Anaesthetics

Recovery was trouble free and although complete recovery of lower limb control and return of sensation takes a couple of hours, the whole process makes for a less risky option than a GA and altogether more comfortable.

Add to this, being able to watch on a seperate screen what the surgeon sees on his screen as the procedure progresses is awesome and I found the surgeons most amenable to explaining what they do at each stage.

I know I'm going to need a hip replacement at some time in the future and I'm going to opt for a "spinal" for that procedure as well.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

Did you have a warm air blanket covering you during the procedure? First time I had a spinal I started shivering quite severely which does affect many patients and the warm air soon sorts that out. If you did have a warm air blanket, perhaps the combination of this and a sedative sent you to the land of nod. I kept wide awake with all three of my procedures so I could watch the "show" on the screens the surgeons kindly sent up for me to observe progress and allow them to give me a running commentary.

Unfortunately, strictures are sometimes an inevitable consequence of passing instruments and catheters through the urethra and as long as they don't interfere with the flow of urine to much, they aren't much of an issue unless you have more procedures and the surgeon finds some difficulty passing instruments passed them.

Hope you recovery goes smoothly.