If you choose to have an epidural, an anesthesiologist will insert a needle and a tiny tube, called a catheter, in the lower part of your back. The needle is removed and the catheter left in place for delivery of the medication through the tube as needed.
During epidural anesthesia or analgesia, the epidural space is reached by inserting an epidural needle between two vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. The needle goes through different layers of tissues to reach the epidural space.
And the size is also crucial. "Epidural needles are long so that we get better access to the epidural space," the medical student told the site. "The most common question is, 'Does it go all the way in? ' And the answer [in] most cases is no, but again, it varies from patient to patient."
How long will the epidural stay in? The tube will stay in your back until your pain is under control and you can take pain pills. Sometimes this can be up to seven days. If you are pregnant, the tube will be taken out after the baby is born.
Sometimes, you may notice a slight increase in pain in the days following the epidural. This happens before the steroid has begun delivering its effects but after the numbness wears off. The pain should get better within ten days of the epidural, but you may notice a reduction within one to five days.
However, if you're later in your labor or if you have an epidural and can't really feel things and you suddenly feel a ton of pressure, like you need to have a bowel movement, you need to call your labor nurse ASAP.
Most of the time, you can walk within a half hour or so of your epidural injection. However, you will not necessarily be walking normally at this point. Most clinics and hospitals monitor you for 15 minutes to an hour after an epidural injection. During this time, they will likely ask how you feel.
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.
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.
For epidural anesthesia, the styletted epidural needle is inserted through the skin and subcutaneous tissue, the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments, and into the ligamentum flavum.
The procedure of epidural insertion consists of the Tuohy needle being carefully inserted through layers of skin, tissue and ligament into the epidural space. The depth of the epidural space varies between patients, but for females the mean depth is 4.25 ± 0.55 cm, with a range of depths 3–7 cm [1].
How big is an epidural needle? Still, some women are wary about getting an epidural because they're nervous about the size of the needle. Depending on the kind of epidural you receive, it will likely be 3.5 inches long and a bit wider than an average shot.
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.
Increased pain after epidural
The epidural space, where the doctor injects the steroid, is small. The introduction of steroid fluid into this space, where nerves are already inflamed, may temporarily increase pressure, irritating spinal nerves.
When it comes to sleep, the best way to reduce pain and your risk of developing a post-procedural complication is to sleep on your back with a pillow placed under your knees. This provides the cervical and thoracic spine with much-needed support, which may ease your post-surgery pain.
But if you're close to 10 centimeters dilated the research suggests it's not an issue. Evidence suggests it's more of a theoretical fear that just adds additional stress and in some cases results in an epidural (or a higher dose of epidural) to mask that urge.
Does it hurt when the epidural is administered? The anesthesiologist will numb the area where the epidural is administered, which may cause a momentary stinging or burning sensation. But because of this numbing, there is very little pain associated with an epidural injection.
Although it is the shortest phase, the transition phase is the most challenging. Transition typically lasts 30 minutes to 2 hours as your cervix fully dilates from 8 cm to 10 cm.
You may be given specific advice about eating, drinking and medicines before the epidural. You will not be able to drive for 24 hours after having an epidural, so you'll need to arrange for someone to take you home.
Since you are restricted to the bed while laboring with an epidural in place, you will not be able to get up to use the bathroom. Once the epidural medication has numbed your lower body, you can expect to have a urinary catheter placed to keep your bladder empty.
If you're both doing well, you'll usually be ready to go home somewhere between 6 and 24 hours after birth. You may need to stay a bit longer if: you've had an emergency caesarean section.
Doctors began requiring women to fast during labor after it was documented in the mid-20th century that pregnant women who were put under general anesthesia had an increased risk for aspiration. Aspiration occurs when food or liquid is inhaled into the lungs. It can cause a severe inflammatory reaction or death.
An effect of epidural or spinal anaesthetic is that it blocks normal sensation from the bladder and interferes with the normal bladder filling and emptying function. Bladder function should be closely monitored if an epidural is used.
The catheter will usually be removed once the birth is imminent, and may be replaced after the birth, staying several hours postpartum or the next day if all is going well. You may wind up keeping the catheter a bit longer if you have had surgery. This depends on your ability to get up and move around.