I had shoulder surgery a few years ago, and I had to argue with the doctor to get him to do a nerve block instead of general anesthesia. He never suggested it -

I had shoulder surgery a few years ago, and I had to argue with the doctor to get him to do a nerve block instead of general anesthesia. He never suggested it - I researched the options myself and found that patients who did the nerve block recovered faster and better, and yet right up until I rolled into surgery, the doctor was trying to convince me to do anesthesia. Sadly, I think the reason is that anesthesia makes patients easier to manage during surgery, which makes the doc’s job easier even if it is ultimately worse for the patient.