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Steven L. Dain

Anesthesiologist

Dr. Steven Dain is an anesthesiologist practicing in Woodstock, Ontario. Dr. Dain ensures the safety of patients who are about to undergo surgery. Anestesiologists specialize in general anesthesia, which will (put the patient to sleep), sedation, which will calm the patient or make him or her unaware of the situation, and regional anesthesia, which just numbs a specific part of the body. As an anesthesiologist, Dr. Dain also might help manage pain after an operation.
Learn More About Me
Steven L. Dain
  • Woodstock, Ontario
  • MD at the University of Toronto
  • Accepting new patients

How long does epidural anesthesia last?

The duration of anesthesia depends on the anesthetic drug, concentration and amount given and the location in the epidural space.  If a catheter (small tube) is placed in the epidural READ MORE
The duration of anesthesia depends on the anesthetic drug, concentration and amount given and the location in the epidural space.  If a catheter (small tube) is placed in the epidural space and connected to a pump, it can last for several days.  Ninety minutes is a typical duration, but it can be shorter or longer.
Best wishes,
Steven Dain MD

Is headache a side effect of dental anesthesia?

There is not enough information to answer this question.  As you know there are many reasons for headaches.  One of the most common is caffeine withdrawal.  Do you drink more than READ MORE
There is not enough information to answer this question.  As you know there are many reasons for headaches.  One of the most common is caffeine withdrawal.  Do you drink more than 2 large cups of coffee or caffeine containing drinks a day and didn't drink any on the day of surgery?  

Steven Dain

Which is better general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia?

For a seventeen-year-old, normal weight, healthy person, they are both equally safe. It comes down more to personal preference. For my knee surgeries, I had spinal. Steven Dain READ MORE
For a seventeen-year-old, normal weight, healthy person, they are both equally safe. It comes down more to personal preference. For my knee surgeries, I had spinal.

Steven Dain

How long does it take to feel normal after anesthesia?

This totally depends on the type of surgery that you're having and what the pain control requirements are postoperatively. Modern general anesthetics are generally out of your READ MORE
This totally depends on the type of surgery that you're having and what the pain control requirements are postoperatively. Modern general anesthetics are generally out of your system within 24 hours and most of the post-operative effects are due to pain medications and aches and pains due to positioning on the OR table. With laparoscopic surgery, you may have pain in your shoulders due to referred pain from the underside of your diaphragm due to the gas remaining in your belly. Manipulation of the bowel during surgery and the use of interoperative opiates may lead to post-operative nausea and vomiting. Usually you're given antinauseants interoperatively.
Best wishes for your upcoming surgery.

How long after dental anesthesia can I drink?

Almost immediately depending on your dental work.

Steven Dain

Is it normal to have a bad headache after anesthesia?

It's very common in people that normally consume large volumes of coffee, caffeine and energy drinks on a daily basis. Also common with dehydration. It should go away with food READ MORE
It's very common in people that normally consume large volumes of coffee, caffeine and energy drinks on a daily basis. Also common with dehydration.
It should go away with food and caffeine. Call your physician or go to the ER if it doesn't resolve, gets much worse.

Is knee arthroscopy done under general anesthesia?

A knee arthroscopy can be done under general anesthetic, spinal anesthetic, or epidural. Personally, I've had my knee scopes done under spinal anesthesia.

Is it normal to have difficulty breathing after dental anesthesia?

There are multiple reasons for shortness of breath after Dental Surgery.  Pre-existing lung issues, asthma, COPD, smoking, marijauna use  are some.  Others related to anesthesia READ MORE
There are multiple reasons for shortness of breath after Dental Surgery.  Pre-existing lung issues, asthma, COPD, smoking, marijauna use  are some.  Others related to anesthesia include mild inhalation of saliva or bleeding from the surgical site, residual action of muscle relaxants (neuromuscular blocking drugs) used during surgery, genetic variations changing drug metabolism.  Is there a family history of problems with anesthesia?  Plasma cholinesterase deficiency is a possibility if succinylcholine was used.
The best source of information is the anesthesiologist who gave you the anesthetic.  Give them a call and arrange a follow-up appointment to review your anesthesia record.

How do you get rid of numbness from lidocaine?

Wait patiently. Depending on how and where it was used and the concentration, it lasts from 1-2 to a few hours for a regional block.  

Steven Dain

Is local anesthesia safe for adolescents?

Local anesthetics as drugs are "safe" for any age group if used appropriately.  Their "safety" is mostly dependent on the knowledge and skill of the person administering them. Steven READ MORE
Local anesthetics as drugs are "safe" for any age group if used appropriately.  Their "safety" is mostly dependent on the knowledge and skill of the person administering them.

Steven Dain

Can anesthesia cause an irregular heartbeat?

Modern General anesthetic drugs are unlikely by themselves to cause a serious irregular heartbeat in a young healthy individual, taking no medications and not using street drugs.  READ MORE
Modern General anesthetic drugs are unlikely by themselves to cause a serious irregular heartbeat in a young healthy individual, taking no medications and not using street drugs.  Irregular heartbeats can be caused by surgical stimulus, or other drugs used by the anesthesiologist or surgeon.  Anesthesiologists are well trained to respond to serious heartbeats when they do occur.  Everybody has some insignificant heartbeat irregularity on a daily basis.

Steven Dain MD

What anesthesia is used for breast implant surgery?

Most of the time, as General Anesthetic.  The actual medication used will vary among anesthesiologists.  Please seriously consider the risks and benefits (both anesthesia, surgery, READ MORE
Most of the time, as General Anesthetic.  The actual medication used will vary among anesthesiologists.  Please seriously consider the risks and benefits (both anesthesia, surgery, infection, complications, scarring) before having this usually cosmetic procedure.

Steven Dain MD

Can spinal anesthesia cause paralysis?

If you are a healthy 34 year old male with normal back and normal spinal cord, the risk of paralysis is extremely rare.  Your chance of paralysis from being in a motor vehicle READ MORE
If you are a healthy 34 year old male with normal back and normal spinal cord, the risk of paralysis is extremely rare.  Your chance of paralysis from being in a motor vehicle accident is greater.
I have had 3 spinal anesthetics for knee surgery, to avoid having a general anesthetic, so you see where my personal bias lays.

Steven Dain MD

Can a spinal epidural cause back pain?

Back pain is possible after c-section, but it is difficult to know whether it was caused by the changes in your back due to pregnancy, lying on a hard operation room table or by READ MORE
Back pain is possible after c-section, but it is difficult to know whether it was caused by the changes in your back due to pregnancy, lying on a hard operation room table or by the spinal or epidural anesthesia.  (Usually an elective c-section is done with a spinal not an epidural).  Your anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits of the various options prior to your surgery.
For women who go into labor, the incidence of back pain is similar in patients with no epidural and with an epidural.
Best wishes,
Steven Dain MD, FRCPC

How long does local anesthetic last after surgery?

This depends on which local anesthetic is used and the type of block.  This can be anywhere from 60 minutes to up to 12-18 hours.

Steven Dain

What are the side effects of a lidocaine injection?

This website has a reasonable discussion of lidocaine.  The type and probability of a side effect or complication depends on the location and quantity of the drug that is injected.  READ MORE
This website has a reasonable discussion of lidocaine.  The type and probability of a side effect or complication depends on the location and quantity of the drug that is injected.  Some of the side effects noted are usually caused by extreme anxiety at the time of, just before or after the injection causing a patient to faint (vasovagal reaction)!
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-lidocaine_injection/article_em.htm 
Note: allergies to lidocaine are extremely rare.

Best wishes,

Steven Dain MD FRCPC

What are the side effects of having spinal anesthesia?

The side effects of a spinal are now thankfully very few. With the new very small diameter pencil point needles, the chance of a spinal headache is less than 1% and decreases READ MORE
The side effects of a spinal are now thankfully very few. With the new very small diameter pencil point needles, the chance of a spinal headache is less than 1% and decreases with age. Low blood pressure is common and easily treated. Nerve damage is rare.

Do you feel pain during anesthesia awareness?

I really don't have any statistics on this issue.   There are 3 components to a general anesthetic: analgesia (pain control), amnesia (can't remember what happened) and loss of READ MORE
I really don't have any statistics on this issue.   There are 3 components to a general anesthetic: analgesia (pain control), amnesia (can't remember what happened) and loss of consciousness.  Different medications used during surgery and anesthesia contribute to 1 or more of these components by acting on different drugs receptors in the body.  Awareness occurs when there is insufficient medications to cause amnesia and loss of consciousness.   
If the anesthesiologist or surgeon administers a sufficient amount of pain medicine or local anesthetics in the area of surgery to block all the pain, one should not have any pain on the rare chance there is awareness during a general anesthetic.

How long does local anesthesia last?

This depends on which local anesthetic is used and how and where it is administered. Local infiltration with lidocaine is about 90 minutes or less, an axillary block with bupivacaine READ MORE
This depends on which local anesthetic is used and how and where it is administered. Local infiltration with lidocaine is about 90 minutes or less, an axillary block with bupivacaine can last 4 hours up to 12 hours or more.

Why do they tape your eyes shut during surgery?

We tape eyes to protect them during surgery and so they don't dry up.  For some procedures, we may put a sterile lubricant in the eye prior to or instead of taping them. Steven READ MORE
We tape eyes to protect them during surgery and so they don't dry up.  For some procedures, we may put a sterile lubricant in the eye prior to or instead of taping them.

Steven Dain