Epidural vs. spinal block

[ktsonn]

Hello - I'm a little freaked out as I am a week away from my planned c-section and just found out that I will be getting a spinal block and not an epidural. I had my first child at Georgetown and had an epidural. The whole procedure went very smoothly and I had a great experience. There is so much less information out there about spinal blocks and with this pregnancy I'll be at Holy Cross so that's another experience to deal with.
Have any of you had a spinal block and if so, how did it go?
Thanks for your help!!!!

[Anonymous]

I've had both an epidural and a spinal block. For me the spinal block was much much better. With the epidural I got the shakes in the OR. None of that with the spinal block. The spinal block wore off much faster so I was able to hold the baby and be up and about much more quickly.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for that feedback. What a relief!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

actually a spinal block does not wear off quicker than an epidual. Epidual, if given correctly should wear off as soon as tube is pulled out of your back. Spinals last for a few hours. One other draw back to a spinal is the possibility of a spinal headache. They do happen and they are no fun. Did they not give you a choice? Good luck

[Anonymous]

You can get the headach with either one. I got the headache when I had an epidural.

[Anonymous]

I had a spinal with my C at Holy Cross Hospital. The anesthesiologist was very good. I have not had an epidural so I cannot compare, but I didn’t like the feeling of the spinal. I leaned over the side of the table, he did his thing, and within a minute or two I lost all feeling from the waist down. I think the procedure started within 10 minutes of me getting the spinal block. DH was not allowed in the room for that (not sure why) but was brought in for the rest of the C. Once DS was born and I was in recovery, I got sick (dry heaves). It lasted a few minutes, I guess. Then it happened again a little later when I was being wheeled to my room. I did not have any headaches, shakes, blood pressure issues, etc. I can’t remember how long it took to wear off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get the headach with either one. I got the headache when I had an epidural.

A spinal headache is extremely painful, you will throw up when you sit up, and it last a long time. They will usually give you an injection of blood into your spine to stop the leakage, which is why the headaches happen. An epidural does not go into the spine, it is placed next to the spine. You may get a headach from it, but I do not think it is the same. Spinal headaches are debilitation. The only thing you can do is stay on your back until the leak is closed. It does not happen all the time, but it is pretty common.

[Anonymous]

Actually, yes, you can get the spinal headache with an epidural, as I did (and as 2 of my friends did). My understanding is that it's actually more common with the epidural than the spinal, due to the size of the needle. Basically, when the epidural needle (larger) goes too far for whatever reason, you have a small leak of your spinal fluid, as the PP said. It is extremely painful whenever you try to sit up, though I did not throw up. My wonderful husband had to do pretty much everything for the baby except nurse him for several days after we came home, and I was taking 800 mg of Motrin every 8 hours and Tylenol in-between as directed by my doc. I did have the "blood patch" as they call it, but it didn't work.

None of which I'm sure is very comforting to the OP, but I really believe in our birth class, they said this is not likely with a spinal block. All the best to you for a healthy delivery!

[Anonymous]

I had both and I would vote for an epidural. The spinal took several hours longer to wear off, and I had some anxiety post-operation about not being able to feel or move my legs. Also, I developed a strange rash where the spinal went in, all the way down the leg. Did not have that with the epidural. For what it's worth.

[Anonymous]

OP - I have had both and had no probkems with either. My OBs typically do an epidural for vaginal birth, if requested and a spinal for C- Section. This is what I ahve heard from many others - one friend I have did have an epidural for a C-section though a long time ago and she could feel more tugging, pressure.
A lot of the differences noted above is because what type of needle and how far the insertion goes are two issues but the medications is another - different combinations of medication can be used and different dosages, etc. Also, people react differently to meds.
In my cases, the spinal provided more of a block - casue less sensation and less, actually no movement of the LEs...which is very important in a C-section. After 3 spinals I have had no headaches and recovery time (when I could get up and walk was about 2 to 2.5 hours, I think). Again, depending on how much meds you get this can vary.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thank you to everyone for your helpful responses. I guess I just have to wait and see how it goes. The most important thing in the end is a healthy baby so I will deal with whatever I have to in order to get there!
Thanks!!!!!