Epidural Shot..YUCK!!

[mary.mary]

OK!!

So, today I had my shot. Let me explain my day...

I was at the hospital for 630am, they hooked me up to an IV, the nurse came in with the dr, they told me to lay on my side with my knees bent, they put the freezing in, YUCK!! Then the dr put the needle in with the steroid/pain med/freezing stuff etc.. then I hear oops, I guess he hit the wrong something and it caused some fluid to leak, NO IDEA!! At that point, he said ok he is going to do it again, he did and then I had to roll back on my back and let him know when my legs started to lose feeling etc...5 minutes later, NOTHING!! At that point another dr walks in and says OH, it didn't work, Ok I will do it this time...aparently the other dr was a STUDENT!! GREAT!!

After the 3rd attempt it was a success, not soon aftwewards the headache I got was CRAZY!! I wasn't allowed to leave until I got the feeling back into my leg and the headache calmed down....they gave me a shot of demerol and told me to go home and RELAX!! To drink lots of caffeine and it should help the headache...

Well, here I am now and the headache is still there, if I lay down the headache isn't too bad, BUT if I sit up, OH GOSH!!

I called my family dr and they told me to keep an eye on it and if it isn't any better to call the Pain Clinic in the a.m. WHY IN THE HECK IS THIS HAPPENING??

Does ANYONE have ANY advice for me?? THIS SUX!!

Mary

[Katie]

As far as I know, it happened because of the fluid leaking. Someone else can correct me though, if necessary. Dr. J??

I had an epidural during labour with my first child. It was given by an old fart who should not have been practicing anymore. He only froze HALF of my body, and I still had labour pains in the right side. ARG! This was after a 21 hour labour....I was not amused. And he didn't correct it, for whatever reason.

Interestingly enough, I was told afterward to not sit up for almost 24 hours, or else I would get the mother of all headaches....they even gave me a bedpan to make sure I stayed horizontal.

Seems like they didn't give you that little piece of information.

Don't let this go on too long...I would call the pain clinic or hospital sooner if it gets bad.

[Justin]

Click on this link: Epidural Steroid Injections

This is from the webpage above.

What are the risks of the procedure?

The main risk that occurs at a rate of approximately 1/100 is the risk of a dural puncture. (This rate is higher in patients who have had previous back surgery). A dural puncture occurs when the needle is unintentionally advanced one layer beyond the epidural space and punctures the membrane that surrounds spinal fluid. If this occurs there is a risk of developing a spinal headache, which may be severe and may last for days. There is a procedure (epidural blood patch) that can treat the headache if it occurs and does not improve sufficiently in 48 hours.

Other risks are remote but include bleeding, infection, nerve injury and allergic reaction to the medication.

Some short-term side effects may occur. If local anesthetic spreads to nearby nerves you may have weakness or numbness that can last for 1 - 2 hours. If this happens you will have to stay in the Pain Management Center until this resolves. You may have increased pain for a few days after the injection. Diabetics may have short-term elevation of blood sugars. People prone to fluid retention may have increased fluid retention for 1 -2 weeks.

[Katie]

Wow, you're fast Dr. J!

[Justin]

Originally Posted by Katie

Wow, you're fast Dr. J!

I just logged on! Hehe. I just got off of the phone with someone from Chile around my age with similar back problems and I thought I'd check the board.

[mary.mary]

THANK YOU Dr.J for explaining to me what it was I was experiencing, this is for sure not fun, THANKFULLY I have a laptop and an AMAZING friend here to help me with Amiah. PHEW!!

I am heading to bed now and hoping when I wake up I will feel better!! Fingers crossed!!

Thanks again for reply to my post. Hope you have a good night!!

Mary

[Gil Denis]

Hi Mary

I just had a EPI today ,began to sweat and almost lost lunch other than that it was o.k. No headache.

I was in and out in 45 min.

Still a little numb in the buttox S-1 injection

Good Luck

Gil

[Justin]

WHY IN THE HECK IS THIS HAPPENING??

Does ANYONE have ANY advice for me?? THIS SUX!!

I'm sorry you're feeling bad. However, what you are experiencing is a known side effect of epidurals. If you lose bowel or bladder function, call your physician ASAP. Although the headache sucks, it should pass with time.

Lots of caffeine does help...I had a headache like you describe from a myelogram I had in January. (Normal, well-known side effect)

EDIT: I forgot to mention...be sure to stay well hydrated. Good luck!