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Epidural: Back pain one year on?

Hello!
Also posted in toddler but no joy so far if anyone could help I'd be most grateful image

I was induced due to pre-eclampsia and had an epidural. For weeks afterwards I would get an electric shock type pain up my back if I sat down too fast. I thought that was normal but now if I'm on my feet for longer than an hour or so I get excrutiating back pains. It's at the bottom where my epidural went in and is an ache that burns.
Yesterday I went to a gig and was on my feet for over 4 hours without sitting down. At one point my legs turned to jelly with the pain and I was almost sick and shaking. I had only had one glass of wine so it definitely wasn't the booze! It completely ruined my day as I had to sit in the middle of the field because I couldn't stand up!

Admittedly I am overweight and I know this will be part of it, I'm working on it but I am the same size as I was before having LO and never experienced this before.

Just wondering if this is normal and if anyone else had experienced similar?

Lulu
xxx

Replies

  • is it in ur tailbone? ive been in agony with mine recently (had epidural and c section 4 months ago) and am planning on seeing the Dr. It wakes me up at night and is so sore, esp if im standing up holding LO x
  • I don't know about the pain hun, I'm so sorry, but I do still get the electric shock sensation (it's like a sudden 'ping!' next to my spine as if something's snapped) and i had a spinal. Maybe it's worth mentioning to the doc?

    Hope it improves soon x x x
  • Oh wow, reading this brought tears to my eyes. I've been getting ALL these symptoms since LO was born in Oct 09. I was also taken for EMCS due to pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome and had an epidural (well, 4 in fact! First three attempts failed badly and were very painful!)

    Have had weeks of taking Ibuprofen at 600mg 4 times a day at the advice of doctor who said he thinks its damage to the muscle and tendons around my spine which then pinch a nerve. I can only sleep on my front if i put a pillow underneath my hips/lower tummy. I've even tried the Movelat gel my mum uses on her knees for her arthritis.

    I'm going for my post-birth meeting with the Obstetric consultant this thursday and my doctor has told me to ask about my back problems as I may need a referral to physio or a Musculoskeletal specialist.

    Once I've got home Thursday, I'll post to update what the consultant says.
  • Thank you so much for the replies.
    Jenny, I almost cried reading your reply because now I feel like I'm not just being pathetic.
    I've been living with it since last September but now it's at the point where I can't live my normal life I have to do something about it. I was worried that the doctor would pass it off as nothing but you have inspired me to book an appointment with my GP.

    Good luck for Thursday, please let me know how you get on

    xxx
  • Aw Lulu, you're not pathetic at all, its bloody painful!!

    Of course I'll update Thursday.
  • its really painful chick, its not pathetic! I have to sleep with my pregnancy pillow and if i forget and move onto my stomach in the night then i literally cant move when i wake up. If DD wakes up, i kinda roll onto the floor and then manage to get to my feet but am practically bent double. its rubbish image x
  • Hi girls....

    So glad I had that appointment today!!

    Right the pinging, electric shock sensations we are getting are from nerves being pinched, probably by swelling. However, its more likely to be to do with having being pregnant than the epidurals - unless you had an issue with bleeding fromthe epidural site. As we are nusy lifting, bending etc taking care ofthe bay straight after usually, our back dont get chance to heal from the strain ofthe pregnancy and it can cause issues. has told me to keep going with the Ibuprofen but to ask the doctor to refer me to the Orthopedic department.

    Hope you are all ok. xx

  • I'm glad you had a successful appointment Jenny!
    I went to see my GP on Wednesday and he was reluctant to link it to my epi (I knew he would be) but said that the major muscle to the left of my spine was inflamed and packed me off with Ibuprofen tablets / gels and co-codamol. I have to go back in a few weeks if it's no better.

    Hope you all feel better soon. Back pain sucks image

    xxx
  • I had an epidural with my first LO in Dec '08 and still get a sort of tingling, electric shock sensation in a certain area of my spine (not where it was sited, further up). Oddly I notice it most often when I'm breastfeeding my second LO - maybe the way I sit? Have always assumed it was nerve damage.

    I'm sorry to hear so many of you suffer pain with it.
  • Is there anything to stop the pinging electric shock thing?
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