Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 4/21/2008

Question
I am 9 weeks post partum and having back pain in the mid to lower portion of my back.  During my labor of my 3rd child, there were problems inserting my epidural.  (the 1st time, it did not take and I had to be stuck 2-3 times more for one to work).

I did not have any back pain during this pregnancy as I had with the previous two.  Could the trouble with the epidural be related to these pains (about a 6 or 7 on a 10 point scale)?

Answer
It's certainly possible but there is no way for me to know without examining you, etc. If the pain is getting worse, you should check it out with a physician. If it is getting better, then you can wait it out. There are, of course, other possible reasons for the back pain which you might want to explore (related to carrying the pregnancy).

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston