Anybody else have strange sensations after epidural?

[seashore]

Hi,

I'm wondering if it's just me, dd is 3.5 now, since giving birth (drip, epidural, ventouse) I have a frequent sensation (a number of times daily)of tingling nerves running up and down the right side of my back, between my waist right up to my shoulder. It's not painful, just irritating,it feels like there are teams of ants marching up and down very fast. I'm assuming this is some kind of nerve damage from the epidural. I had a second birth but not a second epidural.

So, I was wondering - does anyone else have this? Will it eventually fade? and has anybody else out there had lasting side effects after an epidural?

Thank you.

Have you spoken to your GP about it?
I only had a spinal with my Ds 12 years ago and had weird sensations afterwards, but nothing since as far as I know.

I'd be asking those in white coats if I were you. Hope it fades quickly whatever it is seashore.

Thanks solo, I haven't asked my gp about it,it may sound silly but I keep forgetting until suddenly - there it is again (I just felt it now which is why I started this thread), it's so easy to forget your own health during these busy baby rearing years,at least now I will make a note to remember to ask next time I'm in the surgery.

Yes, I had had weird numb sensations that come and go.

I especially get them my toes and feet in particular when I was going down stairs, and i found that my feet weren't where I thought they were when walking, and so I was tripping up a lot more- catching my feet on uneven surfaces.

Have only had tingling now for a year or so - DD is 6 now.

See a physio - maybe you need a good massage of your back? Could be extra fluid?

I get a similar sensation in my left shoulder blade, but it is only a month since my op. it kind of goes icy/numb. Haven't mentioned it as I don't think it is serious and I have a whole catalogue of other more pressing complaints!

Thanks zazen,that sounds tricky with your feet, not something you want when you're busy carrying around a small baby, it must have been a real nuisance.

And thanks Haggishfish, def sound similar, it's easy to forget these things though, I was sure it would have faded away by now.

What I notice is that I have this sensation more often when I am sitting, don't know what that means though.

Well, it's best not to ignore it IMO.

You're right solo, I'm def going to get it checked out by gp, now I'm noticing and remembering when it happens, like always a few mins after having bent over to wash hair.

I know one woman who has no feeling in her whole lower back after epidural,it's left her numb, that made me think I was lucky but this is still annoying.

If it was caused by the Epidural, the numbness/tingling should be at or below the point in the spine when the needle was inserted.

I think it's more likely connected to a shoulder/neck or upper spine problem - maybe set off by the birth process, and aggravated by carrying a baby then a toddler around.

Maybe you're right oldmum, dd was a really tough b2b birth and then like you say carrying around baby/toddler, it does run from where the needle went in but upward.

mine is upward as well - it is more likely to be from carrying baby I suppose - I have noticed recently that I carry her in the same side in the same way nearly all the time.

I've had back problems in the past from work, but this feels like something has gone wrong with the nerves, it's something I've never felt before the epidural, I'm but will see gp and chiopractor.

Haggisfish hope your back settles and the other complaints too!

My son is 3.5 years old and I also experience similar sensation only mine is the feeling of water running down my leg. I also had an epidural with an 36 hour labor. I have been to my regular doctor, chiropractor, PT, have had ex-rays and and MRI on my spine (all normal) and they still don't have answers for me besides keep up PT. Have you figured this out? Google told me it's Arachnoiditis which can be caused by epidural. Have you received any answers if this goes away on it's own or gets worse?

Hello
Just wondering if you ever got to the bottom of this? I am experiencing the same

Thanks

Just wondering did this ever resolve? I'm experiencing the exact same thing after an epidural. My son is 3months and it only seems to be getting more frequent.

Hey, me too! Although im also having other symptoms too - just wondering if this symptoms is caused by the epidural

If you’re worried about complications from a recent (days-weeks) epidural the best thing to do is either call the labour ward where the midwives would be able to speak to an anaesthetist. Alternatively, if it’s been a while, your GP would be able to have a conversation with an anaesthetist about whether it seems likely/whether the anaesthetist thinks any imaging relating to the epidural is needed. Hope that helps (from an anaesthetist).

@Greybeardy thank you so much for responding!!

In your experience can this happen? The anaesthetist made several attempts before the eidural needle was in and now i get tingling and pulsating along the spine (as well as other symptoms)

@seashore I have been having this did the gp get to the bottom of it?