Epidural after discectomy

[Smoggy123]

Hi everyone - I am 12 weeks pregnant. I had an emergency spinal operation a few years ago discectomy on L3 L4. Due to circumstances It is not considered safe for me to have a natural birth - all of my children have been born by c-section under spinal. Due to the location of the operation I am being referred to an anaesthetist to see whether i will need put to sleep or spinal for my baby's birth. I am worried about this as previously they had a hard time waking me up. Has anyone had a successfully epidural or spinal after a similar operation?

Hi, OP, retired anaesthetist here. The spinal can be inserted at the L1/2 or L2/3 interspace, provided there isn’t a lot of scarring and fibrosis from the surgery making it difficult to feel the pathway through the ligaments. Your discs are located at the front of your spine, so not involved in the track of the spinal needle at the back, if you see what I mean.
I’ve spinalled several patients who’ve had previous spinal surgery, and it’s only impossible if they’ve had a spinal fusion with bone packing, so there is literally no way in through solid bone.
Have a chat with the anaesthetist at the obstetric clinic.