Does anyone know how common it is for a spinal not to work?

[nunnie]

I had to have an EMCS with my DS and it became apparent when they started to cut and I felt it that the spinal had failed, it numbed my legs but not above, I was then knocked out.

I had to have a spinal with my DD previous to this due to needing a manual removal of placenta. And it worked for that, but again that was below so not sure if it would have worked above if that makes sense.

I have to makes a decision about an ELCS or VBAC and this is playing on my mind, as no matter what I choose there is a possibility that I will need to go to theatre adnd have a spinal and I have no faith them now.

I can't find any stats on this and wondered if anyone knows. I am sure when I see the Consultant then I will get more information but it doesn't stop me worrying.

Thank you

I don't know the stats on this, sorry. But I would say, ask for an appointment with an anaesthetist now - I was offered one and it helped calm my fears. The good thing about ELCS instead of EMCS is that there is no rush, so if it doesn't initially work, they have more time to try and sort it out (they also have plenty of time for the anaesthetist to do a full check that is has worked before cutting!).

I can't have a spinal or epidural, but was told at an appt with an anaesthetist that he reckoned they don't fully work in around 10% of cases. This includes people who have some areas of minor feeling left though, which can be sorted out by minor "tweaking" of where the anaesthetic is going in. This is from what one particular anaesthetist told me, and I can't tell you a study to back it up!

I would second the suggestion to meet with an anaesthetist if you can.

Didn't know I could get an appointment with an anaesthetist, thank you for that, will definatly ask for that.

I had what the mw called a 'failed' epidural with my DD. Could still feel everything - didnt even take the edge off. Took a while for them to believe me but they did eventually!

I had a spinal for an ELCS, they sprayed a cold aerosol thing up from my knees to check the spinal had 'taken'. presumably they didn't have time to do that in an emergency?

They did but my legs were numb, it was my torso that wasn't, and she did go over my torso with it and I told her I had felt the cold so they waited a short while, but they couldn't wait too long. After I had come out I could feel everything around the scar, the midwife had to change the pressure dressing 4 times due to a leak and I could feel everything, so I am not sure if they had waited longer it would have numbed anyway.

I will admit that because it was an EMCS and I had been pushing for over 3 and half hours I was fitting and dropping off to sleep so when she did the spray test she went very quickly and my mouth wouldn't work straighaway so by the time I said I felt it she was above my belly button. I did tell her I had felt it sooner but I couldn't say exactly where hence the wait.

Ouch, I see, no wonder you're a bit freaked by the whole thing.

If it's any help, for an ELCS they'll go much more slowly with that bit, and of course have more time to sort it out if it's not complete. And after you come out, you should be morphined up to the eyeballs as well...

At my hospital/trust, I also got an appointment to see the anaesthetist automatically about a week before, don't know if that is policy everywhere but it was good, especially as she was nice (in a jolly hockey sticks sort of way!)

I'm having an elcs and had a really good chat with the anaesthaetist because I wanted a ga he was great, explained everything, the difference between spinals and epis and ga's, he was very informative, and very reassuring.

Definitely try for this if you can, well worth it and you can discuss everything.