When the anesthesiologist finally stuck the longest, thickest, shiniest needle from my worst nightmare into my back to administer the spinal block, I thought I might kiss her.

It appears to involve more primitive aspects of the brain, activating deep structures that may block pain at a spinal level — similar to how opioid analgesics work.

Fig. 2 Anterior-posterior border deossification behind L5 of lumbar with PLMN, arcuated bone block was bilateral faulting and palinal, the right crypt and spinal canal were stenotic.