Back pain after epidural anesthesia causes treatment

Epidural anesthesia is widely used in abdominal surgery, plastic surgery, and especially often in obstetrics and gynecology.
When an anesthetic solution is injected into the epidural space, sensitivity in the part of the body located below the puncture site disappears. So, during childbirth, the procedure is performed for the pelvic region, and an anesthetic solution is injected between the vertebrae in the lumbar region. After it is performed, some patients, in particular women in labor, experience back pain. In this article we will consider in detail the questions: can my back hurt after epidural anesthesia? Is the occurrence of pain the rule or the exception? Why does she appear? How long does the pain last? What to do to alleviate the condition?

Contraindications to epidural pain relief

Epidural anesthesia, as mentioned above, is a complex process.
The danger of this procedure lies not only in the fact that the spinal area is affected during medical manipulations. The effect of the drug itself on the body can negatively affect the patient's condition. Some opiates that are added to a primary pain reliever can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting and sometimes hallucinations. It is strictly forbidden to perform epidural anesthesia if the patient:

• presence of bacteria in the blood (bacteremia);
• the presence of inflammatory diseases;
• poor blood clotting;
• lesion or infection of the skin in the area of ​​the puncture;
• heart failure;
• diseases of the central nervous system and spinal cord;
• scoliosis;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• excess weight;
• allergy to anesthetic.

In most cases, even with an intervertebral hernia, epidural anesthesia is allowed. The injection needle is inserted on the other side of the damaged intervertebral discs. This procedure does not affect their condition in any way.

Epidural patches

When medications do not help and the post-puncture headache becomes more intense, experts suggest that the patient receive an epidural.

patch. This should be done by an anesthesiologist. A little blood is taken from the patient’s vein; it will act as a kind of filling. Blood is injected in the same way into the spinal space of the spine, where it coagulates and eventually clogs the hole in the tissue. The cerebrospinal fluid stops leaking and the headache stops.

After this procedure, headaches most often disappear within 24 hours. If this does not happen, doctors perform the procedure a second time to achieve the desired effect.

A contraindication to the installation of an epidural patch may be the patient's elevated body temperature. In addition, the patient may experience some serious complications after this procedure:

• infectious processes;
• bleeding;
• disturbances in motor activity of the lower body;
• back pain.

An epidural patch helps only in half of the cases the first time, but a repeated one gives almost 100% effect. After installing the patch, the patient is recommended to lie still for at least 12 hours, and in the first two weeks not to strain or lift anything heavy.

Causes of pain after anesthesia

After an epidural, your lower back hurts for a variety of reasons. Firstly, any intervention, including invasive ones, can cause adverse reactions. An epidural punctures tissue near the spinal column. The answer to the question of whether your back can hurt after epidural anesthesia is obvious in this case. Pain is a completely normal reaction, but it should not bother the patient for too long.

The maximum amount of back pain after epidural anesthesia (in the absence of medical error) is several days

You should also pay attention to the nature of the pain. The pain should not be intense, but rather dull and mild, as with any other injection procedure

No medications or additional measures are required; the discomfort disappears on its own.

Secondly, the situation is much more serious if the injection site becomes infected. The reason is the medical staff’s failure to comply with the rules of asepsis and antisepsis (use of non-sterile instruments, poor treatment of the injection field, etc.). This doesn't happen often. Infection can also occur if the catheter is left in place for too long (several days).

Bacterial infection is accompanied not only by pain, but also by other signs of inflammation: redness and swelling of the skin, fever, and deterioration of the condition in general. Hyperthermia, dizziness, and severe headache appear. The condition is fraught with the possibility of developing an abscess or sepsis. In this case, emergency medical attention is required, as very serious complications (generalized infection) may develop. Treatment consists of surgery, antibiotics and other drugs.

Pain after an epidural may occur due to medical error

The lower back hurts more severely in patients with intervertebral hernias, although the disease is not a contraindication to pain relief. Also, the back may hurt due to irritation by the anesthetic of the nerves located at the site of intervention. These conditions do not require specific treatment.

The psychological factor also plays a significant role. The patient realizes that a rather serious manipulation is being performed, expects severe pain, stresses himself out and ultimately experiences discomfort. Sedatives help solve the problem. Such patients may complain that their neck, head, back and even internal organs hurt. At the same time, the doctor should not ignore the listed complaints, but must make sure that there are really no complications.

If the cause of the pain is never identified, the discomfort is called idiopathic pain. It goes away on its own after some time. As for women who used an epidural for labor pain relief, their discomfort was caused not so much by anesthesia, but by the load on the entire skeleton caused by pregnancy and childbirth.

Duration of pain syndrome

How long your back hurts after an epidural depends on a number of factors. Some patients do not feel any discomfort, others complain of shooting or aching pain. If the cause of the pain is a catheter or needle, the discomfort should disappear after 1-3 days. If the patient cannot tolerate it, the specialist selects an analgesic in tablets or injectable form.

Other causes of pain, unfortunately, cause the problem to persist for several weeks or even months. In this case, a comprehensive examination is prescribed to clarify the provoking factor, and only then a set of therapeutic measures is selected.

No ads 3

Indications for use

Epidural anesthesia requires high professionalism of the anesthesiologist, because any incorrect action is fraught with serious consequences for the entire body. This is one of the good reasons why you need to carefully weigh all the risks and the need for such a procedure.

The most common cases of using this method of pain relief in obstetrics are:

• premature onset of labor;
• caesarean section according to indications, which was prescribed as planned;
• high uterine tone;
• low pain threshold in women;
• multiple pregnancy;
• protracted labor process, unforeseen difficulties during childbirth;
• high blood pressure;
• high concentration of protein in the urine.

There is no need to be afraid for the fetus, because epidural anesthesia does not have a negative effect on the intrauterine body. During the process of childbirth, the woman feels well, without feeling pain, but at the same time, movements at this moment are not limited, the patient can move freely.

Pain relief during childbirth: the many faces of truth

Frankly, I share the indignation of cruelly injured mothers about insensitive doctors, childbirth, similar to torture, and the humiliation of women in our healthcare! And they don’t know everything yet; we, as doctors, know much more, and that makes us even more painful and scared. This is what made us decide to practice a different kind of obstetrics, and to do this, turn to the roots, to tradition. Believe me, it is very difficult to officially practice obstetrics in our country with an individual, humane and gentle approach. With pain relief everything is much better.

Unfortunately or fortunately, you, dear Kira and Olga, are simply not aware of the complexity of this topic - pain management in obstetrics. If you were simply blissfully unaware, I wouldn’t try to dissuade you. However, you, without knowing it, preach dangerous things and publicly accuse us of deliberate cruelty. So I'll have to answer. Those who wish to remain with their not very competent opinion may not read further.

Are we opposed to epidural anesthesia? Tell me, are you for or against prosthetic legs for disabled people? Are you for or against bifocal glasses for the visually impaired? Are you a supporter of the use of blood substitutes or an opponent? What stupid questions! Those who need it should have it, right? Or in a normal, “non-savage” country should all this be offered or imposed on all citizens without exception? It's exactly the same with anesthesia: those few who really need it should have it. Well, really, believe me: not everyone experiences unbearable pain during childbirth, but some people don’t feel pain at all! Measuring the humanity and civilization of a state by the abundance of anesthesia during childbirth is about the same as judging it by how widely powerful antibiotics are used there for a runny nose.

It just seems like they gave you anesthesia - and all your problems are solved: you lie there, feeling nothing, and when the time comes for the baby to be born, you give birth. In fact, the following almost always happens: under the influence of epidural anesthesia, contractions become weaker, and they have to be strengthened with the help of oxytocin. Synthetic oxytocin administered intravenously causes a rhythm of contractions that is unnatural for the mother and child, which leads to the child’s suffering (less oxygen is supplied to him during the contraction) and his traumatic progress through the mother’s birth canal (her tissues do not have time to stretch). In addition, the mother is immobilized (and often the amniotic sac has already been opened), which is why the baby is less able to correctly insert the head into the opening of the mother’s pelvis). Very often, with this anesthesia, pushing does not occur on its own, and the mother does not feel her body enough to push voluntarily. Then the child is “squeezed” out of the mother’s body by pressing on the stomach (this technique is prohibited in Europe). Thus, the pressure on the child’s cervical vertebrae, already significant, increases. Here I advise you to refer to the book of the famous pediatric neurologist Prof. A. Ratner “Neurology of Newborns,” which shows the connection between obstetric manipulations and their consequences in the form of a birth injury to the baby’s cervical spine (this wonderful book is available for reading on the Internet). Since the mother’s tissues do not stretch at their own pace, an incision is made in the perineum to avoid severe tears. Calculate the number of medical interventions yourself. Make no mistake: there will be no pain relief alone followed by a natural course of the process. The birth will be a medical-technological delivery until the end.

If you do epidural anesthesia according to the rules, then you need to master the art of applying it at the right time: not too early and not too late. In a healthy woman, the transitional period of contractions, at the dilation stage of 8–10 cm, is very often accompanied by the feeling “I can’t do it anymore.” Mothers require anesthesia, but it cannot be done at this moment: it will be impossible for the mother to push the child out. The woman here needs a little more patience - the child will be born very soon.

I am ready to remind you again and again: childbirth is not a passive process of your perception of medical intervention, but a mother’s birth of her child. Childbirth is not a medical procedure, but a phenomenon of sexual life (this is not a metaphor, from the point of view of hormonal balance and necessary conditions, this is true). The fact that medical attention is sometimes required does not change the essence. Mass appeal to medicine during childbirth and the widespread use of obstetric interventions are just a cultural stereotype, not a necessity.

Now about the benefits and risks. Epidural anesthesia should not be treated as a service. This medical intervention is more comparable to spinal cord surgery than to a cosmetic procedure such as liposuction. Even with the current reliable, safe and armed to the teeth medical technology, there can be a large number of complications, and for two people. It’s not surprising, because even a simple cough medicine, even a headache pill can be dangerous (read the instructions!) Therefore, these operations during childbirth must be decided upon, choosing the lesser of two evils, and not produce for everyone and not serve “to order” like a dish in a restaurant. By the way, doctors know this very well, so before these interventions you will be asked to sign a document reflecting your consent to them, as well as the fact that you have been warned about possible complications. There are situations where epidural anesthesia can be beneficial and life-saving.

Back pain due to complications of regional anesthesia

Complications when following the technique of epidural and spinal anesthesia are quite rare. They may be associated with incorrect determination of indications and contraindications for manipulation, as well as with the exacerbation of pre-existing problems.

• Postpuncture syndrome most often occurs after spinal anesthesia, but can also develop after epidural if the dura mater was damaged during the manipulation. At the same time, through the hole in it, part of the cerebrospinal fluid flows into the epidural space, resulting in the development of liquor hypotension. The main manifestation of post-puncture syndrome is severe headache, especially when standing. Pain in the back usually does not bother patients.
• An epidural hematoma can result from unintentional injury to a vessel during epidural or spinal anesthesia, but most often occurs in patients with reduced blood clotting. That is why regional anesthesia is not necessary in the presence of coagulopathy. In this case, on the first day after the manipulation, the spine and muscles at the injection site begin to ache, then, as the hematoma grows, neurological symptoms associated with compression of the spinal roots may appear: numbness or paresthesia in the legs, muscle weakness, disturbances in urination and defecation, manifestations, similar to cauda equina syndrome. Treatment for this complication should be started as early as possible.

Blood clotting disorders can cause complications such as epidural hematoma

• Cauda equina syndrome can develop as a result of an epidural hematoma or damage to nerve fibers when the technique of spinal anesthesia is violated. In this case, severe pain is felt at the injection site, which spreads along the nerve roots, usually to the leg. In addition, there is urinary retention or urinary incontinence, constipation or, on the contrary, involuntary passage of gas and feces. If clinical signs of cauda equina syndrome appear after regional anesthesia, emergency treatment is required.
• Unintentional damage to the ligaments of the intervertebral joint and muscle spasm as a reaction to manipulation trauma can also cause back pain due to epidural anesthesia. It is rarely strong and long-lasting, and if the load on the spine is rational, it goes away spontaneously. How long the discomfort associated with a ligament injury or muscle spasm can last, and how long the healing will take, depends on compliance with the motor regimen and the level of load on the spine.

Slight pain at the injection site 1-2 days after epidural anesthesia is normal; severe pain combined with numbness or weakness in the legs and other unusual symptoms is a sign of complications requiring urgent treatment.

No matter how many times epidural anesthesia is performed on a patient with a healthy spine, provided the manipulation technique is followed, no problems will arise. But diseases and syndromes that previously existed in a latent form can manifest themselves.

Possible complications

Anesthesia is administered by an experienced anesthesiologist, observing all necessary precautions and carefully monitoring the patient's condition. But this does not completely exclude the occurrence of side effects or complications. According to statistics, they occur in one out of 23 thousand cases and represent the following situations:
• Headaches and back pain that go away within a few days. Sometimes the pain continues for several months or years.
• The risk of epidural hematoma during coagulopathy and puncture of the venous plexus.
• In one out of twenty cases, after administration of the drug, incomplete pain relief occurs.
• Incorrect technique of the procedure, as a result of which the dura mater is damaged, which causes headache and back pain. If the needle penetrates deeply, the drug can enter the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and cause a “high block” with disturbances in the functioning of the heart and breathing.
• Very rarely, temporary loss of sensation in the lower half of the body occurs.

Article on the topic: Detailed instructions for using chondroitin ointment

Consequences after epidural anesthesia

One of the most common consequences of such a procedure is back pain, which can occur:

• during anesthesia;
• in a week or two;
• after a few months (years).

The back may hurt only due to the fact that the dura mater of the spinal cord was punctured with a needle and a small amount of fluid penetrated into the epidural space. The syndrome is treated only with medication. In some cases, the puncture is repeated and the patient's own blood is then injected to seal the puncture.

In addition to the fact that your back may hurt, there is a possibility of other manifestations:

1. Allergy. If the patient has never experienced anesthesia before, a predisposition may occur. As a result, sometimes anaphylactic shock develops, which will lead to disruption of the functioning of important organs. To eliminate this possibility, a small dose of anesthesia is first administered during the procedure.
2. The rarest consequence is difficulty breathing. This reaction is the result of the effects of drugs on the nerve endings that follow the intercostal muscles.
3. Low blood pressure, causing vomiting and nausea. To prevent such consequences, an IV is placed before the procedure. After inserting the catheter, it is recommended to lie down for a while.
4. Problems with the bladder and urination (hypotonia).

Without taking into account the above complications, paralysis of the lower extremities is also possible.

Three myths associated with this type of anesthesia

The method is completely safe if the procedure is performed by an experienced anesthesiologist. But there are at least three myths among patients that are associated with this type of pain relief, and they need to be dispelled.

1. Many people believe that after such anesthesia paralysis can occur. Undoubtedly, there is a possibility of such a turn of events, but it is extremely small. An experienced specialist will not make a fatal mistake that could lead to paralysis.
2. The pain at the catheter insertion site will not go away. Yes, your back will hurt for the first time after such anesthesia. But it hurts for everyone, and soon the discomfort will disappear.
3. They say that such anesthesia leads to the appearance of tumors. This is not true. The connection between this method of pain relief and the development of tumors has not been scientifically proven. The maximum that awaits the patient is a hematoma, which will resolve over time.

Epidural anesthesia is completely safe

Other methods of pain relief

There are a large number of anesthesia techniques, each of which has its own indications and contraindications. They differ in the degree of impact on the central nervous system and the area of ​​application.

General

Anesthesia, or general anesthesia, is a technique that is widely used in surgery. It most effectively blocks the transmission of nerve impulses, but is accompanied by complete depression of the patient’s consciousness.

Spinal

The technique for performing this anesthesia is similar to the technique for performing an epidural block. However, the drug is injected deeper - into the subarachnoid space formed by the arachnoid membrane and the spinal cord. This makes it possible to more effectively reduce the passage of the nerve impulse, but the risk of complications when performing such a procedure is much higher.

Local infiltration

Local anesthesia is advisable when performing minor surgical interventions, for example, removing cellulitis and abscesses. The anesthetic is injected into the fatty tissue under the skin directly at the incision site.

Conductor

This anesthesia is a type of local anesthesia. Indications for the procedure are the same. The difference is that the medicine is injected into the area where the nerve passes, innervating the surgical site. Thanks to this, it is possible to temporarily stop the transmission of pain impulses through it.

Terminal

This technique involves blocking the transmission of pain impulses at the level of nerve endings. It is most often used for minor interventions on the mucous membranes. To numb them, the anesthetic is simply sprayed onto the surface.

Prevention

Preventive measures are as follows:

• you should keep your weight within normal limits through nutritional correction - this is especially true for pregnant women, since large body weight is considered a high risk of complications;
• strengthening the back muscles with the help of exercise therapy elements;
• regular examinations (dispensary examination);
• choosing a qualified specialist to carry out the procedure;
• refusal to lift weights (applies to women).

It is important to remember that preventing the development of pathology is much easier than later dealing with its manifestations. After all, restoring the functioning of the musculoskeletal system can sometimes be quite difficult.

Causes of pain after epidural anesthesia

The spine and back may hurt after an epidural for a number of reasons. This method of anesthesia is used during various operations, not just during childbirth, so the injection can be given in different areas of the spine. For women in labor, an injection is given in the lumbar region. As a result, the lower back may be quite painful when the anesthetic effect wears off.

Short-term and not too intense pain in the spine is a natural reaction to tissue damage as a result of manipulations to install a catheter

In this case, the pain should go away on its own within a few days.

But in some cases, painful sensations do not go away on their own, but only become more intense over time. The reason for this may be infection. Getting an infection into the tissue directly when a needle is inserted is very rare, but if the catheter is not removed for 4 days or more, then the likelihood of infection increases.

The following symptoms may indicate an infectious infection:

• severe back pain;
• dizziness and headaches;
• heart rhythm disturbance;
• increase in body temperature.

When an infection occurs, acute inflammatory processes begin in the body. In this case, serious complications may develop: purulent epiduritis and abscess. This can be avoided only by timely measures taken. In some cases, surgery is possible, but is usually only required if medication has not produced the desired results.

Some patients develop idiopathic pain, the cause of which lies in the psychological mood of the patient.

If a person is afraid of the consequences of an epidural, his fears and doubts can cause painful sensations based on nerves.

Sometimes back pain is not associated with epidural anesthesia, although it occurs after it. In this case, the examination allows you to identify the real causes of discomfort; you just need to consult a doctor. Such situations are most often encountered by women after childbirth. During pregnancy and at the time of childbirth, a woman’s body experiences an increased load on the spine, which leads to back pain, and the woman mistakenly associates their occurrence with the use of epidural anesthesia.

Medical errors

Back pain after epidural anesthesia may be the result of an anesthesiologist error. This happens rarely, but the statistics are still available. The doctor may have pierced the wrong place, which is facilitated by a lack of experience and knowledge. Getting into the epidural space is not easy. Due to the doctor’s inaccuracy, blood vessels, nerve formations, ligaments, and intervertebral hernias may be affected.

The anesthesiologist may touch a dense venous network, which happens very rarely. No special intervention is required, the pain will disappear on its own. However, the risk of injury is increased among individuals taking circulatory agents and in patients with coagulopathy. The doctor can also touch a hernia or damage the ligaments if there is a lack of experience in performing such manipulations. That is why anesthesia is usually performed only by experienced specialists with a “tactical hand”.

Pain may result from damage to the nerve roots. The range of side effects varies depending on the site of invasion, the depth of needle insertion, the nature of the injection and other factors. In this case, the patient experiences neurological disorders, paresthesia, pain, etc.

If you have pain, you should consult a doctor again

Indications and contraindications

The main reasons for using epidural anesthesia are stated above, but it is worth talking directly about the indications and contraindications of this method. For example, in relation to childbirth, indications may include:

• the patient has excessive pain or a low pain threshold;
• C-section;
• lack of air in a child;
• a large number of fruits;
• discoordination of labor;
• protein in urine;
• the presence of serious pathologies in the expectant mother;
• incorrect position of the baby.

About the indications for
this type of anesthesia is also prescribed if surgery is required on the lower extremities or digestive organs and it is necessary to eliminate muscle spasms and reduce blood loss.

How is epidural anesthesia performed during childbirth?

However, anesthesia is prohibited if:

• inflammatory processes inside the spinal column;
• heart problems;
• scoliosis;
• bacteremia, that is, the content of bacteria in the blood;
• pathologies of the nervous system;
• suppuration and rashes on the skin;
• allergic reactions to the drug;
• low blood clotting.

Poor blood clotting
One of the advantages of the method is that it can be performed in some cases even in the presence of an intervertebral hernia. The procedure will not have a negative impact on the condition of the discs.

Left – injection into the epidural space

How to relieve pain and who to turn to?

If after epidural anesthesia your back hurts and the pain does not go away, you should contact a neurologist, osteopath or therapist. Complete elimination of pain is possible only if the true cause of its occurrence is discovered. To do this, diagnostics are carried out using electroneuromyography, which shows any abnormalities in the functioning of the spinal cord, and MRI, which determines abnormalities in the structure of the vertebrae and the spinal canal.

After diagnostic measures have been carried out and the cause of pain has been identified, treatment is carried out based on the use of the following measures:
• Restoring the physiological mobility of the affected spine using osteopathy, taking into account the indications and contraindications for this type of procedure.
• Helps restore damaged nerve tissue. If the use of medications is impossible (during breastfeeding), magnetic stimulation is used, but modern medications significantly accelerate regenerative processes and promote full recovery.
• In case of serious postpartum disorders - pelvic disorders and paraparesis, the decision on drug treatment is made together with the patient, and it will be necessary to refuse breastfeeding.
• If purulent formations form in the puncture area, surgical intervention is performed to prevent further spread of the infection.

How to use therapeutic exercises to improve the physical condition of a lumbar hernia - read here. Here is an effective therapeutic complex that can be used to eliminate pain from a hernia of the cervical spine.

After childbirth using epidural anesthesia, if you experience persistent pain in the back, it is recommended to visit a chiropractor who solves the following problems:

• Eliminates pain.
• Restores the natural position of the joints of the spine, restoring their natural mobility.
• Improves the functioning of the muscular and ligamentous apparatus, systems and internal organs.

In most cases, pain after epidural anesthesia goes away on its own and no medical intervention is required, although a specialist may recommend pain medications. Reducing the load on the back, correct posture, performing a set of special exercises and following a diet that allows you to control normal body weight will help you completely get rid of the consequences of this type of pain relief.

What it is?

Epidural anesthesia or epidural anesthesia is a method of effective pain relief, during which certain analgesic substances are injected using a thin catheter into the spinal canal area. The substances administered are ketamine, lidocaine and others that have a local effect. The effect of this procedure is simple from a medical point of view - nerve impulses do not reach one of the main centers of the nervous system - the spinal cord. Also, all the patient’s muscles relax – a muscle relaxation effect occurs. In this case, the patient is aware of what is happening, that is, he is fully conscious, but does not experience any unpleasant sensations or even pain.

Epidural anesthesia

This form of pain relief can be used:

• during the birth of a child;
• during caesarean section;
• as an additional method of pain relief during standard anesthesia;
• to eliminate pain after surgery;
• as an analgesic with local action during plastic or urological operations.

Epidural and spinal anesthesia: what is the difference?
The most well-known use of the method is to provide assistance during labor. The pain experienced by a woman during this period is considered one of the most severe variations of the pain syndrome.

The principle of anesthesia

Epidural anesthesia can be performed on any part of the spinal column, depending on the need and the location of the surgical intervention. The spine itself is a complex structure consisting of a large number of vertebrae interconnected through intervertebral discs and a number of other elements. The structure of each vertebra is such that there is a hole in its middle part. A whole series of these holes, “stacked” on top of each other, form a long spinal canal, inside of which the spinal cord is located. In the lumbar region it passes into the spinal cord.

Epidural anesthesia during pregnancy

Table. Methods for determining the venue.

The drug must be injected into the correct place

Features of the procedure

Spinal anesthesia is most often used to relieve pain during childbirth, during caesarean section, and during various gynecological operations. However, this type of anesthesia has found application not only in obstetric and gynecological practice, but also in urological surgery, thoracic, plastic, etc.

Epidural anesthesia is performed using various medications. The procedure is performed by an anesthesiologist. The puncture site is treated with an antiseptic, then an anesthetic drug is injected into the epidural space using a special needle. The anesthetic effect is to reduce the sensitivity of pain receptors in a certain area of ​​the body.

Punctures are made in different parts of the spine: from the cervical to the lumbar region. Localization depends on where you want to achieve a decrease in sensitivity. So, in order to relieve pain during labor, an injection is given in the lumbar region. Women quite often complain that their back hurts after epidural anesthesia. Doctors say that this phenomenon is temporary. When performing anesthesia, there is a risk of damage to the hard shell of the spinal cord by the needle, so the manipulation is performed only by certified anesthesiologists.

When providing obstetric and gynecological care, epidural anesthesia is prescribed in the following cases:

• C-section;
• early birth;
• arterial hypertension;
• prolonged labor;
• proteinuria;
• excessive labor;
• low pain threshold.

Epidural anesthesia is often used to aid labor and caesarean sections.

Women have back pain for the first time after spinal anesthesia; anesthesia itself does not affect the fetus in any way. The peculiarity of this anesthesia is that the patient does not lose the ability to move. Anesthesia may also be required for patients with musculoskeletal disorders (sciatica, intervertebral hernia, etc.). The manipulation must be carried out very carefully, since a bacterial infection can join local inflammation.

No ads 1

To avoid adverse consequences, the patient is examined for contraindications.

Back pain after spinal anesthesia: what to do

There are situations when your back hurts after spinal anesthesia; we will discuss what to do in this case and how to get rid of the pain later in the article. Spinal anesthesia is a complex procedure and requires the concentration and skill of the doctor performing the procedure. But sometimes, even with the ideal work of the anesthesiologist, the spine hurts severely after spinal anesthesia. This syndrome is associated with concomitant pathologies in 95% of cases. Yes, there are 5% who attribute it to cauda equina syndrome. In this case, unsuccessful needle insertion damages the lower spinal cord. But this happens extremely rarely.

Why does my lower back hurt after spinal anesthesia?

First you need to figure out if the injection site may hurt. This happens very often. This type of anesthesia uses a long needle that is inserted into the spine. This creates a hole in the lining of the spinal cord. Therefore, pain is completely understandable and natural. In such cases, the pain lasts for several days. The pain will be rather aching, without attacks. Sometimes a hematoma develops at the injection site. Then the unpleasant sensations can last until it goes away.

This effect can occur with a spinal hernia, about which the patient previously knew nothing.

There may be a tingling sensation at the time of injection. This is a manifestation of the effect of anesthesia, it will pass in a couple of minutes.

Don't forget about the psychological factor. Self-hypnosis and fear are terrible things that can ruin your life. In the absence of pathologies and a correctly performed manipulation, there should be no pain, and this is what you should count on.

Separately, it is worth mentioning caesarean sections. As a rule, the back hurts after spinal anesthesia during cesarean section, not because of incorrectly performed manipulation, but because the spine experienced a colossal load during pregnancy, and after childbirth it disappeared. It takes time for the spine to adapt to new conditions. Such pain is possible for several months, then it goes away on its own.

Treatment

To prescribe treatment, the cause must be determined. Perhaps everything will go away on its own in a couple of days. In rare cases, ibuprofen is prescribed. It relieves inflammation and calms pain. Its analogue, Nurofen, is also suitable. If there is no inflammation at the injection site, then warm compresses can be used.

When a wound becomes infected, immediate treatment with antibiotics is necessary.

When it comes to cauda equina syndrome, treatment is selected individually for a specific case. Both conservative methods and surgical interventions are possible.

Conclusion

After spinal anesthesia, pain is possible. In most cases, they go away on their own within a couple of days. If the pain is severe, ibuprofen or warm compresses are prescribed.

I created this project to tell you in simple language about anesthesia and anesthesia. If you received an answer to your question and the site was useful to you, I will be glad to receive support; it will help further develop the project and compensate for the costs of its maintenance.

Causes of pain

Pain in the spine and back after epidural anesthesia can occur for many reasons. This anesthesia is performed during various operations, and not just during cesarean section; therefore, the injection is given in different parts of the spine. For those giving birth, the injection is administered into the lumbar region. This can cause your back to be very sore after the anesthesia wears off. In this case, the pain should go away on its own after a few days.

But sometimes the pain does not go away, but only grows with renewed vigor. This happens when an infection occurs. It penetrates the tissue along with the entering needle - this happens very rarely. But if the catheter is not removed for four days or more, the risk of infection increases.

The following signs indicate infection:

• back hurts a lot;
• dizzy and headache;
• the rhythm of the heart is disrupted;
• the temperature rises.

If infection occurs, an acute inflammatory process develops in the body. This threatens with serious complications: purulent epiduritis and abscess. Such consequences can be prevented only with timely treatment. Sometimes surgery is performed, but this measure is taken when medication treatment has proven ineffective.

If a person had a vertebral hernia before such anesthesia, then pain may remain for a long time. In this situation, the injection is given without affecting the hernia, but this does not always bring relief.

Some patients suffer from idiopathic pain. Their reason lies in the psychological state of a person.

Sometimes back pain does not depend on such manipulation, despite the fact that it appears after it. In this situation, diagnosis will help to find out the real cause of the pain, so you need to visit the doctor's office. This is what women most often encounter after childbirth. Due to the enormous load on the spine throughout pregnancy and during childbirth, the back begins to hurt. But women often think that this is due to the epidural.

Where did it come from?

Spinal anesthesia was first used by several German doctors. In 1884, the anesthetic properties of cocaine when applied topically were discovered, and already in 1897, the German surgeon August Bier used a spinal needle, developed at the University of Berlin by Heinrich Quincke, to inject cocaine into the subarachnoid space. During the initial experiments, Beer and his student A. Hildebrandt, as often happened at that time, experimented on themselves and each other. Having made sure of the unambiguous effectiveness of the anesthesia obtained, the experimenters also scooped up all the “delights” of its side effects with a spoonful. These annoying effects have long held back the introduction of spinal anesthesia into widespread clinical practice. Fortunately, with the development of medical science, the improvement of medical equipment and the development of new anesthetics, the incidence of these complications has decreased significantly and spinal anesthesia, having become relatively safe, has become the main method of regional anesthesia used in the clinic today.