There are several potential side effects that can occur after having epidural anaesthesia.
Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure (hypotension) is the most common side effect that is associated with having an epidural. This is because the local anaesthetic that is used affects the nerves that go to your blood vessels, resulting in a fall in blood pressure.
Therefore, your blood pressure will be closely monitored while you are having an epidural. If necessary, medication can be passed through a drip to treat low blood pressure.
Pain and discomfort
It is likely that you will experience some slight discomfort when medication, such as local anaesthetic, is injected.
Sometimes, it is also possible for an epidural to be unsuccessful or for the pain relief to be inadequate. For example, this might occur if:
- it proves difficult to fit the epidural catheter (the thin, flexible tube through which the anaesthetic is injected)
- the local anaesthetic does not spread evenly around the epidural space
- the catheter falls out
If you have an epidural that fails to work effectively, there are other types of pain relief available.
Loss of bladder control
After having an epidural, you will not usually be able to tell whether you need to pass urine. This is because the epidural affects the nerves around your bladder.
You will therefore have a catheter inserted into your bladder to allow urine to be drained away when your bladder is full. Your bladder control will return to normal as soon as the epidural wears off.
Itchy skin
Sometimes, the painkillers that are combined with local anaesthetic and given during an epidural can cause itchiness. If you develop itchy skin it can usually be effectively treated using antihistamines (anti-allergy medicines).
Sickness
You may feel sick (or actually be sick) after having an epidural. However, you are less likely to experience this side effect than after having a general anaesthetic. If you do feel sick, anti-sickness medicines will usually help.
Backache
A study that was carried out in 2010 found that there is no increased risk associated with the use of epidural anaesthesia and long-term backache.
Your epidural care team will try to ensure that you are lying in a comfortable position during and after the procedure, but being in the same position for a prolonged period may inevitably make existing backache worse.
If you experience severe backache in the weeks following an epidural, you should report your symptoms to your care team as soon as possible so that they can investigate the problem.
