Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 8/8/2010

Question
I broke my ankle and fibula at the end of June and had surgery on July 2nd I had 8 screws and one plate inserted. I'm only now recalling details of the surgery, and had a question as to the nerve block that I received. I remember the anesthesiologist telling me prior to surgery that once surgery was finished, and I woke up, that she would give me a nerve block behind of my knee which would help alleviate the pain for the next 24 hours.  I remember waking up at some point in the operating room, and my leg was propped up and slightly twisted and the doctors and nurses were around me. The pain was excruciating and I am sure I was moaning or screaming. I looked at my leg briefly before I was given nerve block. I clearly felt the block being administered and I twitched for a moment before I returned to my unconscious state.  Is that normal?

The reason I ask is I slept for the next two hours after surgery, returned home and didn't sleep for the rest of the night, as the pain in my ankle was so excruciatingly painful.  The only way I can describe what I felt that night was as if someone was hitting my ankle with a hammer.  I felt the nerve block didn't help me at all because I was anticipating not feeling any pain between the percocet I took and the nerve block.
Thank you for your answer.  Since this happened a month ago, I am more curious then anything.

Answer
The first thing is whether you woke up during surgery and it sounds like you didn't. You were probably waking up after the procedure and they were already in the processof giving you the block. As they should have explained to you, the process of getting the block may be uncomfortable and you will feel your leg twitching. So all of this is normal. They should have alaso explained that the block would not completely get rid of the pain but rather make the pain more bearaable (with the other medications). Sorry for your bad experience.


Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston