Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 1/26/2008

Question
hi,
i delivered a baby in sept 5 2007, and was given a spinal anesthesia, prior to this the anesthesiologist explained the procedure to me and i was more than happy to see the baby immediately. the procedure went well and i only experienced one needle pick, in hte spine.
I was discharged in 3 days and was feeling fine. however in the subsequent weeks (after i was off antibiotics and pain medication Vovran 50) i keep getting persistent back pain especially in the lower back, i have seen a orthopedic, who stated that the pain was due to the spinal anesthesia, and i should have opted for a general anesthesia, as spinal anesthesia often results in back pain. The back pain often travels to my shoulders as well as to my buttocks. on a 1-10 the pain is 6.
I was doing exercises to get back in shape, but because of back pain i have stopped.
Why do i keep getting this back pain? Is it because of the spinal anesthesia?

regards
sonia

Answer
First off all, the orthopedic surgeon should stick to orthopedics and not tell you things that are not true! While some patients do experience some soreness at the site of the spinal, this is not the rule and spinals have been shown many times over to be safe and desirable for c-sections. That being said, you are still having pain and that needs to be treated. I am assuming that the orthopod ordered all the appropriate tests to rule out organic causes (discs, nerve entrapment, etc). You might consider seeing a neurologist or a neurosurgeon (my preferred consult for back pain) and getting a second opinion. I strongly doubt that the spinal was the cause (particularly since it was an easy placement).

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston