel the anesthesia at all. They put it in through a shot in the i.v, so you arent' actually getting an injection of it. When they put your i.v line in, they stick a needle into your arm or your hand ( tiny pin prick, numbing medication). It stings and burns for like the first 20 seconds, but after that, you don't feel them put the actual i.v needle into you. Hope this helped and hope your surgery goes well.

Answer 5

It really depends on your pain tolerance. To me it doesn't hurt much at all. Just try to relax as much as possible and when they insert the needle take a deep breath. The more you stress yourself out about it the more it will hurt and DON'T tense up, that will make it hurt more also. Even if you don't handle pain very well this kind of pain only lasts for a couple of seconds, then the anesthesia will start to take affect and you won't feel anything.

Answer 6

When I had surgery, they bored me to death by asking the same questions over and over, principally "Do you have diabetes?" (I figure that is something the doctor should tell me!)
They gave me medication to "put me to sleep" BEFORE the general anesthesia, so I have no idea how it feels. That was through an IV going into my wrist; yes, there was a "sting" to that.
And an excruciating, terrible headache when I came to. No pain: just a feeling of sorta sleepwalking, even though I was lying down in the hospital bed.
Good luck.

Answer 7

I HAVE HAD many surgeries.

The IV does not feel all that good when they put it into your arm or hand. But its just a pin prick. They pull the needle out and a little teeny tiny tube thinner than the needle stays in your vein and they tape it down. Then they give you really great drugs. Better than any illegal ones and I have had both. Tell them you are nervous and they will hook you up. Dont worry. Once you are on the drugs you will not be able to feel pain and you will not be scared anymore. Doctors are really good nowadays and you will be fine. Just tell them if you have pain at any time and they will fix it.

Also most importantly DONT LOOK AT THE NEEDLE GOING INTO YOUR ARM. The sight of it makes it hurt but if you dont look and distract yourself its better. Your brain cant link a picture with what is happening so you block it out better.

Answer 8

If they put in an IV, they numb the area first and you don't feel anything but pressure. It's really not bad at all. If you're really getting nervous about it, request something to ease your anxiety. They do have things they can give you that will make you much more relaxed before they ever start with the anesthesia. Don't worry - it's really not that bad.

Answer 9

I've had my wisdom teeth removed and had general anesthesia. It will hurt for a few seconds like a big flu shot, then you'll be OK. Wishing you the very best!

Answer 10

It doesn't hurt much, because they numb the area of injection first with cold water. Get it over with quickly, it'll hurt less when your arm is numb.

You only feel a prick in your arm, like someone is digging a fingernail into your arm, but it's over very soon, because you'll fall asleep right away.