Is it true that epidurals cause backache?

Is it true that epidurals cause backache?

Samuel Seelig (Anesthesiologist, Los Angeles, California) gives expert video advice on: What are the risks of an epidural?; Can I take additional pain medication while having spinal anesthesia or an epidural?; Does general anesthesia affect breastfeeding? and more...

Epidurals can give you a backache, because it is a large bore needle that is used to place the epidural needle and the epidural catheter. This question refers to backaches that have been reported by patients several days after the epidural has been performed. The answer to that question is yes, epidural's have been implicated in backaches. Specifically, one of the medications where we use 3% Nesicaine seems to have a greater incidence of backaches. However, keep in mind that in the pain management specialty of anesthesia, many patients with back pain and/or buttock pain or leg pain are sent to pain management specialists to have an epidural to cure that pain, whereby they replace steroids in the epidural space to soothe the nerve roots that are inflamed in that area.