Pain Hurts

     No one likes to be in pain, and that is as true for me as for anyone else, but the measurement of pain is such an subjective matter that it defies assessment.  On a scale of 0 to 10, zero represents no pain and ten is unbearable pain, the worst one can experience.  They ask me at what level I would be likely to want relief from pain, and I say a 7.  I try to amend my answer by saying that if the pain went on for a long time,  I would probably want some relief sooner, but I sense my addendum is too late; the 7 has already been entered on my chart.  I reassure myself that I'm the one who will be calling out the number, and only I will know whether it's a low 7 or a high 8 or any other number for that matter.  Anyway, I've never known a surgical patient to be denied pain killers, and the Patient Guide insures freedom from pain, as it were. 
   That slightly  snarky little anesthesiologist had been trying  to educate me as to what sedation should/could/ would be administered, but at the time I was unable to process what she was saying.  It turned out that one of the elements was an epidural in the hip, along with whatever that drug is that causes you not to remember.  I do remember saying I prefer not to have general anesthesia.  Had it once before, hated it.  So when I woke up in the Recovery Room, I was feeling no pain, none at all.  But when they asked, I found out that both my legs were completely numb, I couldn't move them at all, not even to wiggle the toes on my other foot.  This seemed to be what was expected, and gradually feeling and then some motion came back to my left leg.  I think I must have stayed in Recovery for an hour and a half or so, and must have had some sensation in the right leg by then, though it was still pretty immobilized.  I was asked how bad is the pain in your knee, and I said I had no pain.  Still anesthesized, I figured.