NJ
A 27-year-old female asked:
why did it take three attempts for my epidural to finally work? the first two didn't work and numbed only half my body.
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Orrin Ailloni-Charasanswered
Anesthesiology 29 years experience
You can : Get unilateral blocks sometimes. They are likely due to catheter position and can be fixed by moving or replacing it.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ryan Kelleranswered
Anesthesiology 15 years experience
Incomplete epidural: A couple common reasons. If your ack/leg pain is from stenosis(tightness around nerve exit) the steroids didn't reach the nerve because it is so tight. The third epidural was most likely at a different level or approach (transformational) this is a common scenario. If it was from disc bulge the pressure may have been so hard on the nerve that the inflammation did not resolve until third shot.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jan 24, 2014
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