For a knee replacement, the usual choices are spinal anesthesia or general anesthesia. A spinal anesthetic numbs the lower half of your body with an injection in your lower back, and you can stay awake. General anesthesia makes you unconscious, so you feel nothing during surgery. A nerve block may also be used to help with pain after surgery, and sedation may be added to help you relax and feel sleepy.

The best choice depends on your health, age, other medical problems, and the type of surgery. Your anesthetist or anesthesiologist will talk with you about the options and help choose the best method for you.