Random Back Pain After labor....could It Be from the Epidural??

I suggest you go to a good chiropractor. A really good one should be able to help you with the pain.

I am with you I think it is from the epi.I have a one year old and still get it every once in a while.It is in the same place as the epi so I think it has to be.The pain gets better overtime but I havent found anyway to make it go away.Sorry I am not real helpful I just wanted you to know Ive been there to

C.,
It very well could be the pain from the epideral. I have pain til this day at times and my son is 9 in October. However, it also could be you are out of alignment. Afterall, you did carry a baby. I found working in a chiropractors office many woman after birth seek us out after childbirth even if they didn't believe in chiropractic to help ease the pain..

I had a fever (hidden by pain medication) and lower back pain. I finally went to the emergency room when my twins were 2 weeks old. I had an urinary tract infection. The symptoms include bad back pain. I thought it was from lifting 2 babies after a c-section.

May not be what you have but it can't hurt to go to your doc to check it out.

I haven't experienced any pain from my epidural. I have 2 friends who said they had some pain from it, though. Both of them told me before I had my son that they experience soreness when it's about to rain, or when they have worked a lot.

I have had two epidurals and with the first they had to reinsert it five times before they got it in the right place. I did have back pain from it and I guess I would say it probably lasted a couple of months. It would just start hurting at random times, but it went away. I really didn't think two much about it. Then with my son I had another epidural then the pain started coming back again.
The second time the pain lasted longer probably around 4 to 5 months. I would still talk to your doctor about it just to be on the safe side.

I had the same pain after my daughter was born 11 yrs ago (had an epi). It was so bad I thought I would never walk normally again. My doctor told me it was normal, but it wasn't. She totally blew me off. I had no insurance, so my options were limited. I decided to try yoga (I only had a book), and after my first session most of the pain was gone. The best position for the pain was the Plow position. HOWEVER--make sure you eliminate any other possible causes like uti or kidney infection. No matter what the cause of your pain, tho, even mild yoga stretches will benefit you. Good luck!

I would also suggest a good chiropractor.
I also will say if you start getting sick to your stomach and throwing up, get yourself back to the dr.
After having my baby it was like I was not getting over things, my back hurt and later getting so sick to my stomach.
The night I went to the hosptial from being so sick they told me it sounded like my galbladder, test showed it was.
When I asked them how did they know it was before testing, the answer camee back often women who have had a baby will have problems so much goes on in her body that it changes her chemcial balance to her body..
My baby was only 7 1/2 wks old when I had my galbladder out

so again if you start feeling sick and continue to hurt I would talk to your dr about it.

I would recommend seeing a chiropractor and also as some of the other ladies have suggested doing some core type things like yoga/pilates as well after. With a new injury its best to use ice first for 15-20 min intervals. I'm a chiro so I know first hand that its very effective and its more natural approach too. Good luck to you and if you have any questions feel free to get back to me.

I had a similar situation, so perhaps your back pain is because you are now carrying a child all over the place with you and also carrying an infant seat which adds at least 10 lbs to his weight. Watch your body mechanics when you pick him up (lift with your legs) and when putting him in the car, don't swing the car seat out (keep it close to your body). I know he is still a little guy, but even a few extra lbs can make a difference to our muscles! This helped me, I hope it helps you!

The only epidural I had - for an "emergency" c-section with my five year old - caused similar pain. In fact, five years later, if I squat (like to plant tomatoes or scrub the floor), do any kind of back intensive activity (yoga, sleep on the floor) - I get the same radiating pain. A chiropractor helps, but I haven't found any way to avoid it.

The pain is bad enough, though, that two and a half years later, when told that general anesthesia would not be an option if I had to have another c-section, I drove 2 and a half hours each way for the last 3 months of my pregnancy to see a doctor and hospital who understood that I would not have another epidural.

S.

Yes, I believe it is. I don't know why doctors are so determined that we all get epidurals so some will tell you anything, but...I have it, too. I ended up w/CS so it obviously was necessary (the epidural/still don't believe the c/s was, but that's another story :)). I don't know if it goes away or not...guess for some it will and for some it won't. Now that I think about it, I haven't had it in awhile so maybe it'll get better for you soon! Good luck and enjoy your sweet baby!! If you have another baby, read The Bradley Method, it will really help you get through labor without an epidural. I made it through 13 hours and to a 9 w/this method so I know it's helpful!

Short answers, yes, I believe it could be from the epidural.

My truck was rear ended when I was 6 weeks pregnant with my first child. I didn't know I was pregnant at the time, but I found out soon after the accident. I had been experiencing some back pain, but was unable to do anything about it because of the pregnancy. After I had my daughter, the back pain got worse, so I was referred to an orthopedic doctor who did all kinds of x-rays, and during the exam, he asked if I had an epidural when having my child, which I had. My primary care doctor who referred me to the orthopedist had asked me if I had had an epidural as well. Hence, I do believe there are instances when the epidural can cause back pain well after delivery just based on the fact that both of these doctors asked about that during my exams.

I ended up going to several months of physical therapy and the back pain went away completely.

I would recommend that you see your primary physician or if you have an insurance plan that allows you to self refer, an orthopedic doctor, and they should be able to tell you more about the source of your pain. If it's muscular, they will probably prescribe physical therapy, which is tough when you have a new little baby in terms of time, but for me, when the pain finally went away, it was was well worth the trouble for me to find someone to watch my baby during my therapy sessions.

Good luck! I hope you are pain free again very soon!

I had back pains for almost a year after my 1st was born and had an epi with her. It was ONLY in that area so I have no doubt it was related. I had a c-section with her. Mine however was not as bad as yours sounds. Mine was just random pains now and then, sometimes it would keep me from doing things but mostly just bothersome. My 2nd and 3rd deliveries I had a spinal instead and highly recommend it if you have another over an epi. My recoveries were MUCH easier and quicker and no back pains at all afterwards.
Have you tried a chiropractor? Maybe that would help, I hope you can find some relief soon!

My epidural spot hurt for a few months after delivering. But I had a visible bruise and it only hurt in that spot. Maybe you just have a worse case. It did go away at about four months.

It is possible that you strained a muscle or herniated (Slipped, ruptured)a disc during the pushing. Go to another doctor and don't stop until you get some relief. Muscles and ligaments become more loose than usual during pregnancy and can cause some problems. I had a disc to herniate shortly after giving birth to my second child. Just don't let the doctors blow you off, no matter what. You also might want to check for a bladder or kidney infection. Good luck. I will say a prayer for you.

yes i got the same thing. screw what the dr. says its gotta be from that, at least i was convinced. i still get random back pains but it isnt as bad as it first was. my son is almost a year old. it should get better. my pain was the same thing as yours. it felt like labor pains almost and it was in the same spots at the epidoral and labor pains. it'll get better but if not i'd get it check just in case.

My daughter is now 5yrs old and I still have back pain starting were I had the epidural.

Try a Doctor of Chiropractic. Childbirth is hard on your back.

Hi im a caribbean woman & i came to france to have my baby. All was well until i went to the hospital i planned to hav a natural birth but it was d opposite. d nurse forced me into havin an epidural, after delivery i wasnt feeling anything n my legs or walk for more than a week. they did test RMI,CT scan etc & said all was normal. my daughter is 11mths & i experience pains in the spot of d epidural. i cant sit for too long or stand for too long. if i lift something i feel d pain goin straight my back to my neck. i even hav problems wit my left leg, it jumps on its own at times and shocks. it was a terrible time.BUT ME I DONT SUPPORT EPIDERALS CAUSE EVERYONE4S BODY MIGHT DEAL WIT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. I hope they band it from d market. Cause i have to live with pain for makin a child its natural to cry its only for d moment but it will disappear wen d baby comes. I dont no if d pains will affect my other pregnancy. But im doin some poses on my back and turnin d body half way around to aim the area of pain it seems to help a bit but i dont no for long. try ur best to seek answer as i still looking 2

My daughter is now 19 months old. I have been having severe mid back pain since I had her. It has crossed my mind that this is a result of the epidural I received because they had to insert it twice due to some complications with it going in the first time. I have 2 other children any I did not experience this pain with them. My back pain interferes with my daily routine, sleep, etc.... It is so severe at times that I have to take some pain killers to be able to relax and actually get some sleep in the middle of the night. I always amazed myself with the strength I had to do any type of household chores and attend to my kids. Over the past 12 months I have found myself complaining of mid-back pain on a daily basis also causes me to have tension at my shoulders and headaches due to uncontrollable pain and uncomfortableness. I read that the epidural is a possibility if you feel the pain around the area where it was inserted...and that is exactly where my pain begins and goes upward. I have also noticed that 4 out of 5 times I am not able to stretch out my back (lay flat on my back) completely as I lay on the floor to try to relieve the pain.

If anyone out there has any answers please don't hesitate to share them, I am desperate to find a solution to help me shake this off already.

I had back pain too after my epidural. Mine started as a backache while I was still in the hospital and it worked it's way up my back into a headache in about 2 days.

I did have some really bad back spasms the first few weeks after the baby was born and I think they were epidural related. I layed on a heating pad too and took some Advil.

I don't know if yours could still be that, but maybe coupled with the fact that you are now toting around a baby - maybe that's aggravating it.

Those epidurals are kinda hard on the body. This is my last baby and I'm glad. I really don't ever want another needle in my spine. :-)

Good Luck. I'd pursue it if it doesn't go away soon.

I actually had pain from my epidural for over a year after giving birth. The doctor tried to tell me it wasn't from my epidural, but I know it was. Since your pain radiates up to your mid-back, I would say it is most likely not a urinary tract infection (unless it has moved to the kidneys, which would cause you to be sick at your stomach and very ill).

I did end up going to a chiropractor and felt better after a couple of months of treatment. I chose to not have an epidural with my other children after all of the trouble I had from that one. It was just so much easier to heal from childbirth without the epidural (although the pain during birth was almost unbearable)! And, I did not have that backpain after the other children either, which also tells me that the initial back pain was from the epidural.

Hope this helps!

It might be from the epidural. I had one when I had my c-section. About 2 months after my son was born I had these back spasms that would almost knock the wind out of me, and too it did it in the middle of the night. After the second time, I got scared and visited my OBGYN. They were clueless and acted as if they didn't know what I was talking about. And I asked "Could it be from..." and they said no and looked at me funny.

Anyway I told them that the only thing that killed the pain within minutes was my left over Vicodin from my c-section, and I asked if I could have more on hand if it happened again. They said sure. So I got another bottle.

Well, of course after that it didn't happen again until almost exactly a year after he was born. I had a pain that radiated from my pelvis area and slowly made it's way up my back and around my chest. This time since it happened in the early evening while I was watching TV, I jumped up and took a Vicodin, and while I was waiting for it to work I started getting shortness of breath again like 10 months previous.

Thankfully after that episode it hasn't happened again. But I still have Vicodin on hand just in case.

I don't know why it was happening, but all I know to get rid of the pain totally is good ol' Vicodin!

Have you considered chiropractic? Maybe your skeletomusculature needs an assist to get back into its pre-pregnancy position.

I have had pain starting in the area of my epidural also. My daughter is almost 11 months old and it still hurts every once in a while. My doctor also said it was not from the epidural, but I think so.
Also, everyone said that the epidural didn't hurt when they placed it and I was in more pain from the epidural than from my contractions. So maybe mine was put in too roughly or something. Not sure if your hurt when they placed it or not, but maybe there is a link?!

When I had my daughter I went 2 get an epidural but they kept bending the needle or having other issues so I never got one because my daughter was ready to be born. Since then I've had back pain with constant leg spasms and sometimes I have a bruise at the spot were they tried to do the epidural. The Dr said it's not from the epidural but in my opinion it is. They had to have hit a nerve and messed it up. My daughter is now one, I've had them since she was three months old.

Updated

When I had my daughter I went 2 get an epidural but they kept bending the needle or having other issues so I never got one because my daughter was ready to be born. Since then I've had back pain with constant leg spasms and sometimes I have a bruise at the spot were they tried to do the epidural. The Dr said it's not from the epidural but in my opinion it is. They had to have hit a nerve and messed it up.

I have been having severe pain in the middle of back down to my lower since I have had my son and he is now almost 4 months. I never had any problems with my back it gets to the point where I cant even hold my baby for long periods of time and that really sucks..It wakes me at times to where Ifeel like I cant move at all because I feel so stiff, some nights are worst then others.I ask my gyn and she also stated that she doesnt think it has anything with the epidural and I say she is so so wrong..I tryed exercising and stretching nothing seems to help even medication..My pain isnt all the time but it happens more offen then I like..I feel so lost at times because my Drs are telling me they dont believe its from the epidural..

Your body goes thru many changes to prepare for the delivery of your baby and it takes time for all the expansion to go back to normal. I had terrible back pain without an epidural. Try some mild stretching when your back is at it's best. Be mindful of the way you sit while watching tv, driving, relaxing watching tv because it can trigger the pain later in the day. Work on the tummy muscles that support your low back. Pilates is wonderful for improving your core muscles and helping with back pain. I had to use a cane for awhile and the pilates helped me tremendously. You mentioned using a heating pad, I want to caution you about staying on it to long or falling asleep and getting burned. It can happen. Alternate some with ice packs. I was told to do 20 minutes on at a time. If you aren't nursing then I found that Aleve worked best on my back pain. I took one before I went to bed so I made it through the night without waking up in pain. Best of life to you.

There's a number of opinions out there about whether or not epi's cause back pain. I LOVED my epi and never had a problem. I did though have severe lower back pain during and after my pregnancy and I received great relief from seeing a chiropractor. If your insurance allows for chiropractic care you should look into it. Most regular doctors don't believe in chiropractic care and would rather give you medication for the pain and refer you to a surgon.

I had 3 kids and the epidural spasms hit me so hard i go to the hospital all the time. I''m so tired of can't do noting or bend far. My lower back and my butt give me a lot of problems. Can some out there help i can't take medicine. I need a problem solver. There should be an answer to way this keep happening to our back's we are not guinea pig so stop experimenting.