STM Question - Spinal Block/Epidural

wildtot · January 2016

I am considering a scheduled C Section and I am wondering if any STMs (or more) have had any post back issues due to epidurals/spinal blocks? I have a history of back issues and I trying to select the best option. Vaginal might not be a good option and currently talking to my doctors for their recommendations. Just curious to hear about your experiences.

rebelone · January 2016

My last two C Sections the epidural went in smoothly with no issues. I didn't have any problems afterward either. My last baby, I was up and out of bed after a couple hours and moving about.

Ready4theParty · January 2016

With my epidural I had no problems. It was uncomfortable but remember the guy knows what he is doing. I had some issues with my epidural only taking on the right side and still being able to feel everything on the left, but I was tipped and it got better.

Post delivery I didn't have any issues that I would relate directly to the epidural. If I push on my lower back I can tell where the epidural was inserted but that is it. While I lost my baby weight I eventually gained it back. So a lot of my back issues are probably from that and hauling around a baby/toddler who refused to be worn.

imrachellea · January 2016

It took 3 tries to get my epidural in properly, but a big part of that was because I was having a really hard time curving my back enough to get the vertebrae spread enough. Because of that, I had some pretty nasty bruising, but no lasting effects. I also had a lot of soreness in my back for a good week after delivery, but I attributed that to back labor and not the epidural (I do not think). Overall, I don't have any lasting effects and after a week or so, was fine again.

mrstrax · January 2016

My back was sore/achey (like an old bruise) around the insertion point for almost 2 months pp, but I think a big part of that was actually poor posture while breastfeeding. Definitely not anything that would even make me think twice about doing it again - it's definitely part of the plan for baby #2.

MrsCayEye · January 2016

I've had no issues from the epidural or csection. I got the epi during labor and there was no issue with placement, I don't remember any pain in that area after DS was born either.

kdebesche4 · January 2016

Similar to the other posters, I did not have any issues after my block, it went smoothly and I never had any pain at the site.

golfrgal · January 2016

The part I feared most about cs was the spinal and what if they missed and paralyzed me. However, the anesthesiologist was fantastic. She joked around and put me at ease and had it in before I knew it. No big deal. No pain during or after. I have even requested her for this LO's cs.

ETA: I meant "spinal", not "epidural"

RachieTK · January 2016

I had a spinal. No issues other than not allowed to get up 24 hours after (which wasn't that bad- but I had my husband able to sleep over and do whatever I needed.

Goldsgirl9 · January 2016

I had a spinal block and no back issues but I did have a spinal headache which can be a side effect.

Daniep08 · January 2016

I had an epidural with my first and I had a pretty bad headache the next day, and definitely had the sore back/bruise kind of feeling for a good month or so. No lasting side effects though, but it was enough to make me want to try it without an epidural for my 2nd. My mom had some pretty bad back issues her whole life and they never really got bad until after the last couple kids she had. The last 2 she had an epidural with their deliveries and she feels like they really messed her back up because she wasn't able to feel how she was pushing. So it wasn't so much the epidural that injured it, but the fact that she couldn't feel anything and the deliveries themselves that hurt it worse. Hopefully that made sense!

wildtot · January 2016

@Daniep08 my mom said something similar but more along the lines of tearing since she didn't know she was doing it wrong or feeling it.

Thanks ladies for the feedback!

live4something · February 2016

My issues may have been caused by the anesthesiologist. Each time he would insert, my right leg would immediately kick, obviously hitting a nerve. After the fourth try, he decided it was too much risk and I was put under general anesthesia.

AnnikaD20 · February 2016

I had them turn my epidural off for pushing, cause I was scared of tearing. Sadly, I still tore a little, but I was pretty much good to walk to the bathroom and stuff by the time I moved to the recovery room. No after effects either. My anesthesiologist did a really good job, where I felt zero pain but I could still clumsily move my legs the whole time, so I was able to labor in pretty much any non-standing position that I wanted. Squatting with the squat bar was my favorite.

Chichi93 · February 2016

I had terrible headaches due to spinal fluid leaking after I got my epidural. Not to mention I felt the entire left side on my stomach the whole time meaning I felt all the contractions. :I at least my lady parts were numb because I definitely ripped. It was very very unpleasant. But my prescription to mend the fluid leakage was to drink a ton of mountain dew and eat as much chocolate as I could stomach. So if you're into that kind of stuff then I guess that could be good news lol. I hate both so it was torture but at least it got rid of the painful headaches without having to do another spinal shot.

wildtot · February 2016

Chichi93 said:

I had terrible headaches due to spinal fluid leaking after I got my epidural. Not to mention I felt the entire left side on my stomach the whole time meaning I felt all the contractions. :I at least my lady parts were numb because I definitely ripped. It was very very unpleasant. But my prescription to mend the fluid leakage was to drink a ton of mountain dew and eat as much chocolate as I could stomach. So if you're into that kind of stuff then I guess that could be good news lol. I hate both so it was torture but at least it got rid of the painful headaches without having to do another spinal shot.

Yikes! I don't mind either bit I wouldn't want that sort of complication.

After talking to my docs I have decided to go with c section due to additional medical factors. But good to know what to expect with a spinal.

Want a personalized experience?

STM Question - Spinal Block/Epidural

Re: STM Question - Spinal Block/Epidural

Choose Another Board

Search Boards