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Maternal (Expert Forum)
Epidurals and back problems
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
Epidurals and back problems
by Dona__0, Jan 25, 1999 12:00AM
I am considering having an epirudal during labor if I feel it necessary to handle the pain. My question is does have a lumbar disk problem present a problem with epidurals? 3 years ago I hurt my back at an airport. It took 14 months for the pain to diminish. Now it only comes back every now and then. I was denined an scan by my insurance company so Im not sure what disks might be herniated. Is there research on women with disk problems and epidurals.
Dear Donna:
Epidural anesthesia places local anesthetic into the space through which the nerves travel as they exit the spinal cord. A spinal anesthetic places the drug within the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. Both procedures can be done in patients with back problems. The exception is patients who have had back fusion surgery.
This is an issue that wouldbe best discussed in advance of delivery with the anesthesia personnel at the location where you intend to birth. Concurrently, discussion with your obstetrician and the anesthesiologist regarding alternative nerve block procedures such as a paracervical block and a pudendal nerve block will help you know all your options.
Keywords: epidural anesthesia
This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.
