epidural pain equal to spinal tap pain?

Kate - posted on 01/20/2012

Hi Elizabeth, Spinal tap for me was like a "pop" sensation. Epidural kind of felt the same. the Anesthiologist kind of wriggled the epidural and it sent an electric shock sensation down my leg. it didn't hurt - it was just weird.

The major side effect of the epidural for me was the migraine i had for the fortnight following the birth and the fact that i delivered on my back without being able to feel my flexibility limits caused pelvic girle issues for my second pregnancy.

Best of luck

Tamzin~Rose - posted on 10/11/2009

pretty much it feels like a slight pinch then a bit of pressure on your lower back, but you gotta remember they also numb the area before hand, the main thing i remember was the alcohol wash on my back, man that stuff is cold.

Christina - posted on 10/11/2009

For myself, I find that the epidural is nothing compared to a spinal tap. I'd opt for a epidural over a spinal tap any day lol!

Peta - posted on 10/06/2009

I had the epi, and it didn't hurt at all. they did a local first, that was the most painful bit, and it was just like a pinprick :P

Sarah - posted on 09/24/2009

i got mine done right after the doctor broke my water.through out my whole pregnancy i said i wasnt going to get it because if i could sit through habing my rib cage tattooed for 2 hours i could deal with child birth. boy was i wrong! i made the decision when i was already in labor to get it. when they gave it to me they first did a local anestethic which really didnt hurt all that bad n then the actual epidural didnt even feel like it was going in my back. it just felt like something was pushing against me. i didnt feel a thing giving birth either. i was numb from the middle of my chest down. i almost dropped my knee on the doctors head because i couldnt keep it up! i had to push it back up with my hands! some people dnt get THAT lucky but getting the epidural is a piece of cake!

Charquita - posted on 09/18/2009

i only had the epideral and it didn't hurt but it also didnt work for me either!!

Caryn Ann - posted on 08/20/2009

I've had both. The epidural is done by an anesthesiologist, not an inexperienced er doctor. No digging around. By the time you have it done, the contractions are painful and the epidural is just a little prick to ease the pain. No biggie, but a great relief. They don't spend a lot of time working on it either. They numb you up, stick the needle in, thread a line in and tape it down. Quick and easy. In a spinal tap, they take more time (and more poking around) to measure the pressure of your spinal fluid and draw some out for testing. I've had a few of them done and the experience level of the technician definitely makes a difference. I had one done where they had to use two test kits on me because he botched the first one. That time it took a long time and was more painful than usual. I'd expect the anesthesiologist to have quite a bit of experience doing epidurals, since this is a routine procedure done on a daily basis. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Good luck with your birth.

Sam - posted on 08/19/2009

when in labour I had both done & found neither of them hurt

Leanne - posted on 08/19/2009

i waited until i was 7cm dilated to get an epidural, and by the time i got it my contractions were so close together and so strong i didnt feel a thing.. all the sudden they said they were done and that i could lay down.. then i was able to fall asleep for a good 2 hours!