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Have You Experienced Side Effects From Spinal Epidural After Surgery?

by admin

I had lung surgery 5 years ago. I had a spinal epidural which allowed me to give myself controlled pain medication after the surgery. This was in for a about a week. After a few months I began having severe pain in my back originating at that spot. This happened off and on for a couple of years then stopped. Now it is happening again. The pain is severe in that spot and radiating in my back, my right lower side goes numb (incidently that's where my lung was removed) . The only relief I can get from this almost unbearable pain is to lay down immediately, put heat on it, take an aspirin and wait for it to pass which takes around 30 minutes. I am just curious if anyone else has ever experienced this. Thanks

1 comment… read it below or add one

quijibored January 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm: It is possible you have developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This syndrome sometimes happens after back (and other types of) surgery where there is trauma to a nerve or the spinal cord, and is sometimes caused by spinal taps or spinal anesthesia. Read this page about type 2 CRPS.

http://www.rsds.org/2/what_is_rsd_crps/index.html

http://www.sambahq.org/professional-info/20-AM-abstracts/07.html

CRPS is also sometimes called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and is considered to be a related condition or subtype of RSD.

I am assuming you have been to the Dr and you are sure your pain is not due to the original condition for which you had a lung removed. It is also possible that this is your first symptom of a cancer recurrence so if you have not seen your physician then that would be a good place to start looking for the cause of your pain.