I've been doing a lot of reading lately online but obviously don't believe everything I read. I'm wondering if anyone here has had or knows of anyone who has had any long term side effects from an epidural. When I had my first son, there was no problem whatsoever. My second son, I got another epidural - my blood pressure bottomed out and they had to bring me back, then I ended up with a c-section.
Ever since then, I've had numbness and tingling in my feet, legs, hands, and a spot behind my shoulder blade that almost feels like ants crawling on my back. I know this sounds completely wierd, but I've had all kinds of nerve tests and neurological tests and MRI's etc, and everything has come back normal. The only thing I can attribute it to is my second son's birth. One Dr. said that my hands falling asleep all the time is carpal tunnel, but another Dr. said I do not have carpal tunnel. Again, all of this started about 2 weeks after giving birth and I was just curious if anyone had experienced anything.
hello i had one done with my little girl and ever since i got that done i have had migranes and have to take perscription meds for them
Many women also do not realize that if you had any pushing involved during labor you can experience numbness and tingling in your legs because of strain on nerves during the pushing process. Your sensation is dulled in your lower extremities when you have an epidural. This coupled with the sheer adrenaline that is pumping through your body dulls your pain sensations down there (which at the time is a good thing). You can actually strain the nerves in your back (lumbar region) and neck (cervical region) and experience side effects in your legs and arms radiating to your hands.
If you have had a full work up with a spine surgeon, neurosurgeon or nurologist then probably just time will reduce the irritation in the nerve endings and you will notice you are getting better. Have you tried steroids? Also your doctor may reccomend anti inflammatory drugs like motrin. I hope you notice a difference soon.
I was dead set against medication but after 16 hours of hard labor (I always thought that was a wives tale!) I was transferred from the ABC to hospital and had epidural. It took a day to wear off and then it was still in my left thigh - my son is 8 months old now and it is finally just about gone. At the hospital I kep telling everyone my leg was numb - why is my leg numb and no one had any idea - it was freaking me out. I KNEW it had to be the epidural, but no one seemed to think that. In fact they said it was probably my son had pressed a nerve during delivery. Anyway you could PM me if you want to chat, but I could clearly see that it could be the epidural. Odd though that it started 2 weeks after as mine was clearly immediate. Perhaps you did injure yourself unbeknownst? You may never know.
I found this from an article at mothering.com (awesome mommy resource, by the way):
"Later complications include weakness and numbness in 4 to 18 per 10,000 women. Most of these complications resolve spontaneously within three months.65-69 Longer-term or permanent problems can arise from damage to a nerve during epidural placement; from abscess or hematoma (blood clot), which can compress the spinal cord; and from toxic reactions in the covering of the spinal cord, which can lead to paraplegia.
Here is a link to the article
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_p...
If your doctors have ruled out blood clots and nerve damage, it might be some unresolved spinal compression, in which case some chiropractic treatment may help you. That's something that an MD is probably not going to suggest. You may have to start looking outside of the conventional medical model for help in correcting the problem. If you don't want to try alternative health care or "wellness care" perhaps you could ask for a rx from your MD for some physical or occupational therapy.
I have been in health care for years and no one ever warned me either of these side effects. My labor (2003) was a frightening whirlwind of medical issues that resulted in a spinal/an emergency c-section. Immediately following, I experienced complete, right lower extremity numbness. The "pins & needles" sensation subsided within six weeks. However, I have a completely numb area along the top outer edge of my right foot. It has even become slightly discolored. In 2006, I began experiencing left arm numbness and went through a series of EEG's & MRI's and no one was able to officially diagnose the problem (clots, nerve damage etc.). My child will be five in November and the symptoms linger.
I worked in spinal cord injury, so I agree with the Physical Therapy suggestion. If your physician refers you for therapy, you will be evaluated and a PT prescription of exercises/treatments will be provided. The key is adhering to the plan post treatment, to prevent relapse of symptoms. One thing that has helped me cope, is yoga! I'm an exercise physiologist & a certified yoga instructor and have utilized asanas to strengthen my core, thereby stabilizing the spine. A regular practice has also helped to minimize back fatigue, improved postural alignment and the potential for impaction of the disks surrounding my injection site (which occurs naturally as we age, when under stress, or when we are not mindful of our posture/body mechanics.)
Each case is different, depending on the physiology of your spine, the injection site, and whether or not nerves were damaged. Mine was severe, because after 20 minutes of forceful pushing and prodding, the anesthesiologist concluded that my lover vertebral column was fused due to mild, undiagnosed scoliosis ... and proceeded to poke and prod in other locations until he gained access! But in the end, a healthy, beautiful baby girl was born.
Best of luck to you ... and know that you are not alone! =)
M.
Yes I did. Sometimes it can take quit awhile for that spot to heal. Where I had mine it would be tender to even touch it. I got pain patches from the dr. to put over the area and it was to draw the pain out. Over time it helped but I did not have the kinds of things you did. Maybe talk to a person in a pain service clinic at a hospital. I am not sure where you live but Dr. Sikorski is wonderful at Troy Beaumont. That is who took care of me and I work with him and he is a wonderful man. Good luck.
