Occasionally, simple knee arthroscopies are done under local anesthesia. With local anesthesia, the knee is injected with numbing medicine prior to the beginning of surgery. This is like the medicine used by a dentist. If this is the option chosen, you will also receive additional medicine through your IV to relax you. When the anesthesia is injected, you may feel a burning sensation that lasts for a short period of time. Although the local anesthesia will take away all sensation of pain, you might still feel some pressure and movement during the procedure. Also, sometimes if the local anesthesia is not successful in eliminating the pain, a general or spinal may be added.