To say that local anesthetic is complete garbage?

[goodbooks]

I've had a few procedures in various parts of my body under local and every time I can still feel everything and it's painful.

Today I had a minor operation again under local and I'm feeling completely traumatised about how painful it was even though I complained twice during the procedure (and was given more doses). Even after 3 it was still incredibly painful. No one actually checked at the beginning either that it was numb, they just assumed and made a start.

I feel like a lot of the time doctors don't actually wait enough time for it to kick in. Usually they start pretty much straight away or give it a minute tops. Anyone else had bad experiences with local? Today's op has completely put me off from having anything under local again if I can help it.

And no I don't have Ehlers Danlos syndromes (I know LA doesn't work for people who do).

My DD has EDS and local anaesthetic does nothing. They tried sedation once and nothing happened and she then had a general anaesthetic. She woke up mid op which was really traumatic for her. She was undiagnosed at the time but her consultant mentioned that EDS looked likely just from the anaesthesia issues and extreme hypermobility.

DH - also has EDS - nearly punched the surgeon during his vasectomy. They gave a maximum dose of LA and he could still feel it. He asked them to hold him down and finish quickly.

A bit of luck really. I had an epidural with my first DC and, immediately after giving birth, I got up and walked around...and the midwife was like "urm..." - I'd not intended to have one so didn't research them much, I didn't realise I wasn't supposed to be able to do that. I mentioned it to a relative who's a doctor and they said that they have this gene - so I got an online test kit and I have it too. But, since then, every doctor I meet thinks I'm an absolute quack and largely ignores me entirely. Funnily enough though, every dentist I've had has been more than happy to believe me and give extra right from the off.

Are you a redhead by any chance, OP?
I am, and we apparently have higher pain thresholds, but need more anaesthesia and pain relief.

I just wanted to add that my dad's observation about dark haired people has no hard and fast basis in fact, it's just a casual observation he made ththroughout his career. He might have even said it to make me feel better about my low pain threshold

I have no compunction these days in louding proclaiming my need for more anaesthesia. I've even accidentally bitten a dentist before!

Why do dentists still use an instrument for local anaesthetic that looks like something that belongs in the 19th century. Not a nice little needle used in hospital.

I have bitten a dentist too!

The only time any numbing injection worked first time was when I had a root canal, but I understand that is a nerve block so is different from an LA.

LOL @Heartstopper. I'm going to follow your lead and be way more demanding now!

I'm not @katseyes7 but I have read this too about redheads!

That is very lucky @Mummbles! I'm getting the general impression that doctors seem to downplay people's pain a lot from this thread!

I feel like the local anesteic kicks in about the time I leave the dentist office .

At the dentist I have to get non adrenalin LA as adrenalin makes me really unwell. I've also had a filling with no LA as I don't like the after effects as I can have 3+ doses and feel it slightly but numb the rest of the day.
Given LA before a breast biopsy and a needle guide before surgery.....felt it so bad that the doctor said "you really shouldn't be feeling that" after like the 5th dose!
Given some drugs before a colonoscopy and I felt every turn......I made the nurses hand go blue as I was gripping it so tightly.

I Have no trouble with LA but dental injections rarely seem to work.

last visit however I had to have a filling replaced and after the third injection I still wasn’t numb. The dentist took an x-ray and said something about my physiology meant they needed to inject into an a-typical site.

worked perfectly after that. I feel very annoyed that it’s been 40 years of dentists and that’s the first time it was actually looked at.

I've not had this with a local anasthetic, but I did have this with a sedative given before I had a camera put into my lung. The doctor assured me I wouldn't remember a thing. As soon as I was wheeled out, I opened my Killer Sudoku book and started doing the puzzles. Doctor came to see me 15/20 minutes later, and had to check his notes to be sure if had a sedative.

Four hours later, at home, I walked into my kitchen to get something to eat. My daughter took one look at me and told me to go and sit down. She said my eyes were like saucers. I did feel a bit "out of it".

maybe some people need longer than others to feel the impact of certain drugs than others. I'd mention it if you ever have to have a local again.

I'm so glad I had my sections under general! And at my recent hysterectomy they wanted to give me spinal plus general, I opted for just general.
Everytime I've had a tooth extracted I've felt it! But wondered how normal it is.. I know I'm not feeling the full pain but the pushing and pressure is horrific.

@XenoBitch a nerve block is still oval it’s just the local is aimed in a different area and the length of the block is along the whole nerve so in Dentistry the upper teeth the nerves coming out the end of the tooth can be numbed directly but for lower teeth the Mandibular nerve goes into the mandible at the back and the local is aimed there which numbs all the teeth on the bottom. That’s the basic theory.
@Riapia the needle is actually very fine and not all goes in but think about the mouth you kind of need that long medieval looking bit to get the needle where it goes. Ask your dentist to show you the needle next time you’re there!

Local can be unpredictable in that it does work and if everyone’s insides looked like the textbook it would work every time but people are all different!

@XenoBitchLocal not oval in that post!

I've found locals very effective, but it partly depends on the skill of the person administering it. My usual dentist is brilliant, but when I had to see another dentist I knew at once that he had got it wrong, and indeed he had to try again.

I once had minor surgery on my foot and it was the strangest thing to watch them cutting in and wrestling with the foot - I could feel the rest of me getting shifted by the movement, but nothing from the foot itself.

More anedata: DH finds locale anaesthesia totally ineffective. He's blonde.

I have given 100's of LA's for various procedures and can tell you that there are various reasons why they don't 'take',

Clinician doesn't wait long enough

Wrong site for injection

Infection in site

Wrong selection of anaesthetic solution

Anatomical variations at site

Anxiety of patient (this is common as blood flow increases and sweeps away the anaesthetic)

It is poor practice to start operating without having checked the area is numb. Sometimes people say they can still feel something but it could be pressure they are feeling and not pain. This should be determined by the clinician before proceeding.

A patient has the right to refuse to continue with any procedure if they are not happy for any reason.

HTH

never knew that about hypermobility, that's interesting. I'm a bit hypermobile & EDS runs in my family. I've only had local anaesthetic once (stitches after episiotomy) and it started wearing off half way through, the doctor told the midwife off for not giving me enough 😅

I find dental locals absolutely fine.

The pudendal block I had during DD1's delivery and my subsequent stitching was total crap, though. I genuinely don't know why they bothered giving it to me. It did sweet FA. I felt the forceps (and it REALLY hurt) and then I felt every stitch. The gas and air didn't work, either, so I just chewed the mouthpiece. Hopeless.

C section epidural was excellent!

I think I preferred multiple jabs! My dentist used a "wand" that was computerised. I never felt a thing.
When I had the one off block when I had my root canal (that was done by a butcher, I swear), it was in a foot long metal syringe... that he waved in my face despite my notes saying I was needle phobic.

I’m allergic to many unknown things so the dentist said root canal yes will bloody hurt but I will be bloody quick I promise

he was - quick and it did hurt but a quick recover - like 5 minute op tops
it was a blessing

I will never have another local if I can get away with it

I'm blonde and hypermobile. Local anaesthetic doesn't work well on me. The dr put in 10 doses and I could still feel it taking a mole off. And could feel them sewing me up after my son but told them to get on with it and had gas and air. Dentist also has always been a nightmare resulting in dental phobia but my new dentist is amazing and the New drugs are definitely better.

Thanks @LoobyLoose. I am angry that no one verbally checked with me to make sure it was completely numb before they started (as you'd expect).