General self-care

Back pain after an epidural is a widespread occurrence and can persist for weeks or even months after delivery. Fortunately, chiropractic care has helped many women find safe and natural pain relief from epidural side effects.

You can manage this soreness by:

1. Applying ice packs. Putting ice on the affected area might help ease pain and soreness temporarily.
2. Taking over-the-counter pain medication. Taking a nonprescription pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, can provide short-term relief.
3. Limiting activity.
4. Keeping track of pain.

1. Soak in a warm tub.
2. Use a heating pad or a cold pack on the painful area. (Cover it to protect your skin.)
3. Get a massage to soothe pulled muscles, tense shoulders, and low back pain.
4. Learn relaxation techniques.
5. Try transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Your Recovery The effects of the epidural usually wear off within 2 hours after the epidural medicine is stopped. After the epidural wears off, you may have some cramping and vaginal pain from childbirth. You may have a small bruise, and the skin may be sore where the epidural was put in your back.

The needle used to deliver the epidural can hit a nerve, leading to temporary or permanent loss of feeling in your lower body. Bleeding around the area of the spinal cord and using the wrong medication in the epidural can also cause nerve damage. This side effect is extremely rare.

Generally speaking, once you are dilated past 5 or 6 centimeters and having regular contractions, most practitioners will be fairly insistent that you remain in the hospital or birth center until your baby is born.