Lower Back Pain 12 Days After Epidural - Infection?
Updated on
August 07, 2011
T.K.
asks from
New York, NY
8
answers
My beautiful baby boy, my second, was born 2 weeks ago. 12 days after delivery, 2 days ago, I started having lower back pain. I never have lower back pain. The anesthesiologist told me to call him if I experienced any of of the side effects. So I tried that tonight, and after an hour dealing with the hospital switchboard, a different OB anesthesiologist called me back.
Okay. Lower back pain itself is probably not unusual, according to all the pregnancy books, etc. etc. But she (the doc who called) asked me about other symptoms. I had none of the symptoms on her list except some fever and chills earlier today, but that has happened when I haven't taken Motrin for more than 8 hours. I had taken the motrin when I called, but it hadn't kicked in yet. The chills had already gone away, and now, just a few hours later, my temp is normal. She told me I could have an abscess and infection in the spinal cord, so I should come in to have it looked at, see if I have an infection. I explained that I'm 4 hours away at my parents house because they are helping with our kids and my recovery, but I could go to an emergency room up here. She told me to go. However, I wasn't sure I should. But about a half hour ago, I had diarrhea. So now I'm questioning.
Medical culture:
I should explain that I realized today that of all the pre-cautionary phone calls I have made to the on-call doctor, never once have they told me "that's not a problem". They always tell me to come to the emergency room. The only exception is when my husband called my own doctor once, worried about my first poo (poop, stool, bowel movement) postpartum, and my doc, who I love said the hospital can't do anything more than I was doing and it would happen eventually, which it did. Other than that, they always tell me to come in, and often there has been no issue. I'm not sure if this is liability fears, trying to pack an empty labor and delivery ward (apparently hospitals are concerned about lack of babies being born in this economy), or just medical culture in the northeast. When I researched this here, so many women said their doctors told them backpain had nothing to do with the epidural, a very different, and also frustrating approach.
In conclusion:
I don't want to ignore obvious facts. I want to take care of myself. But I don't want to over medical-ize something that may not be a problem. So I've got (a) lower back pain 12 days after childbirth, lasting at least 3 days, (b) no other symptoms except chills and a fever that went away rather quickly when I took my painkiller, which I was late with, (c) and diarrhea after eating clam chowder that was a new post-partum food for me and probably a little too exciting for my stomach. Did I mention that my parents live in a vacation town with a lot of bars, and its Saturday night? I'm a little afraid of what the ER looks like right now, but that's not a reason to stay home.
Update/Clarification:
Thanks for the responses - 7 just overnight! I didn't actually have a c-section. I did with my first kid, but this time, I did a VBAC. My son was 9 lbs 9 oz at bitth. They had to cut me (episiotomy) 4 cm, and then I tore beyond that, a 3rd degree tear. So most of my original postpartum recovery had to do with that. Also, I was at a very good OB on Friday, and he said I have no sign of infection in my nipples, uterus, or vaginal area. They took blood to test and I'll get the results Monday. I forgot to ask him about lower back pain, very stupid, because it wasn't bothering me then. Also, I apparently have a severe iron deficiency. I'll get the bloodcount back soon to see how bad it is, but they told me to take a really hard core iron pill in the mean time. Symptoms of iron deficiency include dizziness.
When I had an infected c-section I had fever and chills and the fever did not respond to motrin. I also had a lot of pain, redness and swelling at the incision site and unbelievable fatigue (clearly beyond the new baby tiredness). I ended up in the hospital with IV antibiotics but that I think was because my practioner was not taking my symptoms seriously for several days (I left that practice). Anyway, yes, get it checked out but unless you are miserable or have a high, non responsive fever you can probably go to the ER in the morning if it is better for you.
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I.G.
answers from
Seattle
on
I am right with you and think that most providers will tell you to get in for two reasons: a. to cover their butts and b. to make money. If it was "just" a backache, I would probably wait until Monday.
HOWEVER, fever and chills two weeks after giving birth need to be addressed. It doesn't even have to be anything with your epidural site, but could be a gynecological infection (the pain can sometimes "radiate: into a different body part from the infection site).
Motrin does suppress a fever (together with the pain), but a fever is not caused by pain. To be running a fever there is something else going on.
Not getting proper diagnosis in an appropriate time frame could set you up for serious complications down the road... as much as I am skeptical of our medical system, this would be something that I would take seriously.
Good luck.
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V.C.
answers from
Dallas
on
I definitely had low back pain due to an epidural. They poke me so many times that it cause scar tissue.
I did lots of core strengthening exercises and had a chiropractor do a myofacial release. It took a couple of years to get rid of it.
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J.D.
answers from
Phoenix
on
You are sure it is not just cause you are sitting around holding a baby a lot? I remember my baby and breastfeeding muscles hurting a lot after he was born. Just a thought.
I wouldn't take spinal cord issues lightly. A co-worker had serious complications (almost didn't make it) with her epidural. I think that having headaches and lightheadedness, passing out, nausea were the major symptoms she had? I think with hers, they accidentely went all the way through and created a small hole on the other side which leaked fluid into the wrong area. Sorry I'm kinda vague. I haven't talked to her about it in awhile.
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M.M.
answers from
Tampa
on
Epidurals breach the sterility of your spinal cord - one of your most important organs... if you have spinal fluid leaking, an infection in the spinal cord or bruising - it is a serious and all common side effect of these 'amazing pain medication' needles. Please go to the hospital - worst that can happen is they find it is something else.
I'll never forget watching the anesthesiologist joking with me about "wait for it... you got to listen for the snap, crackle pop!" I got to watch quite a few of these being inserted during my OB clinicals and each time I cringed.
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R.P.
answers from
Seattle
on
Please go to Er or a doctor. It could be forming an epidural abscess which isn't good at all.
You mentioned eating clam chowder. That shouldn't be effecting your GI tract this late after the C Section. You are able to go back to normal diet 24 hours after the C Section.
Don't ignore the things that are happening its your body telling you there is something wrong!
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M.T.
answers from
New York
on
You really need to see a doctor. The motrin is suppressing the chills and fever, and wont' cure an infection if you have one. Call your own OB, not the hospital.
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M.B.
answers from
New York
on
I'd probably be as confused as you. Virtually no medical practitioner will ever tell you not to worry about something because of liability. On the other hand, probably all of us have the same reaction as the anesthesiologist; we also just hear your symptoms (can't examine you or run tests), worry about the possibility of infection and would tend to tell you to get medical care just to be safe.
If you had an infection, I would not be surprised if the Motrin brought it down, but I would expect it come back after it wore off. Pain at the epidural insertion site is also not unusual, and sometimes lasts weeks, months or even years.
I'd probably skip the ER if I were feeling okay without Motrin, but I'd go asap if the pain gets worse, the fever comes back, or I got new symptoms. I'd probably tell you to go just to be safe, though. :)
