Injury from a Spinal or Epidural....

WOW, here i sit in my living room on my laptop thinking I was the only one who had ever been injured by a spinal. On Aug 30, 2004, i went in for a scheduled c-section (since my first son was an emergency they gave me no choice the second time). When the anesthesiologist (SP) came in he seemed to be in a big hurry and didn't really want to take the time to listen to my concerns. I had had a previous back surgery due to herniated disks in my lower back, the same site where they would need to administer the spinal, which caused a lot of anxiety and fear for me. He brushed it off and told me not to worry. After he attempted the spinal EIGHT times, sending me to the roof with electric shock each time he missed, he finally got it to work. Everything seemed to be 'normal' after that whole ordeal, until 12 hours later when i noticed that my left leg was still numb. The nurses kept telling me that sometimes the spinal works better down one side and that once i got up and walked around and drank more water that it would go away. Well, long story short.... 2 1/2 years later.... my left leg is still numb, kinda like the numbness and tingling you get when the dentist numbs your cheek for a filling is the best way i know to describe it. I have been to every doctor you can think of and no one will tell me what went wrong. I dont find it to be a coincedence that this all happened on the same day that i got a spinal, but no doctor will break their little code of silence and pin it on the doctor who adminstered the spinal. I am now at the point in my life where i want to have another child but i am scared to death to get another spinal because i am worried that there will be more severe damage this time since i have had yet another back surgery since this all happened (more scar tissue to go thru). I am going to try and push for a VBAC this time but may need to be put under general if I am not successful because of my fears of epidurals/spinals. With all that said, there is some comfort in knowing that I am not the only out there with problems stemming from an epidural. I just wish that doctors would give me a straight up answer instead of protecting their fellow professional who messed up royally. I know i dont have an anwers for you, but i know that even hearing your story gave me some comfort so I thought i would share mine. Best of luck and I hope that you are able to get some answers in the near future.

J. :)

dear E. .....
my pain is from a spinal cord injury which happened 30 years ago ...i raised both daughters and now they are 15 & 22........it can be done!! get lots of support and ask 4 help!! the pain is real... keep on trying out docs til u find the right one,ask around ur area 4 referrals .........try prolotherapy it may be helpful 2 u ..... also dont be afraid 2 take something 4 pain until u sort things out........ just remember 2 do so with the help of a good pain specialist one problem with vicodin is that ur up and down with the pain reliefi suffered acute withdrawl symptoms when i tried it ..... there are many docs afraid of the FDA & DEA so thats why they act as they do........ not 2 mention many are arrogant and hate 2 be questioned or 2nd guessed(thats y they bcame docs in the 1st place...s its a personality type!!LOL!)
do not be put off just because these doctors have issues........ they are flawed human beings operating in a flawed system....

have u cleaned up ur diet? taken supplements? pain is a complex medical issue involving many bodily systems..the nervous system,endocrine,hormonal ,i could go on..... u get the pic....there are several helpful supplements u could be taking......you'll find out what u should start with by looking online for a good chronic pain website......
perhaps start w/ something 4 overall mood ? st.johns wort... 5-htp?
stuff like that .
and add in a good multi-vitamin and mineral.... pay special attention to things like phosphatidylcholine(sp?)things that help brain &nerve function.
also things that assist with connective tissue,muscle&joint function.... hope u find a good doc....

lemmee know how u make out........peace..stef

I am so so sorry for your pain. I too had severe problems after my epidural. I had to have 3 blood patches of which none worked. My main problem was the SEVERE headache that lasted 2 weeks. I could not even care for my baby or my other 2 older children who had to spend the 2 weeks with thier grandma. My husband had to be home 24 hours a day as I could not even change the baby's diapers. All I could do was lay in bed and nurse. I literally had to crawl to the bathroom. Since then I have had some ongoing back pain but until now I never thought to associate it with my epidural. My backpain in not as severe as yours sounds. Where is your pain? I am so sorry you are going through this. I am expecting another baby this Fall and will definetly not get an epidural, for me its not worth the risk. Do you mind if I ask where you had yours done?

E.,
I'm so sorry that you have to go through all of that pain. I know what living in pain is like. I don't know if you read my request about my sciatic nerven injurry, but a couple of women recommended acupuncture as therapy. My podiatrist also recommended it to me, but at that point my pain was already getting better. I guess there's nothing to loose if you're already experiencing severe pain. Good luck!

P.S. Unless a doctor can diagnose a specific disorder, drug it, and cut it out of your body, most of them don't take the time to help. Keep looking for someone who will.

I had back surgery when I was 14 to fuse 2 rods to my spine to correct my scoliosis. I have been told that I would develop arthritis very young (I am a little over 32 now). I have pain every day when I wake up. My back kills me when it rains, when I am sick and when PMS hits. I have sciatic nerve issues constantly, and my back will go out 2-3 times per year where all I can do is lay down and not move.

I am considering hypnosis for pain relief. Has anyone tried this, or heard of this?

First of all, you care for five children, therefore you should give your self a hand! No wonder you are exhausted and in pain, kids are a lot of work, and especially hard on the body. We are always lifting them, and this strains our backs etc. I have learned that in order for me to stay healthy and keep my back and arms strong I need to stretch everyday and walk at least a half hour a day. My physician recommended yoga for back pain, and it has worked miracles. If you can find a local yoga class, you can learn some wonderful stretches that will really help your pain. It is the most healing exercise I have ever tried. Also, you can get a yoga DVD or tape that if you do a few days a week you will not believe how much better you will feel. Just keep moving, and take some time for yourself, this really helps with pain. Take care and good luck, also time always heals and helps. R.

Hi E.,

I had this same problem. My son was 9.5lbs and 21" long. He split my tail bone. The epidural didn't not help with this either. I could not sit for more than two minutes without being in so much pain I could cry.

I would love to talk to you about this and tell you what I did. I have been pain free for 6 years now.

L. C
Personal Nutritionist
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I've never been to the doctor for my pain but I do know how you feel. I've had back pain since my first child was born. It only got worse with each child and each epidural. They screwed up with my last one which was in january this year. The doctor did a spinal and then started the epidural. I thought that was odd. When he tried to put the epidural in he missed. You aren't suppposed to feel major pain when they out it in but I did. He missed about 3 or 4 times before the other doctor came in. Then he tried and when he put it in there it felt like I had someone punding a nail in my back. So he tried again and finally got it. But i've been having immense pain in my lower back where the scar is from it. It's so bad sometimes I can't sleep, can't sit or stand up. No matter what I do the pain is there. It's not there all the time but when it is it's bad. I didn't go through what you did, but when they miss it hurts. And you aren't suppopsed to fell like a nail is being driven into your body. I didn't tell the doctor because I figure they will just say i'm crazy go on with life and it will get better. So no advice but to let you know I know how you feel.

goodness hun and i feel for you really I had to have an energency c-section in December to have my daughter and since then have not been able to bend over even to change a diaper and be able to stand back up well, cant sit for long cant lay for long cant do anything evern walking irritates it. The doctor that adminestered my epideral didnt mess up though he was acctually very effecient I really believe that alot of my problem is a side effect of the proceedure combined with several back injuries I pray for you and some relief in what u are going threw and that you find a memeber of the medical profession who works with you to solve your problems.

Have you tried Chiropractic adjustments? They might help you a lot. I swear by them.
http://www.icpa4kids.com/
http://www.amerchiro.org/index.cfm
No I have not have this particular problem (I used Hypnobirthing for both births, learned to relax my muscles and felt no to minimal pain during labor) but I have read online (different parenting board) about this problem. You are definitely not alone.
I'm not a fan of relying/depending too much on meds (like epidurals) because there is ALWAYS a risk with any med. (I pass no judgement for women who choose them at all.) Same goes for the "cure" here. Just be careful. Try chiropractic care and see if that helps. It eliminated my back pain completely during my 2nd pg and I still go in every once in awhile if my back feels "off" and then I get immediate relief. My husband was doubtful for years and then he went and is glad he did.

When I was 24 - I ripped all the ligaments and tendens in my lower back. I had the same problem with the doctors telling me that it was in my head - or there was no real source of the pain. I can tell you that I did not feel normal again for almost 5 years. I have reinjured my back a few times, but for the most part I am healthy most days.

Don't give up - back pain effects your entire body - - - you'll find a doctor that can help - just don't give up!

OMG E., after 2 car accidents, I was feeling just like YOU! Pain that never went away. Until my husband got some advise from a golf buddy. He said, and my doctor agreed, to a steroid epidural. It saved my life! Do yourself a favor and tell your doctor that you want this. In the meantime, read up on it. It saved me.
Good luck, Shannon C.