Does getting an epidural or spinal hurt?

Question

I know they will numb you first, but still, the anestetic has to go in your spine, does it hurt? how would you compare it to an injection in your arm or hip? or on a scale from 1-10

Answer 1

well considering i was in labor with back labor for me the only thing i felt was when they numbed me. its a different feeling but if you have an experianced ansteciolgest you won't feel a thing.

Answer 2

I have had both an epidural and a spinal. You do have to be still, but it is very easy for both of them. I have 3 kids, the first I had an epidural, and then when they had to do a c-section, they upped my medicine for numbing from the chest down. The second child I had an epidural and for some reason it only took on one side-they then did a spinal. The third child I did the spinal first. Pain wise, they are about the same, probably a 2, if that. I NO side effects from either of them. I had to have 3 c-sections. When it is all over and you look at your baby, it doesn't matter what you go through to have him/her! Congratulations!!!

Answer 3

I have had en epidural twice and neither time did it really hurt,it is a different feeling then taking blood etc but it didnt hurt to me *maybe just like a pinch and some pressure* I say getting an iv is way worse then an epidural anyday...Once they stick u it may only hurt u *if u arent that good with pain* for less than a minute then u will feel the numbness kicking in almost immediately when they start to administer the drugs..good luck and dont worry *its not like people make it out to be* so from a scale 1-10 i have to say a 1...

Answer 4

I got a spinal when i was 18 weeks pregnant b/c i needed an emergency cerclage to stop my cervix from dilating. I was not in any pain, and i was not experiencing labor or contractions. I had to sit on the operating table and curve my back to better expose my spinal column to the doctor. The needle just felt like a small pinch....very comparable to getting blood drawn in the arm. If you've ever had a PPD done (to check for exposure to tuberculusosis), i think that hurts more! Within moments of the spinal medicine going in, my feet got VERY warm. then the felt heavy and then i couldn't feel anything at all!! The doctors and nurses had to move my legs and lower body around for me b/c i had NO control! Really, getting the spinal was not that bad (I;m planning on having an epidural when i go into labor)!! Good luck to you!

Answer 5

I had an epidural during child birth. Labor pains are so AWFUL that getting the epidural was cake. You aren't even thinking about if its going to hurt cause you are in so much pain to begin with. But it does hurt going in -- but only for a second -- Honestly, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst pain) it was probably only a 3 or 4. I will say that once that suckers in its heaven!!

Answer 6

I was induced for my pregnancy but, before they did the epidural, I was having such bad contractions, after they broke my water, they gave me some pain killers to hold me over until I was time to deliver. All the pain killers really did was knock me out and once I came to, they were raising the bed to get ready to do it. Between the contractions (which I was feeling then) and being so groggy, I just sat there and when I heard the anesthetic go "Okay, you're done" I was thinkin "When did they do it?" I didn't even know it was being done.

So because of that, on my scale of 1-10, it was a 1. I didn't feel a thing. If your having contractions the time they actually do this, you prob. won't feel a thing and won't care because the only thing you want is the pain to stop.

Good luck and congratulations =o)

Answer 7

It does hurt and I do not remember them numbing me. I was in so much labor pain that the epidural pain was about a 3-4. Make sure they check how far you are dilated. If your a 7 or more, the epidural does not have much of an affect. That's what happened to me. I felt everything and was able to move myself (& my legs) from one bed to the delivery bed.

Answer 8

I had a spinal due to having a scheduled c-section and it really didn't hurt at all. What did hurt was for the next few days I got AWFUL headaches, so bad I thought head was going to explode. It is just a side effect of the medecine, other than that I didn't have any problems with it.

Answer 9

Seriously, for me, the pain factor was a 0. I didn't even know they had finished the process. I guess I was fortunate to have a very competent doctor and all other conditions were favourable. I think overall, they are not painful though there are exceptions.

No one is going to be able to tell you how yours will be, we can only speak from our own experiences.

And, yes, there is a danger of them going too far with the needle and you end up with that terrible headache.

You have to make an informed decision based on your research and discussion with your doctors. Know that risks are low but they are possible. wikipedia, webmd, babycenter.com are all good resources.

Answer 10

I'm sure it hurts (I've never had one), but if you're worried about pain the contractions are going to be much worse and ongoing! I'll bet at the point that they can give you an epidural, you won't care about a bit of temporary pain to relieve the pain of labor. Good luck!

Answer 11

They do hurt a little bit yes....but compared to the pain of the contractions you probably won't even notice the pain much. The only side affects I had afterwards was feeling a little nauseus and a little bit of soreness at the injection site.