You have probably heard of the epidural as an injection some women receive while giving birth. This pain-relieving shot also can be used to help with pain from a pinched nerve, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or another spinal injury. When it comes to treating back pain, you may want to start with noninvasive approaches to relieve your pain. However, when noninvasive options cannot completely resolve your pain, you may want to consider minimally invasive options or surgical intervention. Whether you are recovering from giving birth or another type of spinal condition, you may experience pain after an epidural.
What to Expect with an Epidural
An epidural is a type of anesthesia that is injected into the lower back. This type of injection is a local anesthetic that you typically receive while awake and is administered by an anesthesiologist, obstetrician, or nurse anesthetist. Epidurals are very common among those who are pregnant and giving birth. When you receive an epidural, the shot works to block pain in the lower half of the body. It is possible to get a small bruise where the epidural was injected, and you may experience some soreness near the injection site. An epidural can prevent you from moving the lower half of your body for a short time period, depending on the appropriate dosage for you. Talk to your doctor about any epidural side effects with back pain. Localized soreness is common, and this type of discomfort should ease within days of the injection.
Reasons for an Epidural
Pregnancy can cause aches and pains that may continue after giving birth, whether or not you received an epidural. An epidural can help to block nerve pain in the lower half of the body to help alleviate pain and discomfort while giving birth. In addition to pregnancy and childbirth, a doctor may also recommend an epidural during or after surgery. Spinal conditions that cause chronic pain may require more minimally invasive or surgical procedures to help provide you with longer-lasting pain relief. An epidural isn’t appropriate for every case or condition, so it is important to discuss your options with your doctor.
Back Pain After an Epidural
It is possible to experience post epidural back pain for 1-2 days after an epidural during childbirth. The process of giving birth can cause pain and discomfort in the lower back and elsewhere in the body that may take days or weeks before you experience a full recovery. You might be wondering, “Can an epidural cause back pain?” Studies have shown that epidurals do not exacerbate existing back pain and actually help to provide you with a pain relief option that may last longer than other methods. However, you may continue to experience back pain after an epidural as your body continues to heal and recover.
Treating Back Pain
Treatment for back pain after an epidural will involve addressing the root cause of your pain. Common spinal conditions like a herniated disc or spinal stenosis can cause certain symptoms that will require individualized treatment and care. Sometimes spinal conditions do not respond to non-invasive treatment options for back pain and require more interventions. An epidural is commonly used as a nerve block to help during childbirth and surgery. However, it may also be used in tandem with medications like steroids to help reduce any inflammation in your lower back that may be making your pain worse. The timing of an epidural may differ from person to person; however, in general, you may notice the numbing effects of an epidural in as little as 15 minutes. Epidural injections can help you experience a significant reduction in your lower back pain for up to a few months at a time. Improving your posture can also help to heal back pain.
In addition to an epidural, your doctor may recommend additional treatment options to help address your lower back pain. There are several techniques you can try at home or with a professional to help alleviate your pain. Therapeutic massage can help reduce inflammation and soothe sore, aching muscles in the lower back and lower half of the body. Applying warm and cool compresses also helps with inflammation and pain relief.
If you are suffering from back pain after an epidural, then find an accident doctor near you for help!
