Do you really feel pain in surgery?

waking up in surgery is always one of my patient's big concerns, because it can be understandably traumatic to wake up under anesthesia in the middle of your surgery in the operating room. however, another question is whether we feel pain if we wake up during surgery. having that awareness can be traumatizing, but what about feeling pain if you wake up during surgery? fortunately, that it appears to be even more rare than simply waking up during surgery, and that's because of the many pain medications that are already circulating in your body and brain during surgery under anesthesia. so even if you do wake up, it's unlikely that you will feel the pain the way you would if you were fully awake. however, it's always something to discuss with your anesthesiologist, surgeon, and other doctors so that you feel comfortable and safe before starting surgery!

[krysd]

It was panic for me. I was having spinal surgery, warned the anesthesiologist that I need more since I under-react to anesthesia for some reason. He blew me off and woke up mid surgery and tied down, unable to see etc. I am not a panicky or anxious person but being tied down and unable to move freaked me out. My Dr (I'd been seeing this particular Dr for over 10 years and this wasn't the first surgery he'd done on me) realized it and they immediately tried to put me back under. As I was going under I could hear my Dr ripping that anesthesiologist several new holes. He did NOT put up with people risking his patients. I never saw that anesthesiologist again, even when I had multiple procedures after that surgery. Dr made sure it was noted prominently in my chart about needing more meds than normal.

[annetterodriguez]

I woke up in the middle of surgery with my nose itching, my anesthesia Dr scratched my nose for me.

[DP-fgbx]

I woke up and felt pain during a umbilical hernia operation. The Anesthesiologist finally noticed me looking at him because some miraculous way I was able to open my eyes even though they were taped. I was looking at him but couldn’t move. He eventually looked over at me and jumped and did something and nite nite I went. This was 36 years ago and I still remember it to this day.

[Viper]

22 years ago when I had my c section, I wasn’t under anesthesia of course, but my epidermal wore off and I felt the Dr. Finishing up and I screamed so loud “ I can feel that, and the then the anesthesiologist knocked me out in seconds. My husband said I went from calm, to screaming to snoring all within a minute.

[karenmessinger]

From someone who has anxiety about surgery, I just wanted to say that I have great respect for anestesiologists. The ones I've had have been amazing.

[aliciabrock]

After waking up after a hysterectomy. They left me for hours without pain meds. I was in so much pain kept telling the nurse they said well we will give you something when we get you to your room . So after a few hours and then another 45 minutes after getting to my room they finally came in and gave me something. To e this is abuse to patients. There is no reason any patient should be left the way I was.

[kathleenbuchanan]

I woke up at the beginning of eyelid surgery when the surgeon was injecting my eyelid with something. It wasn't the worst pain ever but it didn't feel good. More than that I couldn't get my voice to say I was awake! I finally got my hand to move and I mumbled "I feel you"...then all I remember is waking up!

[CarlyFaith]

I've had ten surgeries and I never woke up under anesthesia once. I'm so grateful. I always just remembered breathing in the gas and the next thing I knew I was waking up in post-op. The first operation was the most painful and I couldn't speak or even see what was around me while I was waking up from anesthesia so, I just kept spelling the word pain in sign language. Finally one of the nurses noticed what I was doing and asked me what was wrong and I croaked out, pain. I think if I had awakened during surgery, it would have upset me a lot and I wouldn't have gone into a surgery again feeling as safe as I always did.

[elizabethwooster]

I sat up and yelled owowowow! Then was passed out again. I asked the doctor about it and he said yes and I scared the crap out of everyone!😂

[julespeace]

Oh, I felt pain. They didn’t properly kill my sciatica nerve during knee surgery and I woke up during surgery screaming and her the doc say put her under “NOW”…..Stanford University 2008…. Had it redone by USC in 2022 by an awesome Doctor. Dr. Heckmann is the best! Thank You Doc🤙🏽

[ana]

Someone I know had heart surgery and said it was so traumatic, she prefers to die of a heart attack before ever reporting to ER again. Now that should have been cause for a lawsuit.

[winterlove]

I woke up during open heart surgery. I felt nothing . I was looking into the surgery light, lifted my head up, looked down, and saw everything in my chest cavity. I looked up, and a nurse was the first one to notice I was awake. Then the whole room, about 20 people, looked at me. I looked at them, and then the gas mask was back on my face.I was young and count it as an amazing experience.

[carolgibson-wilson]

I've woken during surgery twice. As soon as I opened my eyes, the anesthesiologist put me back under. One smiled and did finger wave.

[dennitta]

Yes I did feel pain that is what woke me up. Yes knocked me out but woke up 2 more times stating that hurts. After I was talking to the person who came with me and Dr over heard what I was saying "oh I think you dreamed that", no I spoke of other things he said during my procedure think he was alittle uncomfortable that I could repeat them.

[lorrie]

I work up screaming during a colonoscopy....horrible pain, totally indescribable. The anesthesiologist told me I wouldn't remember it...I did.

[ashleyervin]

This happened once with dental surgery. I remember being in agonizing pain all over my body. I remember my abdomen really hurt. I fought the medicine and woke up enough to try and move from the pain. I was scared shitless.
I looked over to the dentist who smiled as he put a needle into my arm. I felt much better and let myself fall back asleep.

To this day I have no idea why my body hurt so bad. Maybe a reaction to the gas. What ever happened is now in my medical charts to never ever use sleeping gas.

[VictoriouslyBroken]

I woke up during my colonoscopy and felt a lot of pain. They had to pause until they had given me more pain meds and more meds to knock me out again.

[JayGoTexas]

I have so much respect for surgeons and
anesthesiologistes. I personally think they probably have the most important role/job in modern medicine.

[jamieellohengee]

During a gallbladder removal, I woke up. I felt my eyelids lift and immediately, the anesthesiologist loudly announced, "She's awake!" And before I could even process what he said, I was already back under. All I remember was his voice and a muted golden light, then a fade to nothingness. They were super careful with the amounts because I was on medication assisted therapy for opioid addiction. Also, they treated me like a normal person and it was a beautiful experience despite all the scary pre-op pain, symptoms and being totally alone with no family. Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico was wonderful to me. That little nurse the next morning had me walking laps like crazy the next morning to get my natural endorphins going too. I am not generally crazy about doctors, but truly believe that anesthesiologists are god's own angels, kicking it on our Earth. How merciful and beautiful can an occupation be? Thank you for all you do.

[zoebrooksmnjhuiolmko]

I woke up twice during my knee replacement. First time I thought I was at the ocean (blue sheet lol); second time there was a lot of hammering. I started laughing. I felt no pain because they did a spinal tap. She said, "Time to go back to sleep" I was in twilight lol