Did epidural anaesthesia caused my backache?
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Image credit: Evil Erin
I was told recently during a TCM treatment session that my constant backache is due to the epidural anaesthesia administered to relief my labor pain some years back. I hadn’t thought of that although Ive heard of the link between epidural anaesthesia and postpartum back pain. In fact, this is why some women I know refused to have the pain relief.
However, according to this medical source, any increased risk of low back pain after epidural anaesthesia is small and transient.
Women who underwent epidural anaesthesia during delivery had an increased incidence of low back pain only on the first day after delivery, possibly because of local musculoligamentous trauma associated with insertion of the needle. At seven days and six weeks after delivery there was no difference in the incidence of low back pain in women who did not have epidural anaesthesia.
Another medical article in Singapore also dispeled backaches cause by epidural as a myth.
Personally, I’m not exactly sure if my back pain is caused by the epidural anaesthesia I had. It isn’t exactly bad but it’s there since I had my child. Anyway, it was impossible not to have some form of relief during the 11 hours of labor as my threshold for pain wasn’t very high then.
But I’m curious. Do you have a case of back pain if you are one of those who have opted for an epidural anaesthesia during your delivery?
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17 Comments to “Did epidural anaesthesia caused my backache?”
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January 12th, 2010 at 11:14 am
from what i was told, your back bone ‘softens’ to get ready for birth and takes around 6 months after birth to ‘harden’ back. women must take good care of their back during these 6 months because it’s easily damaged or misaligned which causes back pain. the only solution is to get pregnant again, have the bone softened and hopefully it will be properly aligned back to normal during the soften state.w
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sesame Reply:
January 12th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Oh…that’s interesting! I haven’t heard of our bones softening. Hmm…but my pelvic bone is apparently lopsided after giving birth.
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January 12th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
never had a kid but western and eastern medicine do operate in very different paradigms so that may account for the different opinions you got
and try pilates!
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sesame Reply:
January 12th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
I suppose…I haven’t tried pilates (me very lazy). But I’m thinking of going for accupuncture.
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January 12th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
My mum told me the same thing about the epidural anesthesia, how it can affect the back of your body and also the memory. Usually these would take effect a few years later (maybe due to aging?!), on and off body detox would help I guess.
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sesame Reply:
January 12th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I had quite bad aches right after delivery but nowadays, it’s better except for days when I have PMS.
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January 12th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Oh, this is quite interesting. I never had epidural when I gave birth to both my children but I had general anesthesia. I can attest though that my lower back was a killer a few months after I delivered.
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sesame Reply:
January 12th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I think it’s pretty common especially with the carrying and diaper changing.
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January 12th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I had three epidurals. I don’t have back pain. There’s another old wives tale that washing your hair (with water) during confinement period will give you back pain. Maybe you are spending too many long hours on the computer and your seating/positioning are not ergonomic. I also recommend you try the exercise machines at the gym for strengthening back muscles. They will help you in the long run. And perhaps ask your doc to refer yo for a DEXA bone scan to make sure you are not at risk for osteoporosis in your spine.
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sesame Reply:
January 12th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Ya, I suspect it’s probably more due to my seating position or sometimes bending while doing work. That’s why I didn’t link it to my epidural at all until I was told. But I did notice the back pain came after delivering my child and not before so also not sure if there’s any truth there.
I did hear something about washing hair but never realized it’s also linked to back pain.
I’ve been taught a set of exercise to strengthen my back but I’ve been too lazy with that and only does it occasionally. But I should get the DEXA bone scan you mentioned. Thanks for reminding me!
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January 13th, 2010 at 7:27 am
I remembered telling my aunt in passing that when I do start expecting, I’d want an epidural for the delivery. She advised me against it, and told me that her chronic back pain was due to the epidural she had many years ago. I can’t be sure if it’s true, but you’re now the second person to tell me about it. I guess, better to be safe than sorry?
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sesame Reply:
January 13th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I’m not sure myself…I have been hearing but I can’t confirm. I think it might depend on individuals since some have said they don’t experience any backache at all.
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January 16th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
If you can do without an epidural, well and good for you. But do note that midwives are very keen to encourage epidurals beacause they make the labour and delivery proceed more quickly and smoothly for them as well as the patient (if most patients did not have epidurals, they would be constantly having to summon the nurse for other types of pain relief or else moaning or screaming and distracting the rest of the patients).
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January 28th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Hi, I also had an epidural a year ago to have a kidney removed, so my back ache cannot be contributed to the loosening up of ligaments due to pregnancy. I suffer severe pain at the sight of my epidural and cannot sleep at night for it. I also suffer headaches and neck ache. I believe this is as a direct result of my epidural
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sesame Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Have you tried consulting a doctor for that? I’m based in Singapore so we have TCM here and I’m considering acupuncture soon. Hope that will help me.
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July 20th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
I had my daughter nearly 6 months ago and my lower back is killing me. At first I thought it was related to the bladder infection I got and then the kidney infection (believed those were caused by catheterization in hospital) But those are gone and the pain is still there and gets worse by the week. I had an epidural I mean with 18 hours of labor it was necessary. After the first 8 hours of labor and nothing progressing I just couldn’t do the pain anymore. My lower back pain got bad in my 3rd trimester and continued after I gave birth, now nearly 6 months later the pain gets worse by the day. I’m starting to wonder myself if the epidural caused it. My doctor doesn’t think anything about it. He says you have a baby and you probably just strained it. My mom who is a nurse said its normal to have back pain a few months after giving birth. But really 6 months? Is that normal.
This was something interesting and I will be looking into it further. I’m considering seeing a chiropractor
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sesame Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 7:56 am
I’ve had constant bad pain too and I’ve had my child 7 years ago. The ache is not so bad except for days when I’m having my period. But it’s a nudging pain ache that doesn’t go away.
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