Could there be a link with Epidural and ongoing back pain?

Just wondered really.

The epidural was without doubt the worst bit of my emergency c-section and it took them ages to get it in and I was in a considerable amount of pain (despite them continuously injecting anaesthetic in to me). I can still remember the awful feeling - like them jabbing needles in to my bones!

After my section, I not only was in pain with my scar but also my back was still killing me - I couldn't sleep on either my back or front! I had to be prescribed Tramadol for the back pain for the first few weeks.

Anyway, fast forward to 16 months later and I still suffer with back pain. Its odd as its not constant - I tend to wake up in the morning (sometimes at silly o'clock) in a lot of discomfort which means I have to get up out of bed as I just cannot find a comfortable position that doesn't hurt my back. But within about 15-30 mins of getting up and about it feels almost totally fine again. So its almost like its seizing up in the night when I am not moving around and then stops when I start moving around. I wondered if it could be a problem with our bed but I have still had the same problem when I have been on holiday or sleeping in our spare room bed.

Could there be a link to this random back pain and the epidural? It just seems that my pain is in the exact same place. I know the answer is to probably see someone about it but it just hasn't really seemed worth it so far seeing as it goes away again so quickly. But the early wake ups are starting to grate on me, I would love to be able to lay in now and again (often I am forced to get up way before Lily has even woken up!).

Thanks for any advice

Casa x

I was told that there was a link between epidurals and back pain by my midwife. However the research had suggested that you lay in a weird position when you have the epidural and damage your back that way rather than the epidural doing it IYSWIM? Because your back is numb it can not send the warning signals that you are damaging it. Not sure how true it is as I haven't researched it myself but HTH for the back pain.

As a bad back sufferer for many years I was worried about having an epidural because I have read quite a lot about the fact that many women experience bad pain after having one, I ended up having an emergency c-section and my back has got a lot worse since then, although I have also had a hernia since being pregnant so that doesn't help with my posture.  Many years ago my mum had an epidural for a back operation she had to have and she was warned then that it can make back pain worse.  I see a chiropractor regularly now which does help, doesn't ease it completely but definately helps, might be worth a visit.

Thanks all, sounds like it could be worth a trip to the doctors then. Or is that pointless, do I just need to see a chiropractor?

Hi!

 I too have had back pain since an epidural. Sounds very similar to you - pain when lying down in bed, sometimes the pain would wake me up - it was only when I slept on my back and I would try to sleep on my side but sometimes must have rolled when asleep and then the pain would wake me. 

After a few months I went to the GP, he was very nice and referred me for physio but nonsensed my query that could it be to do with the epidural.  He said it was more likely from lifting the baby around. 

Anyway, I had a course of 6 physio sessions and I don't have the problem any more, touch wood! I still believe it was related to the epidural, whatever the GP said though! As it was in exactly that spot. 

x

I would go and see your GP, they should give you some physio, for some reason my GP wont and makes us pay for a private chiropractor.  Good Luck, hopefully they will be able to sort you out. x

I am exactly the same! 17 months in my back is aching every morning. But I am also starting to have really sore hips in the morning as well :( not sure if it is related or not.

Hope you get sorted

I have to go to the doctors this week anyway so I will mention it to them and see what they say.

Thanks for all the replies - I am going to make a doctors appointment today.

clarel90 - let me know how you get on, hope you get something sorted.