"Pain relief for my two hip replacements"

I had my first hip replacement in 2006 and my second in 2007. As I suffer from Ankylosing Spondylitis I had to have a general anesthetic. On both occasions I was also given a pain block injection in to the spine that was to have lasted for twelve hours,

With the first surgery it worked very well and I only used the morphine pump provided a couple of times as my upper leg was so completely numb that I could feel no pain.

I had exactly the same injection with my second hip surgery but from a different anesthetist this time. It was me who asked him for the injection and he sounded a little reluctant to use it. He did say at the time that he could not guaranty the result.

My upper leg was nothing like as numb this time and I had much more pain and so had to make much more use of the morphine pump. I post this story as in my opinion luck plays a part in pain management.

First surgery with one anesthetist excellent pain relief. Exactly same surgery but different anesthetist and very poor pain relief.