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Wondering what to expect in recovery......Assume the spinal would be a pain block for a couple hours anyway but then what? How soon can you walk to the bathroom, or to the parking lot if they're dismissing you? When does pain kick in to be a factor? Is sleeping a challenge the first night or two?

I woke up to a nurse asking if I had any pain on a scale from 1-10. I said 4 and she promptly put morphine in my iv. Pain went away quickly. I was in pain off and on all day and night. They medicated me right away whenever I said I was in pain. I had a catheter. Did not get up and walk around until the doc removed it the morning after surgery. Took a walk around with a nurse, and was released shortly thereafter around noon. At home, I used the norco that was prescribed. Took the pain away, but also made me high lol. I stayed up very late the first couple nights, but slept late too.

I had general anesthesia and woke up to nurse checking my blood pressure. Sleepy for an hour or two then fine. Slight pain but really not bad. Surgery around 10:00 and released to hotel around 4:30. I removed the catheter the next AM per Dr Kramer. Only took two oxycodones the first 24 hours then only needed Tylenol. Not really an issue sleeping except awakened by rolling over on penis and readjusting scrotum which was sensitive. But more discomfort and annoying after the first 24-48 hours and not really pain.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5717

My post cover most of your questions.

When I woke up, late in the evening, I had a lot of pain. The nurses went through several different medications until they finally found one that worked. Piece of cake after that, but because of that I would never consider having this operation without spending the night in the hospital under observation. I can imagine having to call a doctor late3vening, ,while in a hotel room going,wearing a catheter, walking to a pharmacy to get the medication, usually in pill form. Then finding out that this medication does not work and I have to do it again, over and over again. All I did was push the nurses button, they got the medication from the hospital pharmacy and injected in my IV.

This was first spinal for me. Last memory was being wheeled into surgery until awoke in recovery. One advantage with spinal was it wore off gradually so woke up without pain just discomfort from catheter until I got home. Surgery was at 7:15 I was home in bed by 12:30.