title: Author's reply to the comment by Chow.
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Clinic, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Humble
authors.affiliation: Dept of Anaesthesia, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Dept of Anaesthesia, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalton
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D013908:Thoracotomy