Back pain years after epidural/spinal block

[Noseyaf]

I had my c-section in 2014 and ever since then, I've had crippling lower back pain and have developed hip pain, particularly in the groin area, in the last 2 years or so. I never suffered with back pain prior to being pregnant. I've been to 2 osteopaths and was given exercises to do but these literally only provide temporary relief and pain never actually goes away tbh. It takes me a few minutes to straighten up and walk around normally. I have to use heat rub every day if not twice a day and constantly feel like my back needs a good stretch which I constantly do but the pain never goes away.

Has anybody else had lingering back pain after a c-section or pregnancy in general? I did try the GP but they didn't seem to think anything of it. This was just last year over the phone so I imagine they might have been focussing on more serious conditions. Would a chiropractor be better at helping me ?

I have back pain for years.
However I am in my late 50s and nursing for 40 years.
I attend a physio about every 6 weeks,stretch properly and do exercises every morning as soon as I get out of bed.
I do my best to keep my weight within normal limits as a half stone increase makes the pain a lot worse.
I am aware of it daily but have learned to manage it.
A good supportive mattress makes a huge difference also..
However you mentioned a pain in your groin..this is usually from your hip.
You probably need a face to face review with your GP.
I did attend an osteopath but didn't find it worked as well as physio.
Good luck.

This has been on my mind lately- very similar situation to you. But I put it down to poor posture, lots of sitting/slumping and being too heavy, for me.
I've wondered whether it's something to do with both pregnancy and a spinal block. Never had back pain before. I can no longer side sleep now either. The pain is constantly with me now, as is the one sided groin pain.

@Cillmantain

I have back pain for years. However I am in my late 50s and nursing for 40 years. I attend a physio about every 6 weeks,stretch properly and do exercises every morning as soon as I get out of bed. I do my best to keep my weight within normal limits as a half stone increase makes the pain a lot worse. I am aware of it daily but have learned to manage it. A good supportive mattress makes a huge difference also.. However you mentioned a pain in your groin..this is usually from your hip. You probably need a face to face review with your GP. I did attend an osteopath but didn't find it worked as well as physio. Good luck.

Thank you, I think I will have to try the gp again and have a face to face but I'm overweight (currently dieting and going to the gym 5 days a week) but I'm scared I'll just get told to lose weight

@BELLAARA

This has been on my mind lately- very similar situation to you. But I put it down to poor posture, lots of sitting/slumping and being too heavy, for me. I've wondered whether it's something to do with both pregnancy and a spinal block. Never had back pain before. I can no longer side sleep now either. The pain is constantly with me now, as is the one sided groin pain.

It actually took me a while to realise it might be from the spinal block as there isn't much available online about this. I can sleep on my side but not for long

Regarding being told to lose weight lots of slim people have back pain too so don't beat yourself up.
Constant pain is very debilitating and along with not sleeping doesn't bode well for healthy eating the next day.
Tackle one issue at a time.
Talk to your GP

Have you seen a physio? I developed awful lower back and hip pain after my c section in 2017, eventually got to a physio last year who told me I'd got a herniated disc and had been trying to walk around on it for years... It's slow going for the recovery but I have definitely noticed improvement in my mobility since visiting the physio regularly - could be worth a try? Good luck!

Yes I've also suffered with chronic back pain since having an epidural and c-sec back in 2017.
Never had back problems before this.
I've seen physios and a spinal consultant. I was given facet joint injections which helped for a few months but then the effect seem to wear off. I'm now waiting for a procedure called radio frequency ablation. Hoping it helps as chronic pain is very deliberating and I hate constantly complaining about my bad back.
Pain is worse in the morning when I get up, I'm stiff and in pain and I feel like I'm 100yrs old for a good few hours until the painkillers kick in!
Hope you find a solution x

Permanent back pain after an epidural or spinal block is a common side effect. Surprised they did not warn you before giving it to you.

So what might work is medication for chronic nerve/neuropathic pain like amitriptyline. Physio and such won’t do anything because there’s nothing wrong with your back. The bundle of nerves in the spinal cord have been damaged and are giving off pain signals.

I had 2 epidurals in 2006 and 2010. I had light lower back pain over the years. But about 6 months ago, the pain has increased excessively. I cannot sit more than 5 minutes without having much pain at the injection site upon trying to stand up. I had not related it to the epidural, but it does not seem it could be a coincidence that the pain is in the same place. I cannot imagine living the rest of my life with this type of pain and discomfort. Very little info online. Hoping to get an appointment with an orthopedic doctor soon. Maybe he can help. Any suggestions?

The strange thing is that 11 years passed before this debilitating pain got to this stage. I told my doctor I did not want an epidural, but he said this is the only way he delivered babies. I wish now that I had fought harder for my wishes. But what is done, is done, unfortunately. I was hoping for some natural remedies to get some relief.

back pain is common after pregnancy and delivery. There is no conclusive evidence that spinals/epidural needles cause long term back pain (in fact we do epidurals to help treat long term back pain). A bit of a bruised feeling for a while after both techniques is common, perhaps more so if it’s been a tricky procedure. However, the relaxation and immobility they cause can contribute to a degree of stiffness for a while after. The very rare, serious complications of either technique would be apparent soon after delivery and would usually need urgent surgical management.

Hi i know this post is old

Would love a reply

So 5 years it will be in july. I had a 10lb baby normal delivery with an epidural.

Im 32 and i am loosing the will to live

2 new mattresses in this time, acupuncture, cupping, chiropractor (who i see every week) costing me a fortune doesnt help tbh, kinetic therapy, physio, injections, all the drugs offered .... nothing works

I go to sleep at night and i pray i wont wake around 4am with a stiff back aching i cant explain it. If i sleep on my sides my back 1 pillow 2 pillows a pillow under my knees you name it ive bought every pillow going! I am sat with a massager on my back as i write. Gens machine being another ... its getting worse. Next would be the abasal radiation however im currently trying for baby number 3 ... lord help me maybe ig could cure me ... (wishful thinking) drs dont care no one listens. My manager said i should claim however 3 years you have so im out so if your in the 3 years get claiming!! Its deatroying my life! If i have a bad night/morning with my back it affects me all day. Im of healthy weight i lift weights i go to the gym! What the hell is wrong as ive had MRI xrays and they all say same thing i have a model spine! But yet the back of an 100 year old. Even if you went out for a few drinks come home go to bed and your child free and want to relax in bed ..... no im up at crack of dawn :( hope some one replys

Hi!
I’m pretty much in the same boat! I had the most awful epidural about 2 years ago and I’ve had chronic backache since. I’d describe mines as coming from the muscle spasm in my glute. All my mris came back perfect but I’m crippled with pain! I take painkillers constantly. No amount of stretching will keep it under control. I’ve seen osteopaths physios chiropractors u name it but the whole right hand side of my body is so tight. Doctors don’t want to know it’s soul destroying! I’m at my whitts end too! If you get anything that works let me know 💔 praying for ya xx

Its horrible, my only advice i can give you if your 2 years in is put a claim in, unsure were your from but uk - nhs. Im way past that. Im currently 21 weeks pregnant and i cant wait for it to be over because upon my back problem mixed with pregnany is ruining my life wven more 😭 i bought a back masager and sit with that on my back in the morning to try to ease the muscles. I cant take any painkillers now and found none worked ill be honest. I dont think it will ever go away and its just about managing which is a load of shite tbh but ive just kind of faced facts but im 100 percent convinced its due to that epidural! So even if it kills me giving birth i wont be having that. Ill pray for you too ❤️ when ive had baby im going to try the radiation abalation (unsure on spelling) basically burn the nerve endings so it wont send signals to the brain so i will come back to you on that one and finally may have an answer xxx

Good luck with radio frequency ablation. I tried that a year and half ago and I didn't find any comfort, the procedure was very painful. My epidural was 26 years ago. The doc seemed to have some issues inserting the needle but denied any of it after birth. My pain is constant and affects my every day life. Doing dishes, cooking dinner, etc. The worse part is after all this time, the years go by, the pain has grown so much worse and intense. I've actually been trying epidurals and no relief. Physical therapy provides no relief. And I'm not sure what to do. Lost 50 pounds this year to see if that would help and it hasn't. I'm now 150 pounds. I don't think I can continue life like this. And I don't feel my doctor believes me. I'll pray for you. Please pray for me.

I should add that I use a tens unit and that can lower the level of pain for about 30 to 45 minutes. Maybe try that

I found my way here looking for advice on whether a spinal block can cause sciatica, trapped nerve back pain. I had gynae surgery in 2002 and had an epidural to supposedly treat pain after woke up from the general anaesthetic. But I was only numb on one side of my body and in the weeks that followed i began to get severe symptoms of a trapped nerve. Pain in my butt and down my right leg, so severe i couldn't climb stairs. over 20 years later I still have persistent back pain that no physio, yoga, or homeopathy has helped with. I'm certain it was due to that epidural. But most advice on the Internet says otherwise.

I’m convinced the spinal/epidural does cause back pain , sciatica because since I made this post, my pain hasn’t gone away and Ive been to oestopaths, and they can’t tell me what it is and just give me exercises to do but the relief is momentary, within a hour I’m in pain again