How does a nerve block (anesthesia) last so long?

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I had shoulder surgery yesterday. Prior to the procedure an anesthetist performed a nerve block. It’s been 16 hours and I still cannot feel or move my arm. I am just now starting to be able to wiggle my fingers.

I don’t understand how the anesthesia can last so long. I saw the needle with the medication and there really wasn’t much of it. How is the medication not quickly carried away from the injection site?

Thank you in advance!

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6 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

How anaesthesia works is actually somewhat of a mystery. We know it does work, but in a lot of cases, we are just guessing at the correct amount to give based on previous successes and failures. So, the anesthesiologist has to use knowledge of your body mass, like metabolic rate, and other factors to hopefully hit the sweet spot. I haven’t read any current research on this for a while, though, so maybe depending on the anaesthesia you were given more can be said

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