FAQ - Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal
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What is the difference between epidural and spinal block? What are their specific indications?


I know the area where to administer epidural anesthesia (between the ligamentum flavum and the dura mater) as well as with the spinal block (in the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater). But I don't know if what are the scope of difference covered between the two when it comes to indications. Can you give light to my confusion? Thank you [",]
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The big difference is that epidural anesthesia is continuously delivered through an infusion pump through an indwelling epidural catheter whereas as spinal anesthesia is a one time dose of anesthesia injected using a spinal needle. Their placement areas are generally the same.  (+ info)

What is the difference with an epidural and a spinal?


I see people writing about different pains from a spinal or an epidural when giving birth... is there a difference? Does an epidural hurt?
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I had a spinal; I had to because I was having a c section. I didn't want to see the needle, so I don't know how big the needle is, but it was injected directly into my spine. It hurt like hell for 4 seconds, and then I was numb from the neck down for 12 hours.
With an epidural, you have a catheter hanging from your back.  (+ info)

what is the difference between spinal block and epidural?


How do they do the spinal block i have never heard of that? I know everything about Epidural but what is the difference between them and which works better?
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There are several layers between your skin and the subarachnoid space (where your cerebrospinal fluid is).

The layers in order are skin > fascia > supraspinous ligament > interspinous ligament > ligamentum flavum > epidural space > dura > subarachnoid space.

When placing an epidural, the anesthetist places a catheter (thin plastic tubing) in the epidural space. This gives you a continuous infusion of local anesthetic that numbs up the part of your body that is covered. It can take 10 minutes or so for the epidural to start taking effect.

When doing a spinal, the anesthetist performs a single injection in the subarachnoid space. There is no catheter. The effect is immediate and the numbness can last for a few hours depending on the dose and concentration of the drug. In general this is used for surgical anesthesia (e.g c-section) but can also be used when the patient needs quick relief and she is about to deliver.

At many institutions including the baby factory known as Prentice Women's Hospital (Northwestern Memorial Hospital - Chicago), the anesthesiologists usually do a combined technique to get the immediate effects of the spinal and the continous infusion of the epidural.

good luck!  (+ info)

What is the difference between a Epidural and a spinal block?


As I had a c-section, with my daughter it was an emergency one. and I had to be put out because I did not get numbed, I only got half way numbed.
So What is it that happened? What did I have? a spinal or a epidural? and what is the difference?
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Epidural

This is a combination of a local anaesthetic and a narcotic that continuously relieves pain in the lower part of the body. An epidural is given with a catheter into the epidural space, which surrounds the spine area of your body. A small test dose may first be administered to determine how the medication will affect you. Once it is deemed safe, a continuous flow may be administered with the help of a catheter. While receiving an epidural, the foetal heart rate is monitored continuously, as is the mother’s blood pressure. It takes about 20 minutes to administer an epidural block and another 20 minutes for it to take effect.
Using an epidural allows a mother to remain fully awake. Additionally, the baby should not be affected in any way. It is also possible to receive a "walking epidural," which still blocks the pain of labour, but leaves you with enough lower body strength and muscle to walk about. The combination of these two becomes much more affective than the two used separately.


Spinal Blocks

With this kind of medication a dose of anaesthetic and a narcotic drug is given through direct injection into the spinal fluid. The pain relief is speedy and the affect lasts for a few hours.
As compared to an epidural, a spinal block differs in two ways. First it is administered directly into the fluid surrounding the spine; secondly a catheter is not used, and instead a one-time injection is given. For someone who is fast reaching labour and does not have the time required for the administration or the delayed affect of an epidural, a spinal nerve block is a better choice. It is also suggested for women who want pain relief late in labour.

This medication is also used by doctors during caesarean sections as it not only gives pain relief but also helps in blocking the motor nerves making the mother feel totally numb from chest down. Some common spinal blocks use chloroprocaine or lidocaine as anaesthetics and fentanyl or meperidine as narcotics.  (+ info)

What is the difference between an epidural and a spinal?


i know that the spinal acts quicker... (right???)
i had an emergency c-section after a 30 hour labour with my son (had the epidural while in labour) and i am 25 weeks pregnant and have to have another c-section however i was told that they will give me a spinal which is like an epidural

what are the differences and what are the different side effects?

thanks in advance for your answers!
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1. A spinal block (also called a spinal) involves an injection in the lower back that numbs the lower body. With a spinal, the medication is given only once. It begins to relieve pain almost immediately, but pain relief lasts only 1-2 hours. A spinal is most commonly used when pain relief is needed for a limited period of time, such as for a cesarean delivery or a vaginal delivery in which the doctor uses instruments to help the baby out. Side effects are similar to an epidural.

2. An epidural is an injection given near the nerves in the lower back to numbs your lower body. It blocks pain from contractions, while allowing you to be awake and alert. You should begin to feel pain relief within 5-15 minutes, though you still may feel some pressure during contractions. You probably won't be able to walk around once the epidural takes effect, but you should be able to push during delivery.  (+ info)

What are pluses and minuses to epidural vs. spinal?


I have to have a scheduled c-section and I wanted to know whether an epidural or spinal would be the better choice? I had an emergency c/s with my last baby, I don't remember what they gave me and I have to have a c/s with this one. Just wanted to know if anyone has any laymans advice about either option.
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With my first (unplanned) c-sec I had an epidural which was great cause they left it in and gave me my pain medicine that way.
With my second (unplanned) c-sec I got an epidural but before they could get everyone together for the surgery I had wiggled too much and slid it out too far so they gave me a spinal.
With my third planned c-section I only had a spinal (which didn't take all the way so they had to knock me out).

I noticed no difference when they put them in. They both felt about like it does when they start an IV, and both are done pretty much the same way (you cramped over your big belly with a nurse holding your head down). I also noticed no difference with the after affects.

The only down fall with the spinal is they insert the medicine then take it out right away and then wait for it to work. If it doesn't work they can't re-dose you. If something happens and the surgery takes too long they can't re-dose you. You will have to be put under. But anesthesiologist still prefer the spinal cause it is more reliable and takes less time to work than an epidural.

I think unless you ask otherwise they will give you a spinal. I think the only reason I got the first two epidurals was because I was in labor and no surgery was scheduled so they were able to leave the epidural in to relive the pain till the surgery was put together.

Congrats and good luck  (+ info)

What is the best treatment for Spinal Epidural lipomatosis?


My husband was recently diagnosed with Spinal Epidural Lipamatosis. We were steroid shots were a small possibility but surgery was the most likely solution. Any other possibilities or what the surgery entails?
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Surgical procedure is the best option of people diagnosed with Spinal Epidural lipomatosis.
Read some articles here:
http://www.healthaddicted.blogspot.com/
Comment  (+ info)

What is difference between a spinal block and an epidural?


i had a spinal block with my first c-section,and felt nothing from my breasts down and i wore off about 30mins-1 hour after the op,is that what its like with an epidural or is it weaker and does it wear off and need topping up...the spinal block worked in seconds and didnt need topping up as far as i remembered..just wondering because doc said i could have an epidural for pain relief with my second birth but if i cant feel anything how would i know when to push?(if i end up having natural birth)
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There are several questions in there, relating to both labor pain and the operative procedure of cesarian delivery.

An epidural is placed outside of the dura. A spinal block is placed about 1/2 inch or less in farther, until the tip of the needle is beneath the dura (and arachnoid), into the spinal fluid.

Epidurals are commonly used for pain relief during labor. Spinals or "intrathecal narcotics" are mostly reserved for the last hour or so of labor. Years ago we did a lot of "saddle blocks" which is a low-dose spinal that helps a lot to take away the pain of delivery.

The dose of local anesthetic needed to do a C section with an epidural is much higher with an epidural than a spinal. For instance, a typical dose of lidocaine for epidural for C section would be around 400 mg. A typical dose of lidocaine for a spinal for C section would be 60 to 80 mg.

For C-sections, spinals are much more reliable, faster, easier to do, give better muscle relaxation, and avoid the risk of local anesthetic overdose that can occur with epidurals.

An epidural given for labor can be "topped up" with large doses of local anesthetic, enough to do a C-section, but it has to be done about 20 to 30 minutes before the C-section to really work well. If the epidural has been in a long time, it is, in my experience, less likely to work. No matter how much you tape in the epidural catheter, it will tend to work its way out as the patient moves around. If the labor epidural is working poorly it is actually better to pull the epidural and do a spinal for the C-section.

Spinals have a low but real risk of spinal headaches. If an epidural goes OK there will be no spinal headache, but if the needle goes in too far, into the spinal fluid, there is a very high risk of spinal headache, and this happens maybe one out of 100-200 epidurals.

Epidurals have the advantage of allowing a catheter to be threaded so that medicine can be given over a long time. When this was tried with spinals, there was a high incidence of permanent nerve damage, and the FDA withdrew approval for spinal anesthetic catheters.  (+ info)

can you have an epidural or spinal block for childbirth if you have back problems?


I have 3 herniated disks from my L-3 to my S-1 and I was wondering if they will still do an epidural, or spinal block if I have to have a C-Section. I had my other kids naturally but this one may require a C-Section. No cocky rude answers please and I am not concerned about my spelling thank you. My only question is about the epidural or spinal block please?
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Yes they can it is possible! I had an epidural and I have 2 herniated discs in my back. It didn't effect my back at all before or afterwards, the epidural worked wonder for me. So my answer to you is Yes!  (+ info)

Does a spinal tap hurt more than getting an epidural?


I'm scheduled for a spinal tap, and I'm wondering how much it hurts. I had an epidural 2 years ago, and that was no big deal. Just experienced a ton of pressure. I'm just wondering if it's worse, better, anything?

Thanks!
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In order to get an epidural, your spine needs to be tapped. So my answer to you question is that it would be the same. The only difference being why you had the epidural. If it was for labour then the tap might have been in your spine longer than a spinal tap requires to be. Another difference between the two is that a spinal tap is usually to take a sample of spinal fluid or to relieve fluid from the spine whereas an epidural is to administer a pain killer for operations below the chest area or for labour pain during delivery.  (+ info)

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