There’s a common belief that having an epidural will lead to back pain. But according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, there’s no credible evidence that having an epidural will lead to permanent back pain. Even people who don’t get epidurals may experience back pain after labor and delivery.
Q. Do epidurals weaken your back?
Answer From Richard H. Rho, M.D. Epidural steroid injections are usually limited to just a few a year because there’s a chance these drugs might weaken your spinal bones and nearby muscles. This isn’t caused by the needle — it’s a possible side effect of steroids.
Q. Can an epidural make back pain worse?
After the shots, your pain may get worse before it gets better. Serious side effects from an epidural steroid injection are rare. But they can include stroke, paralysis, or loss of vision.
Q. What happens if epidural hits spinal cord?
Nerve damage is a rare complication of spinal or epidural injection. In the majority of cases, a single nerve is affected, giving a numb area on the skin or limited muscle weakness. These effects are usually temporary with full recovery occurring within days or a few weeks.
Q. What are the negatives of an epidural?
What are the cons of having an epidural?
- It can cause low blood pressure.
- You may have some side effects.
- It may make pushing more difficult.
- It may increase your risk for a perineal tear.
- Your lower half may be numb for a while after giving birth.
- You may have trouble urinating.
- Risk of respiratory distress for your baby.
Q. Is an epidural really that bad?
The most significant downside of an epidural is that it may prolong the labor and delivery process. The epidural is very effective at numbing the nerves and muscles in a mother’s lower body. The problem is that this makes the mother less able to use her muscles to effectively and rapidly push the baby out.
