Hi...
I'm lucky in that as well as having asthma, ga don't bother me...The morhine however did make my whole body very itchy...Apparently it's a common side effect...
I didn't have a spinal block, and it depends on how long the op will take... I was told by my anaethetist that a routine hip replacement does only last about an hour, so a spinal block with either sedation or a light ga will be used, but in my case (i had reconstruction work too) took much longer..Of course it will depend on your fitness..The fact you smoke, your weight...Amonsgt other factors on what they'll be able to offer you. You've probably heard this before...But is there anyway you could cut down/stop smoking before your op? It would give you a better chance to heal properly after, and may not have breathing probs after having the ga.
Trust me..It will feel brilliant to be able to walk without pain!!! I tried so hard to imagine it before the op..And I couldn't, but it's just fantastic!!
Don't know about the steroid injection...But do know that over a period of time, the steroid although will help the joint/pain.It will also weaken the tissue around it... We don't have that option in the uk.. You can get the jag for other joint problems, but the hip joint is so big... Personally I don't like them! Have they not had you on any anti-imflammatory tabs, such as diclofenac/diclofenac retard? Or naprosyn? I found naprosyn very good... Though i'm not sure you can mix these with tramadol...You could ask your doctor.