Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 6/18/2008

Question
Hi,

I got an epidural for a myomectomy a week ago.  It was really painful when he was placing it. I think that he numbed one place on my spine, but could not get it in.  He then moved down a space a put one in, but without any local.  Is this common?  I've had spinals before without problem but I would not get an epidural again.  Could I request that no epidural be placed without local?

Thanks!

Answer
It is VERY unusual not to use local because the needle is very large and very painful. It might have been that he thought the area had local already there but if you were complaining during the procedure (as I'm sure you were), he should have stopped and given you more. You can certainly request that you get local but as I said, any anesthesiologist should know to give adequate local. Don't rule out ever getting an epidural again because of this bad experience. They are very effective and very worthwhile.

Sorry for your bad experience,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston