What type of anaesthesia will I have?
Most upper limb surgery will be performed using general or regional anaesthesia or a combination of the two. Regional anaesthesia or "nerve block" involves injection of local anaesthetic around the nerves, which run into the arm. This numbs the arm and keeps it pain-free often until the day after surgery. The arm may feel heavy and you will need to wear a sling to support the arm following surgery.
The following pages on the website of the Royal College of Anaesthetists provide useful information:
- Anaesthesia including what to expect, side effects, risks and pain relief after surgery.
- Nerve blocks
The following video provides useful information about nerve blocks: