Epidural anesthesia is used to provide pain relief for women in labor. Epidurals are also administered for herniated discs pain relief and other injuries.Typically, a needle is inserted into the spine and an anesthetic medication medication is administered through a small catheter in the back. Although short-term effects are more common, long-term effects do occur. Before an epidural procedure, an anesthesiologist will explain the long-term effects associated with the medication.
Backache
According to the University of North Carolina Department of Anesthesiology, backache and tenderness may occur at the insertion site and last for an undetermined amount of time. SpineHealth.com reports that back pain may occur because of the medication's effect on the nerves and various labor positions performed during delivery. Although back pain is a common occurrence in epidural patients, no evidence or scientific research exists that epidurals contribute to chronic back pain.
Persistent Headache
When epidurals are placed, the needle occasionally extends beyond the space surrounding the spinal cord, which creates a dural puncture. Spinal headaches usually occur when the spinal puncture fails to seal itself. This allows spinal fluid to leak and lowers spinal fluid pressure inside the brain. The American Pregnancy Association explains that many patients complain of chronic headaches years after the epidural was performed. Physicians typically administer medications to treat this side effect.
Numbness
During and after an epidural procedure, patients can experience numbness in the lower extremities such as the legs, back and buttocks, according to MayoClinic.com. This occurs because epidural medication sometimes spreads to other areas of the body and produces the same numbing effects. The numbness usually goes away naturally once the medication agents have cleared the body.
Paralysis
The University of North Carolina Department of Anesthesiology reports that paralysis is a possible long-term effect of all anesthetics, including epidurals. Hematoma, or pockets or blood, can develop as a result of epidural placement. If a hematoma presses against the spinal cord, paralysis can occur. Paralysis can also develop if blood flow to the spinal cord is blocked by the epidural. The risk of paralysis is rare since anesthesiologists are trained to perform epidural procedures.
References
- Medline Plus: Spinal and Epidural anesthesia
- MayoClinic.com: Labor and delivery--Pain medications
- American Pregnancy Association: Epidurall Anesthesia
- Spine Health: Epidural Steroid Injections: Risks and Side Effects
- University of North Carolina Anesthesiology: Epidural Analgesia for Pain Relief in Labor
