Have you ever had to go to a doctor for something like stitches or a tooth extraction? Before the procedure, they give you an injection to numb the area. That's what we call 'Local Anesthesia'. It doesn't put you completely to sleep, but it just numbs the pain. So let's talk about it all in detail today.
How does this numbing medicine work?
It's very simple. Imagine that when you feel pain somewhere in your body, that pain signal travels along the nerves to the brain. The brain is what tells us, "Oh, I'm hurting." What this numbing medicine, or local anesthetic, does is temporarily block the nerves that carry that pain signal. It's like closing a road for a while. Then the pain signal can't get to the brain, so we don't feel the pain.
But this is only temporary . Once the effect of the medication wears off, the nerves start working normally again after a few hours. Then the ability to feel and move is restored.
How is this different from general anesthesia?
There is a big difference between the two. Many people confuse the two. For major
surgeries , surgeries that last for hours, doctors put you under complete anesthesia, meaning they put you to sleep. You don't feel anything during that, and when you wake up, the surgery is over. But local anesthesia is much simpler than that. To understand this difference clearly, look at the table below.
| Feature | Local Anesthesia | General Anesthesia |
|---|
| Mindfulness | You are fully conscious. It's just the area that's tingling. | You will be completely put to sleep. You will not remember anything. |
| Safety and risk | Very safe. The risk is very low. | There is a high risk. It should be constantly monitored by a specialist doctor (Anesthesiologist). |
| Side effects | Nausea and vomiting are very rare. | Nausea, vomiting, and body aches may occur. |
| Preparatory work | No special preparation is required. Even if you have eaten recently, there is no problem. | You should abstain from eating for a few hours (Fasting). |
| Cost | The cost is very low. | The cost is relatively high. |
Why should you be careful during general anesthesia?
During general anesthesia, you are unconscious, so your heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, and blood pressure are constantly monitored by a specialist. Sometimes you may need a machine to help you breathe. Also, if you vomit while you are unconscious, the stuff can go into your lungs. We call that 'aspiration pneumonia'. It is a dangerous condition. To avoid such risks, doctors recommend fasting for a few hours before surgery.
What are the advantages of using local anesthesia?
- Low risk: This does not have the risks of general anesthesia. It is very safe because you are conscious.
- No specialist needed: An anesthesiologist is not needed. Your family doctor or surgeon can give this.
- Fewer side effects : Side effects are usually very minor, and they occur infrequently.
- You can go home quickly: You don't need to stay in the hospital for too long after the treatment is over.
- Low cost: The cost is much lower when compared to general anesthesia.
What are the types of local anesthesia?
These painkillers are mainly used in three ways. 1.
Topical Application: These can be in the form of creams, gels or sprays. They are applied to things like mouth sores and some skin rashes. There are also eye drops. These are used to remove small objects from the eye. 2.
Local Injection: This method is most commonly used. This medicine is injected under the skin or a little deeper. This method is used to stitch a wound, take a small piece of skin for examination (Biopsy). 3.
Nerve Blocks: This involves injecting the medicine near a major nerve or several nerves that carry signals to the area where the pain is felt. This method is used to extract teeth, treat teeth, and perform eye surgeries. Spinal anesthesia during a cesarean section is also a type of nerve block. The most commonly used drugs are Lignocaine and Bupivacaine.
How long has this feeling been going on?
Usually, this tingling sensation goes away quickly. For example, the effect of the commonly used drug Lignocaine lasts for about an hour. Sometimes, the doctor mixes this painkiller with other drugs, such as adrenaline (Epinephrine/Adrenaline). Then the tingling sensation can last longer.
But here's something you need to know and it's very important . You need to be very careful with the tingling part of your body. Imagine if you had a tooth pulled and your mouth was tingling and you drank a very hot cup of coffee , there's a good chance that you'll burn your mouth because you won't feel the heat. So be very careful with that part of your body until the tingling goes away completely.
What else are these used for besides surgery?
Local anesthetics are used not only to eliminate pain, but also to relieve pain and itching.
- Open wounds , pain caused by some insect bites
- To relieve pain caused by cancer
- Joint pain , especially back pain
- Epidural anesthesia is given to expectant mothers to reduce pain.
- During diagnostic procedures such as biopsy and spinal tap
Are there any side effects?
Although local anesthesia is very safe, some people may experience minor side effects in rare cases. This is because even though the medicine is only given to the affected area, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels throughout the body.
- Pain or bruising at the injection site
- A tingling sensation in the affected area
- Hearing a ringing in the ears
- Headache, dizziness, and some mental confusion
- Minor changes in heart rate and blood pressure (these are very rare conditions)
If you experience anything like this, don't panic and inform your doctor immediately.
Take-Home Message
- Local anesthesia is a safe method of numbing only a specific part of the body while you are conscious.
- This is much safer than general anesthesia. There are fewer side effects and you can recover faster.
- Be very careful until you regain sensation in the numb part of your body, otherwise you could inadvertently injure yourself.
- If you have any concerns or unusual symptoms regarding this, talk to your doctor about it.
Local
Anesthesia , Anesthesia, Local Anesthesia Sinhala, Surgery, Pain Management, General Anesthesia
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න