[Miracle]

With my last labor the anesthesiologist had a lot of trouble placing my epidural. He literally poked me over 5 times, probing around a lot. He told me that he was having a lot of trouble with my spine and that it wasn't cooperating with him.. It took him probably 3 times as long as it did with my epidural with Ella.

Right after delivery, once the epidural wore off, I had a really serious bruised tailbone which my doctor said can come from the baby hitting it hard when he/she is coming down the birth canal. I also had a really sore back which I figured was just due to bruising of the poking around for the epi. My sore back went away within a few days but my bruised tailbone didn't heal for weeks.

Today I still have tailbone pain when sitting in a certain position or for a long period of time but the thing I am the most concerned about is that I have been having serious neck stiffness/pain for the past couple of months. I didn't notice it until Cambria was a few weeks old, after my bruised tailbone was mostly healed but it is like nothing I've ever experienced. I cannot turn to look to either side without it hurting, it is even so bad that when I am having a conversation with someone and I nod to show them I am interested and understand what they're saying I have pain. It also seems like the rest of my body seems to be somewhat affected, even when I curl my toes I feel pain. I don't know if this is joint pain or what- I haven't really experienced much pain in my body in my lifetime.

I was thinking I might have a peanut allergy even though it's not typical because I have been eating crazy amounts of peanut butter since Cambria was born but then tonight I remembered my epidural experience and now I'm wondering if that's what it is.

I have heard of people having back pain but have any of you heard of severe neck pain after having an epidural?

[soImarriedAnerd]

yep it can be. I would try visiting a chiropractor to see if that helps and some Physical therapy (make sure you go to your dr and report it also!!! SO many women don't and our stats are messed up due to that). I have one girl friend who since hers her right leg gets painful or numb depending on how its positioned (usually during sex LOL). And others who have had neck/back pain for years due to one.

The tailbone is probably more the baby. Do you know if she broke it? Its VERY possible and from what your describing sounds like it could have been. the problem with those are they can't cast them. So if it heals wrong then (if its bugging you) they have to REbreak it Now if your tailbone hurts so bad your sitting funny due to that.... THAT can also cause your neck/back pain.

[LisanAndy]

I've had irreversible damage from my last epidural and refuse to ever get one again unless it's absolutely needed. I'm sorry

[Mars]

I didn't have an epidural so I cna't speak to that but I had a lot of back pain for months after delivery. My body is still somewhat out of whack. I think that you should try a chiropractor and see if he will be able to help you find some form of relief.

[LuvMyLwAaMr]

Hope you find some kind of relief stories like this are what make me more afraid of the epi than the pain from child birth

[niknok]

From the anesthesia provider's point of view, it's very unlikely your neck pain is related to your epidural. It's probably more of a need to see a chiro, and get realigned. I went to a chiro 3 times in the first two weeks after Eli's birth. My spine was SO screwed up after having 2 kids in less than 15 months. A normal physiologic change of pregnancy is for our bodies to release a hormone to "relax" our muscles that keep joints connected and tight. It does this to loosen everything up, to allow babies to pass through the pelvis. The downside is that after it's all over, this hormone is still around, and can mess your back up. My chiro taught me lots of stretching exercise to go along with my alignments. Those really helped.

Just want to add that I do believe women can have long ranging issues from epidurals. I just don't think cervical pain is related to a lumbar epidural, as in your case. I hope you get to feeling better soon!!!

[~*sierra*~]

i'm sorry i don't know for sure the statistics about the specificic problems epidurals can cause off the top of my head but i just want to send you some big hugs because i can TOTALLY relate to the neck pain you are describing. I had similar pain for well over a year due to a bulging disc in my neck. Have you had any falls or accidents lately? I fell down the stairs, that's how i injured my neck but I didn't even feel hurt until the next day (similar to a whiplash injury). Even if you just tripped and fell hard it could cause an injury. i ended up requesting an MRI from my (idiot) doctor and got the diagnosis, after which i did chiropractic & acupuncture and that really helped. i am pain free 90% of the time.

[bittersweet]

I don't know anything I could say that would be helpful except to second seeing a chiro. I know how horrible back/neck issues can be and just wanted to offer some support.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Man I loved my chiro. Saw him every other day for 2 weeks post birth! London got adjusted also while there.

[amazing_love]

That's no fun. I'm sorry and hope you're able to get some relief. I have mixed feelings about chiropractors. A lot of people i know who go to them have been going for years and i just don't see how they think it's "helping" if they still have to go after so long. But it could probably be benefitial for you if it's only a temporary thing.

I had no complications or severe side effects with my epi. It went perfectly. I had mild back pain for about a week after but it went away shortly. I guess i was lucky. Even though i had such a great experience with it i'm still thinking i'll try a birth center next time since i really disliked the hospital.

Anyway, i really hope you find something that helps!!

[.Brandi.]

With Edward, my epidural wore off constantly, they had to keep upping the dose of the medication....I don't know how but it was upped like 3 times.

With Preston, I believe I got a saddle block because of a repeat c-section, but I know that I had a reaction to it, I got really itchy and felt like I was going to crawl out of my own skin. Before I had it, if someone rubbed my arm lightly with their finger tips, it didn't bother me, now I can't stand to have my skin touched, I get VERY irritated when Edward runs his hands over my skin. I also believe it bothered Preston too, because he was 5 weeks early and we could hold or touch him for 3-4 days because his nervous system was so sensitive so I think it had the same affect on him, just sooner.

ETA: Since my epidural/saddle block with Preston, I don't like to be touched. Before, I didn't mind. My skin is super sensitive now!

[Adriana's Mommy]

I'm sorry your having these problems

I had great experiences with epidurals.. I had them both when I had my kids.. I can honestly say, I felt no pain when both of my kids were born.. Which is what I wanted..