spinal pain after epidural

[tink1890]

My daughter will be a month old 2mro and about a week and a half after I had her via csection.  When I had my epidural done they messed up the first time the catheter went into a blood vessel and the second time was super painful like she was hitting a nerve or bone but they finally got it.  After about an hr and a half later I had an emergency csection, her heartrate kept dropping with every contraction, 70bpm or lower.  Ever since my epidural about a week or se after I'm in severe back pain, I can't arch my back, putting pressure on the area that my epidural was placed sends shooting pains in every direction of my back, I've been getting frequent migraines to the point where I can't function.  Is it possible that with the complications they had with my epidural that it f'ed my back up??  My fiance thinks its possible and that I should sue for malpractice.

[KTowne]

I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere (this is what my doctor told me) when consenting to any form of pain meds, the side effects and risks are listed on the paper you're signing, if you get these after, and didn't read the paper but still signed it, then there's nothing you can do as far as malpractice, unless it was clear negligence on the part of the anesthesiologist, but before doing any sort of pain meds, spinal/epidural/etc, they have you sign a paper (at my hospital). I have heard of many many women having back issues for years after having an epidural, and migraines as well, but I'd mention it to your doctor, they may be able to do some sort of scan to see if there's anything wrong with what was done. Good luck hun!

[rachyrou]

"If you experience severe backache in the weeks following an epidural, you should report your symptoms to your care team as soon as possible so that they can investigate the problem."

[rachyrou]

After more reading it sadly sounds very common.. hope this helps..



Maternal Risks

    Hypotension (Drop in blood pressure)
    Urinary Retention and Postpartum Bladder Dysfunction
    Uncontrollable Shivering
    Itching of the face, neck and throat
    Nausea and Vomiting
    Postpartum Backache
    Maternal Fever
    Spinal Headache
    Uneven, incomplete or nonexistent pain relief
    Feelings of Emotional detachment
    Postpartum feelings of regret or loss of autonomy
    Inability to move about freely on your own
    Loss of perineal sensation and sexual function
    Very Serious and rare risks

    Convulsions

    Respitory paralysis

    Cardiac arrest

    Allergic shock

    Nerve injury

    Epidural abscess

    Maternal death


Labor Side Effects

    Prolonged First Stage of Labor
    Increase of malpresentation of baby's head
    Increased need for Pitocin augmentation
    Prolonged Second Stage of Labor
    Decrease in the ability to push effectively
    Increased liklihood of forceps or vacuum extraction delivery
    Increased likelihood of needing an episiotomy
    Increase in cesarean section


Baby Side Effects

    Fetal distress; abnormal fetal heart rate
    Drowsiness at birth; poor sucking reflex
    Poor muscle strength and tone in the first hours.

[Aliciaw]

It seems pretty common, my son is 21 months old and I still have back pains from time to time.

[rachyrou]

doesn't seem to be that uncommon sadly, migraines and back pain afterwards. I'd see a doctor too. Maybe it'll go away soon? I hope it does for you.
Some people have even said they're annoyed they didn't know that these things are actually side effects from an epidural. So maybe your post is spreading awareness! I'm sad to hear you're suffering though.

Just one of many posts i found someone describing something similar


"well look I had my son and i got an epidural. I have never had back pains before in my life. Now I know its only been a couple of weeks but I am so terrified. When the pain hit me I can't move. I have to be completely still for it to hopefully ease up. I can't turn on my side it hurts, same with my other side and my back. And the scary thing is is that sometimes the pain in my back is kinda like a pulsating pain. Then it runs up my spine to my head giving me a serious migraine. I have tried calling the anethesiologist, but he doesn't answer my calls, I have been trying to contact him for a while now and nothing. But seeing that many of you have had this pain for years its now really starting to freak me out."

[rachyrou]

I think it IS possible yes. howerver some people get it as a general side effect after epidural for years, and that's without doctors making a mistake etc, so I don't know how much solid evidence you'd have to support your case/view of it being there fault.. They like to hide things/ cover things up too.
I know how you feel in a way, because of my midwifes negligence (texting her boyfriend THROUGHOUT my labour) my daughter was ill after birth and I was too. I also tore horrifically because she forgot to take the catheter out whilst I was pushing. The nurse who came to stitch me up even asked her why the hell she'd left it in whilst I was delivering. But there was no records made of these things ;) How convinient... and all of the midwives closed ranks and tried to make excuses for her.