Hi Beanpie,
Not knowing where you are going to have your laser surgery, I can't definitively say what kind of anesthesia they will use, but if it is at the Laser Spine Institute in Tampa, Florida, they will give you Versed to relax you and a local anesthetic at the incision point and that's all.
You will be escorted into a state-of-the-art surgical theatre and placed face down on a comfortable table with a hole cut out for your face. You will be given Versed about 20 minutes prior to the surgeon entering the theatre and the local about 10 minutes before the incision. You will feel no pain and you will be wide awake, conscious of everything going on around you and being done to you.
I had surgery there in July 2006 and it was a wonderful experience. They talk to you throughout the entire surgery using you as a third diagnostic to ensure they are zeroing in on the exact spot of your problem. You'll feel pressure from time to time and some warmth from time to time, but no pain or ill effects. You'll hear the laser turning on and off, but you'll never feel it. A surgical nurse sits at your head focusing on your facial expressions and body language, asking you questions and making small talk to alleviate any remaining anxiety or concerns, watching for any sign of discomfort. The surgeon and anesthesiologist will quiz you every so often as well to assess your cognitive reaction to the medication and laser surgery.
They are truly professional in every regard and supremely attentive to all of your needs and fears. When the 45-minute surgery is over, a nurse and orderly are waiting just outside the theatre ready to take you to recovery where you will remain for 50 minutes during which the nurse never leaves your side, answering questions and checking your vitals. At the conclusion of the recovery period, the surgeon and anesthesiologist check your sutures and bandages and your vitals to ensure all is well.
After that's over, you're done. They wheel you out to meet your relatives, talk with them briefly, then down to your car or taxi and instruct you to report back in the morning for a recheck. At the recheck, they change your bandages, showing you and a relative how to do it for subsequent changes. They provide you with a checklist of things to do and avoid, plus a box of bandages, topical anesthetics, cleaning supplies for treating your wound and several scripts for pain and antibiotics. They will follow up by phone every week for 3 weeks, then every other week for six weeks.
Hope this has been helpful. If you have any further questions or comments, please write again.
I am Citadel72
