Back pain after epidural : Could the two be connected?

flawless29 · 2023-08-31T08:34:53+00:00

Hey everyone, So, I've got this annoying low back pain and a weird ache in my right bum cheek. It all started after my C-section 7 months ago. The doctor gave me an epidural and it felt like the doctor kept hitting my nerve. To make matters worse, I also suffer from pelvic congestion, and my pain just gets worse during my periods. Went to my GP to see if I could get an MRI, but he was like, "Nah, you don't need it." 🙄 Anyone else had something like this after an epidural? Could the two be connected?

Mamai90 · 31/08/2023 10:17

Not me but my friend has had 3 sections and often complains of back pain. She said it started after having her second and they kept missing where the needle was meant to go and she said her back was covered in bruises. It's a type if nerve pain that she has to take pregabalin for, not a daily pain but it will play up from time to time. She also said to me that back pain is common in women who have had c sections so I'd say it does sound like yours is linked.

Jericha · 31/08/2023 10:19

I did, the consultant anaesthetist took it seriously and did a few tests on me and said to call and ask to be put through to the on call anaesthetist if it got worse, otherwise they'd call me in six weeks to see how I was getting on. I had a weird numb spot on my bum cheek too, but mine had gone by the six weeks follow up call they gave me. My lower stomach is still completely numb in places (didn't have any after effects with my first child) but I can live with that. I'd see if you can get out through to an anaesthetist where you delivered for some advice.

TheGoogleMum · 31/08/2023 10:21

I'm sure I heard one of the risks of epidural is long term nerve damage I'm afraid. I don't know if they can do anything about it

FriendsDrinkBook · 31/08/2023 10:23

I didn't have a c section , but I did have throbbing lower back pain for a year or so after my first child was born. I put it down to the epidural , as with my other two children I had no pain relief and no back pain after.

Taketurn · 31/08/2023 10:39

I strongly believe back pain and epidural are connected. It was really bad for me for the first 2 years or so. GP didn't really care. It seems t have gotten better now, 4 years on.

Original poster

flawless29 · 31/08/2023 10:43

Oh, that's interesting that there's some agreement that the epidural might be linked. My experience was a bit of a mess, to be honest. The anaesthetist kept missing the spot, and I kept saying, "Pain, pain!" He told me not to say "pain," but to say "nerve" instead. So I said, "Nerve, nerve," but he went ahead and injected anyway.
Then, while they were stitching me up, I told them I could feel pain on my right side. He was like, "Sorry, can't give you any more epidural." So now I'm left wondering if this is going to get better on its own or if I'll need some sort of treatment. It's all a bit up in the air.

OP posts:

tt9 · 31/08/2023 13:57

Hi @flawless29 Anaesthetist here. unfortunately epidurals get a lot of bad press in regards to back pain but it's extremely unlikely...

think about it... pregnant mums carry a baby for 9 months, push out said baby/have a section while in rather uncomfortable positions, obs surgeons put patients in stirrups etc. - these are far more likely to cause back pain.

the musculoskeletal changes due to pregnancy and child birth are the most common culprit.

nerve damage due to an epidural needle is extremely unlikely and is usually temporary.

as to whether you need an MRI, tbh I would see a private physio first for a full assessment....

tt9 · 31/08/2023 14:02

flawless29 · 31/08/2023 10:43

Oh, that's interesting that there's some agreement that the epidural might be linked. My experience was a bit of a mess, to be honest. The anaesthetist kept missing the spot, and I kept saying, "Pain, pain!" He told me not to say "pain," but to say "nerve" instead. So I said, "Nerve, nerve," but he went ahead and injected anyway.
Then, while they were stitching me up, I told them I could feel pain on my right side. He was like, "Sorry, can't give you any more epidural." So now I'm left wondering if this is going to get better on its own or if I'll need some sort of treatment. It's all a bit up in the air.

OK... you had a weird anaesthetist and I am sorry you had a poor experience. they are bloody uncomfortable to have... it is normal for it to hurt as it goes in ... did you get any electric shocks as it went in? and it is possible that the epidural itself was veering to the left (did they lay you on your side to extend the block?) so you were probably feeling pain from the contractions on the right?

also the epidural needle for labour goes in below the level where the spinal chord itself ends.

ps I am not saying your pain is absolutely not due to the epidural... but that it is unlikely.

tt9 · 31/08/2023 14:05

Taketurn · 31/08/2023 10:39

I strongly believe back pain and epidural are connected. It was really bad for me for the first 2 years or so. GP didn't really care. It seems t have gotten better now, 4 years on.

I'm sorry you suffered with bad back pain
but don't you think carrying a baby inside and pushing him/ her out could have affected your back?

back pain is very common post pregnancy epidural or no. hormones in pregnancy affect our musculoskeletal systems as do the weight gain/having baby inside and pushing out baby.

prevention by lots exercise eg. swimming during pregnancy works well

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/08/2023 14:10

Is the pain fairly near the top of your bum cheek? I have sacroiliac problems which were made worse by pregnancy and I have low back pain and crampy burning or stabbing pains in the top of my bum cheek on the side that is flaring.
It could be a mechanical issue like that.

tt9 · 31/08/2023 14:11

TheGoogleMum · 31/08/2023 10:21

I'm sure I heard one of the risks of epidural is long term nerve damage I'm afraid. I don't know if they can do anything about it

something we have to legally say to patients, but the risk of that is extremely extremely low. much more dangerous to drive in a car for example

tt9 · 31/08/2023 14:15

just going to leave this link here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6681359/#:~:text=The%20present%20survey%20has%20confirmed,six%20months%20after%20the%20delivery.

it looks at data demonstrating there is no difference in rates of back pain following an epidural in labouring patients.

this is a bug bear of mine as so many women turn up scared of epidurals because they have been told x y z especially re back pain. they then refuse an epidural and really struggle (and have back pain later anyway). in a lot of instances, they will get to the final stages and just can't handle the pain anymore and although my heart goes out to them - at that point it's very difficult (often impossible) to give an epidural.

Epidural Analgesia and Back Pain after Labor

Background and Objectives: The aim of this survey was to assess the impact of epidural analgesia on post-partum back pain in post-partum women. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire was completed by post-partum women during the first days after deli...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6681359#:~:text=The%20present%20survey%20has%20confirmed,six%20months%20after%20the%20delivery.

WolfFoxHare · 31/08/2023 14:20

I've got a numb toe that I'm convinced is due to my epidural, as I didn't have it before. I definitely think your back pain could be related, but I'm not sure what you need to do/say to get the GP to take it seriously. Probably just keep going back to complain, sadly.

Completleybonkers · 31/08/2023 14:27

Yes definitely can be related. Totally outside the scope of understanding of most GPs unfortunately. My advice would be to see a chiropractor.

Original poster

flawless29 · 31/08/2023 14:42

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/08/2023 14:10

Is the pain fairly near the top of your bum cheek? I have sacroiliac problems which were made worse by pregnancy and I have low back pain and crampy burning or stabbing pains in the top of my bum cheek on the side that is flaring.
It could be a mechanical issue like that.

Yes, the pain is around my right bum cheek and goes to my tail bone, and it is worse when I lie on that side. I am thinking of seeing a private physiotherapist or an osteopath, but I am wondering if it might be due to the epidural. Can they do anything about it?

OP posts:

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/08/2023 14:46

I would go to a physio and rule out any muscular skeleto problems. There are lots of exercises that can help including the dreaded pelvic floor ones.

Original poster

flawless29 · 31/08/2023 14:50

@tt9 Thanks for the reassurance, but I was concerned because I never had any back pain before, and it all started after the epidural. I didn't even have any severe pain when I was pregnant. So I'm thinking it might be the epidural, since one of my friends had a similar issue. Thanks for advise !

OP posts:

tt9 · 31/08/2023 14:53

flawless29 · 31/08/2023 14:50

@tt9 Thanks for the reassurance, but I was concerned because I never had any back pain before, and it all started after the epidural. I didn't even have any severe pain when I was pregnant. So I'm thinking it might be the epidural, since one of my friends had a similar issue. Thanks for advise !

I totally understand this is why many people come to this conclusion... but correlation does not equate causation. that's why we do large scale studies.

I strongly reccommend a good physio as a starting point. NHS physios just don't have enough time allocated to them, so private better if possible