[mikegi]

Mike, the two aren't comparable at all. An epidural uses a very thin needle to deliver an anesthetic, which begins to numb as it goes in. A spinal tap uses a larger needle into the spinal column and the doc has to withdraw a full syringe of spinal fluid. It was unbelievable. The doc even said, "We could give you some darvon and a skin-deep anesthetic, but it won't make much difference." So she went ahead without any.

Ugh, I'd have to be removed from the room for that. Even the piece-o'-cake epidural was enough to trigger the "someone is hurting my wife" part of my brain. Like I said, I've seen my wife through several more painful procedures but the spine stuff just gets to me.

[LS]

I have to admit, I knelt down by the bed, held her hand, and looked into her eyes, but I couldn't watch that needle. Odd how women seem able to bear more pain in "normal" circumstances (childbirth, etc.) and men are such babies, yet men in wartime somehow manage to suck it up. One of those "mysteries" that Paul talked about in the Bible.