Sep 13, 2023
I don’t wanna… 😭
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I don’t wanna… 😭
*** Trigger warnings ***
Medical procedure gone wrong / Traumatic birth / Chronic illness
I’ve been incredibly vocal about my experience with getting an epidural injection during my labor & delivery in 2018 if you know me on my personal social media. It’s been three in a half years and I’ve decided to try to go a little more public with my story. Why? Because I have felt so hopeless, exhausted, sometimes crazy, and incredibly alone over these years and if telling my story helps just one other women who might be experiencing the same things as me, that’s enough of a reason for me. I’ll be splitting it all up into chapters to help make it easier to read!
*LONG DISCLAIMER*
Please keep in mind, my story is mine and it is still ongoing. I’m being seen by medical doctors and still trying to find a diagnosis after 3.5 years. I do share my opinions but I also share factual evidence. I am not a doctor and I cannot diagnose anyone, I can only share my personal experiences. Please seek out professional help and always do your research from reputable sources.
Secondly, I am not anti-medicine. I am pro do your research and make sure you know what you’re letting people put into your body. I am pro advocate for yourself and your health. I am pro listening to women and mothers and taking them seriously. As a woman and a mother, I’m an advocate on recognizing medical gaslighting and knowing your medical rights, things I didn’t know about before going on this journey. I’m honestly not against epidurals even though I had a horrible experience with one. I won’t tell you not to get one, but I will tell you my experience with getting one, how my life changed after getting one, my pain I live with every day after getting one and all of the risks, no matter how rare they may be that are possible with these procedures.
Mothers are being handed a consent form while they are having contractions every minute, bent over in pain, about to give birth to a whole human being and expected to understand what they’re reading, to care about what they’re signing and to fully understand the risks involved. Doctors are failing to verbally inform of all the risks as well and not all of the risks are listed on the consent form. 3.5 years ago, I didn’t question it either. I had no reason to. Now living with the pain I’ve had to go through, I see how much that needs to change. I am not anti-medicine, I am not “ban all epidural injections during childbirth” at all. I want to make that clear. Even if at times I seem hostile or against it, please understand how much that needle has affected my life so I do get emotional when discussing it, however I still recognize how rare of an occurrence this is and most of the time epidurals work just fine.
Chapter 1 - Stabbed in the back
It was finally induction day! I was 39+1 weeks and so ready to not be pregnant and get control of my body back. I spent most of my time pregnant bending over a trash can vomiting multiple times a day, I also had gestational diabetes so I was pricking myself 4 times a day and dieting, so boy was I over it! I just wanted to meet our precious baby.
I went into my induction with one goal and one goal only: have a healthy baby. That’s all that mattered to me. I didn’t have any type of birth plan other than get the baby out. I did however knew that I wanted to try to go as long as possible without any pain meds. I wanted to give birth naturally, I wanted to see if I could do it. After all, that's what us women were made to do! I won’t go into details about my labor so let’s fast forward a bit. I was 6 cm dilated and my water had just broke. I was doing pretty good up until then but the contractions started to come on so strong and they weren’t giving me any breaks. I remember my husband telling me, “You don’t have to deal with this, you can get an epidural. It’s okay to get one if you are tired.” I was so tired, but I pushed on for another hour or so until I just couldn’t handle it anymore, or so I thought.
The anesthesiologist comes in and asks everyone to leave, except for my husband and nurses. We go over the consent form and how the procedure will go, at least I’m assuming we did. This whole time in my labor is a huge blur. I’m having contractions every 45 secs to a minute and I didn’t really care in that moment. I just wanted some relief.
I sit on the side of the bed, curled up against a pillow, trying to not hold my breath at every contraction. My lovely spine is exposed as the doctor gets ready to jab a needle the size of my hand into it. He starts the procedure. After about 5 minutes I could tell something wasn’t going as planned. There was a lot of maneuvering about, there was a lot of pulling sensations that I thought were odd. The doctor told me he was having a hard time getting it placed, he told me my ligaments were super thick. He tried at one spot, couldn’t get it in. He told me he was going to have to try a different spot. Each time he tried a spot, sudden electrical zaps would shoot through my lower back and buttocks, making me jump. It was frightening, that’s the only word I can use for the feeling.
Here I am trying to stay as still as possible while going through contractions because there is a huge needle in my back and something is happening to my body that I can’t control. I screamed out each time and started to cry, trying to explain what I was feeling to the anesthesiologist. He was still struggling behind my back but now he was perplexed as to why I was uncontrollably jerking every time he poked me. “Let’s try another spot,” he said. At least 30 minutes has past now. My mom and my sister are waiting in the hallway, trying to figure out what’s taking so long. I remember reading that epidurals usually take about 10 minutes to complete so I knew something wasn’t going as planned.
Onto another spot he goes, poking me another time in another spot on my spine. Het gets it in, I feel some relief mentally very briefly because I know this should mean my contractions will fade soon. Suddenly, as he starts to inject the epidural medicine into my back, I start to feel this intense pressure going up my back, my neck and all the way to my head. I heard liquid sounds in my ears as this pressure was going up my back. It felt like liquid was being injected into my spinal cord and that pressure was traveling up my back, into my neck and into my head eventually building up so much pressure that so I legitimately thought that my head was going to explode. I screamed out in pain. What the hell is happening?! My back was on fire, my head was throbbing, the light in the hospital room blinded me. Everything is blurry. The doctor asked me what's wrong, what hurts. I try explaining to the best of my ability but all I can get out is “my head, my head!” My head feels like it’s going to explode at any second. He keeps telling me over and over he doesn’t know what happened. Neither did I. All I knew was that this man had stabbed me in my back and I was in the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life all while trying to make sure I have a healthy baby.
My head is still spinning, my tears stained my cheeks. Contractions are still coming on strong but the epidural is in correctly now, at least we think it is. I lay back down and try to rest before it’s time to push. I keep getting told that everything is fine. I keep getting told that nothing wrong happened. But my head is killing me. I still have that same pressure that I experienced during the epidural administration. I try to stop thinking about it but the pain in my head was so bad it was hard to ignore it. I had a job to do though. I had to birth a baby!
An hour after the pain explosion during the epidural, the epidural started to wear off. I knew that wasn’t normal but again, I was just trying to focus on having my baby. It’s finally time to push, the pressure is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. My head is still throbbing, making it hard to push a whole baby out from my body. I remember pushing so hard because I couldn’t stand the pain any longer, I just needed the baby out. So I kept pushing, pushing, pushing, hurry up and just get out! I was getting lightheaded from pushing and the pain, I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to finish pushing. But 5 minutes later, a beautiful baby girl was born. Adeline Mae, 6lbs 8oz, 19 1/4 inches long. She was so tiny...and so so perfect. For the first hour I forgot about the pain I was in. I forgot about the horrible epidural experience. I forgot about how scared I was. I was just so in love with the tiny human we created, nothing else mattered. But the head pain never went away. It’s still there to this day as I’m typing this, 3 in a half years later.
Stay tuned for chapter 2.
*DISCLAIMER*
This is blog is not intended for medical advice nor intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This blog is based off of personal experience.
*** Trigger warnings ***
Medical procedure gone wrong / Traumatic birth / Chronic illness
Please read chapter 1 before reading 💜
Chapter 2 - New Mom Stress
I’m adjusting to life as a new mama. Having a newborn is challenging, you’re up all day and night, you’ve suddenly become another humans life line. You can read all the books, all the blogs, take all the classes you want to prepare for having a newborn, but trust me, you will not feel prepared even with that all. It’s a huge adjustment! It’s amazing, it’s incredible the amount of love you have for something so tiny but it’s hard and overwhelming too.
It’s also hard doing it all when you’re in a lot of pain. No matter what kind of pain, taking care of someone else when you can hardly handle yourself is hard. But my pain, was my head. For 10 days straight after the epidural incident when I gave birth, I had the most painful headache I’ve ever experienced. It wasn’t a normal headache, it was that same excruciating head pressure pain I got during whatever happened with the epidural. Nothing helped it. I was taking prescribed ibuprofen (I had just gave birth, remember!) and Tylenol and it didn’t phase the head pain at all. I remember it got so bad the only thing I could do was cry. And crying makes headaches worse so if someone is crying with a headache, you know it fucking hurts. I was also a new mom, I was learning how to breastfeed, I was learning how to take care of a baby, I was sleep deprived. And I had a giant wound in my vagina from pushing a whole human out. Basically, a lot of things were happening that was new to my body, so I assumed the headache was nothing more than my body trying to adjust.
But almost two weeks had passed and I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I called my OB and explained how this headache hasn’t gone away since getting the epidural and I was just worried. We made an appointment and I went in, she was concerned of my blood pressure being high or possibly developing post-eclampsia. But everything was okay. I got the whole spiel of “you’re a new mom, you’re breastfeeding, your hormones are all whacky. It will probably go away soon,” and was sent home. Which of course at the time, made sense to me. Although I still had the feeling that something wasn’t right, the pain I experienced during my epidural wasn’t normal and now this headache was debilitating. But I was a new mom. And the doctor said I was fine. Who was I to question anybody?
I kept going, because I had to. It had to get better at some point? The head pain did stop being constant…but it never went fully away. I started to notice a pattern with the head pain, and it was way worse when I did certain things. I noticed that if I bent over, I would get the headache. If I coughed/sneezed/strained in any way, here comes the headache. If I moved my head too fast, headache. If I stood up too fast, headache. Any change of pressure…my head felt like it was going to explode just like it did during the epidural incident. I lived with it for 4 months just thinking it will get better, the doctor said it was stress, it’ll get better. But it never did. It was getting too much to handle, I can’t even bend over to pick up my 10 lb baby, something is seriously not right…So I started the search for a neurologist, to get the first of many opinions.
Stay tuned for chapter 3.
*DISCLAIMER*
This is blog is not intended for medical advice nor intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This blog is based off of personal experience.
Sciatica Relief: Why a Specialist Helps You Heal
If you have ever felt a sudden, electric shock travel from your lower back, through your hip, and all the way down to your toes, you know exactly how debilitating sciatica can be. It is not just a simple backache. It is a persistent, gnawing, and often terrifying sensation that can make sitting, standing, or even sleeping feel like an exhausting chore. When that lightning bolt strikes, your world…
Epidural Injection: A Modern Approach to Pain Relief
Living with constant pain can feel exhausting. Whether it’s back pain, sciatica, or neck discomfort, finding relief is often a journey. One treatment that has gained attention in recent years is the epidural injection. Updated medical guidelines highlight its role as a safe and effective option for managing nerve-related pain, especially when other therapies don’t provide enough relief.
What Makes It Different?
Unlike regular painkillers, this treatment delivers medication directly near the spinal nerves. By reducing inflammation, it helps calm pain signals before they reach the brain. For many patients, this means faster relief and improved mobility.
Doctors often recommend epidural injection for chronic pain when conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis make daily life difficult. It’s not a cure, but it can be a powerful step toward regaining comfort.
when conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis make daily life difficult. It’s not a cure, but it can be a powerful step toward regaining comfort.
Conditions Where It Helps
Back Pain Epidural Therapy: For persistent lower back pain that limits movement.
Sciatica Epidural Treatment: When nerve irritation causes pain to radiate down the leg.
Spinal Pain Injection: Used for general spinal discomfort linked to inflammation.
Neck Pain Epidural: Helpful for stiffness or nerve-related pain in the cervical spine.
Each of these treatments is tailored to the patient’s condition, ensuring targeted relief.
The Procedure in Simple Words
The process is straightforward:
The doctor prepares the area with antiseptic.
A small needle places medication near the spinal nerves.
The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.
Most patients return home the same day and resume light activities quickly.
Safety and Recovery
Recent reviews show that epidural injections are generally safe, with only minor side effects like temporary soreness. Serious risks are rare when performed by trained specialists. Clinics such as Treatpain emphasize patient comfort and safety, making the experience smoother.
Epidural Injection for Back Pain at a Private Clinic for Chronic and Acute Pain
Back pain is one of the most common health problems in the UK. It can affect people of all ages and can seriously impact daily life, work, and sleep. For many patients, pain may become long-lasting or suddenly severe, making simple activities difficult. When regular painkillers and physiotherapy are not enough, an epidural injection for back pain can be an effective treatment, especially when provided at a private clinic for chronic and acute pain.
This article explains epidural injections in simple terms, who they are for, how they work, and why private pain clinics are often the preferred choice for fast and specialist care.
Understanding Back Pain: Chronic vs Acute
Back pain is usually divided into two main types:
Acute Back Pain
Acute pain comes on suddenly, often due to:
Muscle strain
Slipped or herniated disc
Injury or accident
Nerve compression
This type of pain may last a few days to a few weeks.
Chronic Back Pain
Chronic pain lasts longer than 12 weeks and may be caused by:
Sciatica
Degenerative disc disease
Spinal stenosis
Arthritis of the spine
Long-term nerve irritation
A private clinic for chronic and acute pain specialises in treating both types with advanced medical techniques, including epidural injections.
What Is an Epidural Injection for Back Pain?
An epidural injection for back pain is a medical treatment where anti-inflammatory medication is injected into the epidural space around the spine. This area surrounds the spinal nerves that often cause pain when inflamed or compressed.
The injection usually contains:
A corticosteroid to reduce inflammation
A local anaesthetic to ease pain quickly
The goal is to reduce swelling around the nerves, relieve pain, and improve movement.
Conditions Treated with Epidural Injections
Epidural injections are commonly used to treat:
Sciatica
Slipped or bulging discs
Nerve root pain
Spinal stenosis
Lower back pain radiating to the legs
Neck and upper back nerve pain
Patients visiting a private clinic for chronic and acute pain are carefully assessed to ensure this treatment is suitable for their condition.
How the Procedure Works
At a private pain clinic, the process is straightforward and patient-focused.
Step-by-Step Process
Consultation and diagnosis The specialist reviews scans such as MRI or X-rays.
Preparation The skin is cleaned and numbed.
Guided injection Using imaging guidance, the doctor places the injection accurately.
Short recovery Patients rest briefly and usually go home the same day.
The entire procedure normally takes 15–30 minutes.
Benefits of Epidural Injection for Back Pain
Many patients choose this treatment because it offers several benefits:
Targeted pain relief
Reduced nerve inflammation
Improved mobility
Non-surgical option
Faster recovery time
Can delay or avoid surgery
At a private clinic for chronic and acute pain, the treatment is personalised, ensuring higher safety and comfort standards.
Why Choose a Private Clinic for Chronic and Acute Pain?
Private pain clinics in the UK offer several advantages over general care.
Key Benefits
Shorter waiting times
Access to pain management specialists
Advanced diagnostic tools
Personalised treatment plans
Calm and comfortable environment
Ongoing follow-up care
Patients dealing with long-term pain often prefer a private clinic for chronic and acute pain due to faster relief and specialist expertise.
How Long Does the Pain Relief Last?
Pain relief varies from person to person. Some patients feel improvement within a few days, while others notice gradual relief over one to two weeks.
The effects may last:
Several weeks
Several months
Longer when combined with physiotherapy and lifestyle changes
Repeat injections may be recommended if pain returns, depending on medical advice.
Are Epidural Injections Safe?
Yes, when performed by experienced specialists, epidural injections are considered safe. Private pain clinics follow strict UK medical guidelines.
Possible side effects are usually mild and temporary, such as:
Soreness at the injection site
Temporary numbness
Mild headache
Serious complications are rare when treatment is carried out at a reputable private clinic for chronic and acute pain.
Who Is Suitable for This Treatment?
You may be suitable if you:
Have persistent back or leg pain
Have nerve-related pain confirmed by scans
Have not improved with medication or therapy
Want non-surgical pain solution
A specialist consultation is essential before proceeding.
Supporting Recovery After the Injection
To get the best results, doctors often recommend:
Gentle movement and stretching
Physiotherapy
Posture correction
Weight management
Avoiding heavy lifting for a short period
A private clinic will usually guide you through a full recovery plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an epidural injection for back pain?
An epidural injection for back pain is a treatment that delivers anti-inflammatory medicine near spinal nerves to reduce pain and swelling.
Is the procedure painful?
Most patients feel only mild discomfort, as local anaesthetic is used.
How quickly will I feel relief?
Some patients feel relief within 24–72 hours, while others may take up to two weeks.
How long does the procedure take?
The injection usually takes around 15–30 minutes, with a short recovery period afterwards.
Can I go home the same day?
Yes, epidural injections are usually done as a day procedure.
Is it better to choose a private clinic for chronic and acute pain?
Yes, private clinics offer faster appointments, specialist care, and personalised treatment plans.
Will I need more than one injection?
Some patients need only one, while others may benefit from repeat injections based on medical advice.
Final Thoughts
Back pain can limit your quality of life, but effective treatments are available. An epidural injection for back pain is a proven option for reducing nerve inflammation and improving mobility. Choosing a private clinic for chronic and acute pain ensures expert care, quicker access to treatment, and a tailored recovery plan.
If back pain is affecting your daily life, consulting a specialist pain clinic could be the first step towards long-term relief.
Epidural Injection for Back Pain at a Private Clinic for Chronic and Acute Pain
Back pain is one of the most common health problems in the UK. It can affect people of all ages and can seriously impact daily life, work, and sleep. For many patients, pain may become long-lasting or suddenly severe, making simple activities difficult. When regular painkillers and physiotherapy are not enough, an epidural injection for back pain can be an effective treatment, especially when provided at a private clinic for chronic and acute pain.
This article explains epidural injections in simple terms, who they are for, how they work, and why private pain clinics are often the preferred choice for fast and specialist care.
Understanding Back Pain: Chronic vs Acute
Back pain is usually divided into two main types:
Acute Back Pain
Acute pain comes on suddenly, often due to:
Muscle strain
Slipped or herniated disc
Injury or accident
Nerve compression
This type of pain may last a few days to a few weeks.
Chronic Back Pain
Chronic pain lasts longer than 12 weeks and may be caused by:
Sciatica
Degenerative disc disease
Spinal stenosis
Arthritis of the spine
Long-term nerve irritation
A private clinic for chronic and acute pain specialises in treating both types with advanced medical techniques, including epidural injections.
What Is an Epidural Injection for Back Pain?
An epidural injection for back pain is a medical treatment where anti-inflammatory medication is injected into the epidural space around the spine. This area surrounds the spinal nerves that often cause pain when inflamed or compressed.
The injection usually contains:
A corticosteroid to reduce inflammation
A local anaesthetic to ease pain quickly
The goal is to reduce swelling around the nerves, relieve pain, and improve movement.
Conditions Treated with Epidural Injections
Epidural injections are commonly used to treat:
Sciatica
Slipped or bulging discs
Nerve root pain
Spinal stenosis
Lower back pain radiating to the legs
Neck and upper back nerve pain
Patients visiting a private clinic for chronic and acute pain are carefully assessed to ensure this treatment is suitable for their condition.
How the Procedure Works
At a private pain clinic, the process is straightforward and patient-focused.
Step-by-Step Process
Consultation and diagnosis The specialist reviews scans such as MRI or X-rays.
Preparation The skin is cleaned and numbed.
Guided injection Using imaging guidance, the doctor places the injection accurately.
Short recovery Patients rest briefly and usually go home the same day.
The entire procedure normally takes 15–30 minutes.
Benefits of Epidural Injection for Back Pain
Many patients choose this treatment because it offers several benefits:
Targeted pain relief
Reduced nerve inflammation
Improved mobility
Non-surgical option
Faster recovery time
Can delay or avoid surgery
At a private clinic for chronic and acute pain, the treatment is personalised, ensuring higher safety and comfort standards.
Why Choose a Private Clinic for Chronic and Acute Pain?
Private pain clinics in the UK offer several advantages over general care.
Key Benefits
Shorter waiting times
Access to pain management specialists
Advanced diagnostic tools
Personalised treatment plans
Calm and comfortable environment
Ongoing follow-up care
Patients dealing with long-term pain often prefer a private clinic for chronic and acute pain due to faster relief and specialist expertise.
How Long Does the Pain Relief Last?
Pain relief varies from person to person. Some patients feel improvement within a few days, while others notice gradual relief over one to two weeks.
The effects may last:
Several weeks
Several months
Longer when combined with physiotherapy and lifestyle changes
Repeat injections may be recommended if pain returns, depending on medical advice.
Are Epidural Injections Safe?
Yes, when performed by experienced specialists, epidural injections are considered safe. Private pain clinics follow strict UK medical guidelines.
Possible side effects are usually mild and temporary, such as:
Soreness at the injection site
Temporary numbness
Mild headache
Serious complications are rare when treatment is carried out at a reputable private clinic for chronic and acute pain.
Who Is Suitable for This Treatment?
You may be suitable if you:
Have persistent back or leg pain
Have nerve-related pain confirmed by scans
Have not improved with medication or therapy
Want a non-surgical pain solution
A specialist consultation is essential before proceeding.
Supporting Recovery After the Injection
To get the best results, doctors often recommend:
Gentle movement and stretching
Physiotherapy
Posture correction
Weight management
Avoiding heavy lifting for a short period
A private clinic will usually guide you through a full recovery plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an epidural injection for back pain?
An epidural injection for back pain is a treatment that delivers anti-inflammatory medicine near spinal nerves to reduce pain and swelling.
Is the procedure painful?
Most patients feel only mild discomfort, as local anaesthetic is used.
How quickly will I feel relief?
Some patients feel relief within 24–72 hours, while others may take up to two weeks.
How long does the procedure take?
The injection usually takes around 15–30 minutes, with a short recovery period afterwards.
Can I go home the same day?
Yes, epidural injections are usually done as a day procedure.
Is it better to choose a private clinic for chronic and acute pain?
Yes, private clinics offer faster appointments, specialist care, and personalised treatment plans.
Will I need more than one injection?
Some patients need only one, while others may benefit from repeat injections based on medical advice.
Final Thoughts
Back pain can limit your quality of life, but effective treatments are available. An epidural injection for back pain is a proven option for reducing nerve inflammation and improving mobility. Choosing a private clinic for chronic and acute pain ensures expert care, quicker access to treatment, and a tailored recovery plan.
If back pain is affecting your daily life, consulting a specialist pain clinic could be the first step towards long-term relief.
Epidural Injection - Best Option For Painless Delivery
An epidural injection is an ideal option if you are experiencing severe labor pain during delivery. Find out what it entails and why gynecologists in Kamothe consider it the best option for painless delivery!
Read our blog: https://maternityhospitalinvashi.blogspot.com/2023/02/epidural-injection-best-option-for.html