You may experience some numbness after an epidural, which is caused by the anesthetic. This is most common in the arms and legs, and it typically goes away within several hours, potentially up to four to six hours. To avoid injury, remain resting until this numbness subsides.
Recovering from an epidural
When the epidural is stopped, the numbness usually lasts for a few hours before its effects begin to wear off. While the medicine wears off, you'll probably be advised to rest in a lying or sitting position until the feeling in your legs returns.
Myth: An epidural can interfere with the birth experience. Fact: Some women express fear that their legs will be numb and they won't be able to walk, feel a contraction or push properly. In fact, your legs should not be so numb that you do not feel them.
Your Recovery
An epidural is a tiny tube that delivers pain medicine directly into the area in your back around your spinal cord. The effects of the epidural usually wear off within 2 hours after the epidural medicine is stopped.
Lower limb motor weakness is a well-known complication of epidural analgesia with local anesthetics. It leads to delays in the postoperative rehabilitation process and may necessitate temporary or permanent discontinuation of the epidural infusion causing pain, patient discomfort, and dissatisfaction.
The risk of damage to nerves is between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100,000. In many of these cases the symptoms improve or resolve within a few weeks or months. Nerve damage is a rare complication of spinal or epidural injection.
Potential side effects of an epidural may include headache, soreness, urination problems, and a decrease in blood pressure. While long-term complications are extremely rare, they may result in permanent nerve damage and persistent numbness and tingling.
The potential for a quicker labor, delivery and recovery – For some people, a natural birth may go more quickly. While it depends on several different factors, like how relaxed you may be, in some cases medications can interfere with contractions and prolong labor.
This can occur if the epidural or spinal needle or the epidural catheter damages a single nerve, a group of nerves or the spinal cord. Contact with a nerve may cause 'pins and needles' or a brief shooting pain. This does not mean that the nerve is damaged, but if the needle is not repositioned, damage can occur.
The needle or epidural tube can damage nerves, but this is uncommon. Nerve damage can cause loss of feeling or movement in parts of your lower body. The most common symptom is a small, numb area with normal movement and strength. This usually gets better after a few days or weeks, but can sometimes take months.
Get up and walk as soon as you can to help you feel more in control of your body. Walking around can really help change your physical and emotional feelings about your body. This also speeds recovery.
If you or a loved one has suffered pain, paralysis, or any other medical condition after receiving an epidural injection, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
If your injection had local anesthetic and a steroid, your legs may feel heavy or numb right after. You will probably be able to walk. But you may need to be extra careful. Take care not to lose your balance, and be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.
Physicians advise that all patients should lie flat in bed for several hours after the anaesthesia and surgery are performed. This is to decrease CSF hydrostatic pressure that may affect the rate of CSF leak from the dural puncture caused during the process.
The anaesthetist might let you know in the middle of the procedure you could feel a jolt of electric shock in one leg. This happens when the epidural catheter brushes against the nerves in the epidural space. It doesn't last long, but it can feel a bit weird and unexpected.
Doctors have to wait until the cervix is at least 4 centimeters dilated before doing an epidural. Otherwise, the epidural will slow the process down too much. However, once the cervix becomes fully dilated it is too late for an epidural to be given.
What Have Studies Found About the Effects of Epidurals on the Second Stage of Labor? A large body of research evidence has shown that epidurals are linked to a longer second stage of labor. This has been demonstrated in large observational studies as well as in randomized control trials.
Some people describe the feeling as being like intense period cramps, others say it feels like a tightening or pounding feeling in your uterus or across your belly, others describe the feeling as being like very intense muscle cramps, while still other people describe contractions as being like the sort of wrenching ...
Epidurals are usually placed during the first stage of labor when you are having regular contractions. Epidurals are usually placed while you are in a sitting position, or you may be lying on your side. Epidurals for labor are placed in your lower back, known as your lumbar spine.
Some doctors suggest that people should not receive more than two or four epidural steroid injections (ESIs) per year. However, others agree that people can safely receive up to six injections annually. ESIs help relieve pain caused by conditions that cause irritation and inflammation of the spinal nerve root.
Epidurals can cause back pain years later, although this is rare. While epidurals may leave a mother with some soreness at the administration site for a few days or weeks, lasting or recurring back pain is not typical. It may occur, however, because of damage to the spine, nerves, or other structures.
Epidurals are safe, but as with any medical procedure, there are small risks of side effects and complications. Serious risks—including blood clots inside the spine, infection (around the spine or brain), and nerve damage—are very rare. Other possible complications include low blood pressure, itchy skin, and headaches.
Other injection site events
If a nerve is hit, the patient will feel an immediate burning pain, which can result in paralysis or neuropathy that does not always resolve.
The biggest difference between spinal blocks vs epidurals is their amount of pain relief: spinal blocks provide total pain relief, while epidurals provide partial pain relief. The reason for this difference is that the former is an anesthetic, while the latter is an analgesic—no sensation versus no pain.
Avoid heat to the injection area for 72 hours. No hot packs, saunas, or steam rooms during this time. A regular shower is OK. You may immediately restart your regular medication regimen, including pain medications, anti-inflammatory, and blood thinners.