7 weeks on and still no feeling in foot after epidural, anyone had similar experience?

[LittlePoopsy]

had epidural during labour with ds 7wks ago, took them 5 tries to get it in, eek! then had it topped up to go to theatre (as precaution incase needed cs - i didnt)
Getting bit concerned that still havent got the feeling back in one foot, right thigh and various spots on legs and tummy. Only really the foot thats bothering me because i'm sure i'm walking like a duck!

Has anyone experienced the same thing?

[BrownSuga]

i had a numb & tingly left leg after epi but only for 5 days or so and that was getting needle in first go. when mentioned to mat nurses they were going to get doc to check me. you should get checked 7 week is rather long, plus the doc that did the epi for me seemed to want to know about any of these side effects.

[LittlePoopsy]

They were quite concerned when I was in hospital (1wk) but baby was in scbu so everytime someone came to check I was over there. Got 6 wk check on wed so i'l mention it there

[belgo]

certainly mention it. I have a friend who lost the feeling in one of her toes after an epidural.

If it's a known side effect of epidurals, women should be informed of it before they consent to one.

[belgo]

It is actually a very serious side effect.

[Mintpurple]

As belgo says, its one of the side effects of an epidural, often it disappears over time, rarely it does not.

You should get in touch with the anaesthtics department (phone l/w and ask to speak to the anaesthetist) and explain what is going on. They will almost certainly be very keen to see you and check this out.

By all means bring it up at the 6 week check, but its really the anaes that you need to see. If you are at the hosp tomorrow anyway, ask if you can have a see them tomorrow - dont be fobbed off - and they should do a proper assessment.

[wheelybug]

I had a numb patch on my right thigh for quite a long time after a spinal. It was a good 6 months or maybe even more before it went. Friends had the same.

[Klaw]

This happened to my ex-SIL and is one of the many risks why I would not have one for labour. Afaic the possible benefits do not outweigh the risks.

I do hope that you get this resolved soon and that it does not detract from enjoying your new baby too much.

[jamila169]

Both my feet are numb 8 years after my one and only epidural, I have nerve damage in my lower back and neck which I'm hoping to find out more about when I've got rid of the latest passenger in Jan, but probably caused by a very high block(was affecting my breathing) so I was unable to change position using just my arms, at one point my legs wer off the end of the bed nealry up to the knees, so I imagine a lot of stress was put on my spine.
Lisa X

[inthegutter]

Are these side effects explained clearly to women before/during labour? I had an epi only once, for c section, so I suppose the only other option would have been general anaesthetic, which carries more risks. But I never had an epi for my vaginal births, and this thread has confirmed my feeling that this was the right decision. Women have a right to know the risks, and it may be that more women would choose to put up with the pain of labour than have weeks or months of side effects after.

[NineUnlikelyTales]

I still can't feel my left foot 13m after an epidural and they botched putting it in too (first go hit a nerve in my right leg and made it jump about). I had very weak legs for a few months and couldn't control my bowels properly for a few weeks. I couldn't have a wee for a few days.

BUT it wasn't the epidural that did this to me. I had lots of tests and it turned out that it was being in lithotomy poles for 2.5 hours that caused the damage, due to DS pressing on important nerves and crushing them. And the left foot damage, which is the worst, was because of the strap they did up round my foot - it crushed a nerve but because of the epidural I couldn't feel it happening.

I have been told that it may take up to 2 years for my foot to heal, and if it hasn't healed in that time it probably never will. I can't stand on demi-pointe on my left foot, which is a nuisance in ballet classes but it doesn't cause me much problem otherwise. The main problem is that I trip over things as I can't feel my foot touch them.

You need to get in touch with the hospital where you delivered ASAP to get some answers and hopefully treatment, though in my case there is no treatment except painkillers if the nerve regeneration process becomes painful, which it hasn't so far (some funny feelings though!)

HTH