Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Feb
16
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“There Is No Such Thing As An Epidural Headache.”
“There is no such thing as an epidural headache.” -L&D nurse’s response in a hospital birth class after I asked about the risk of getting a headache from an epidural..
There are 26 comments to this post.
……so the anesthesiolgists and nurse-anethetists that administer the epidurals are making it up when they inform you of potential complications with an epidural? Gee, who would have thought this one L & D nurse had all the friggin’ answers!! I think a call to the head of Anesthesia is in order, here!! She needs to know they are very real! What does she think they occasionally do “blood patches” for? A quilting project??
[Reply]
mommymichael had this to say,
Feb 16, 2010 @ 6:40 am (Quote)
From my experience, there sure as hell is. There’s also lingering back pain. Mine lasted 2 weeks, and only in the two spots where the epidural was placed, and then redone.
[Reply]
So… all those doctors who treat epidural headaches are all quacks? And all those medical references with information about the incidence and treatment of epidural headaches are all works of fiction?
It seems to me more likely that this one nurse was woefully ignorant or willfully deceptive.
[Reply]
stefanie Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 8:01 am (Quote)
hi, i’m the one who submitted this, and i *think* it was ignorance. not sure which is worse, ignorance when that is a key part of your job (especially since she had been doing this for over 20 years), or intentionally lying to try to get patients to do what you want.
[Reply]
Actually, this happens approximately 3-5% of the time, when the dura is accidentally punctured and cerebrospinal fluid leaks into the epidural space. It could last as short as a few hours and as long as a few months.
Basically, it happens when the technician isn’t very good at his job.
[Reply]
Mistie Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 8:00 am (Quote)
..or it could happen because they are trying to stick a needle and then a tube into the spinal cord and keep it to one specific layer when he 3 layers there are all separated by a hairline divider. And yes, it does happen when the tech doesn’t do their job right.
Not to alienate anyone, we are all entitled to our choices, but *I* feel the same way about epidurals as I do anal sex.. God didn’t intend for that to happen, I’m not going to force it or even consider it. Sorry, that may sound a little crass, but hey, it works.
[Reply]
Kathy Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 8:55 am (Quote)
You just made me literally LOL! Crass, but *funny*! 
[Reply]
Jessica Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 9:01 am (Quote)
3-5% is higher than the uterine rupture rate for a VBAC. Yes, the consequences of a rupture are likely to be worse than the spinal headache but if the tiny percentage of a chance that it is going to happen is the reason given for not attempting VBAC then why would we not admit that spinal headaches do happen with epidurals even if they are rare?
[Reply]
atyourcervix had this to say,
Feb 16, 2010 @ 7:36 am (Quote)
Technically, it’s not an epidural headache. It’s a spinal headache. Like what Sheva said, it’s when the dura is accidentally punctured during an epidural placement.
But yeah, it hurts like h$ll.
[Reply]
So I guess all those months of headaches I had were just all in my head, right? haha.
[Reply]
The Deranged Housewife had this to say,
Feb 17, 2010 @ 6:17 am (Quote)
Agh, the lies! The lies! I can’t stand it anymore! (running around in circles, screaming)
And I suppose you don’t ever get fevers from epidurals, either? *sigh*
[Reply]
Amelia Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 6:40 am (Quote)
Actually, they’re not sure if epidurals give women fevers, because they were comparing women with epidurals to women on narcotic pain relievers, which are known to *lower* body temperature. So it may be that women who are not medicated and women with epidurals have normal or slightly elevated temps, and they only look high in comparison to women with depressed temps.
[Reply]
hey this one was mine. this was at a typical hospital birthing class where they basically teach you how to fit in with the hospital’s policies. it was during my first pregnancy, and i know if i knew what i know now, i would have found another birth option after going to that class!!!! BUT i’m glad i didn’t. i actually ended up with a wonderful nurse who i think was a doula-in-disguise, my CNM was great, and i didn’t have an epidural, not that they have any risks anyway, right? 
there were things that didn’t go 100% the way i would want, but i was in a hospital soo…
[Reply]
OMG. I was badgered into an epidural when my daughter was born. I had a crazy bad migraine for almost 7 weeks after she was born via section. Heh, I clearly remember telling the drug doc not to nick my dura. I also remember the dirty look he gave me… lol!!
[Reply]
Add Your Comment.
Previous Post
« “…Her 6 1/2 Or 7 Is My 4…” Next Post
“We’ll Check Her Vitals Again At Shift Change…” »
« “…Her 6 1/2 Or 7 Is My 4…” Next Post
“We’ll Check Her Vitals Again At Shift Change…” »
Technically right, but so wrong! If epidural is done right you won’t get a spinal headache. If dura is punctured (making it not EPIdural anymore) then you may get a spinal headache. But I never hear of moms told this risk in advance because it’s not supposed to happen with an epidural…
[Reply]
Laura Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 7:21 pm Laura(Quote)
I am suddenly very grateful that I was, in fact, told about this risk. I still had an epidural, but I knew the risk I was taking and at least they were honest with me!
[Reply]