Myth: awake under a spinal means you feel the surgery

One myth that keeps coming up: awake under a spinal does not mean you feel pain.

A spinal block stops pain signals from reaching the brain below the level of the injection. You stay awake, and you may notice pressure, tugging or movement. That is the block working, not failing. Pain and pressure travel on different pathways, and only the pain pathway is switched off.

If discomfort ever breaks through mid-operation, that is exactly what the anaesthetist is watching for. Say it, and it gets dealt with: more local, sedation, or converting to general.

Being awake is a feature, not a gap. Many operations actually run better on a spinal.

General education, not medical advice.