blood is injected into the region to cover the hole produced by the puncture. This procedure is often called a “blood plug” (via Jefferson Radiology).
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Talk To Your Doctor About Potential Side Effects
Occasionally, an epidural may lead to some extremely significant consequences, but they are quite uncommon (via Cleveland Clinic). One of these consequences is an injury to the nerve root or spinal cord, both of which may lead to troubles with the nervous system.
According to the National Health Service, this nerve injury may lead the patient to lose sensation or even the ability to move their lower body; however, it’s more normal for the damage to be restricted to numbness in a small region and to cure up within a few months at most. If you are still feeling numb after your epidural is meant to have worn off, you need to let your anesthesiologist know about it.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there have also been cases of nerve damage that does not heal or, even more gravely, paralysis due to an epidural. This is a very significant side effect.
However, the UT Southwestern Medical Center reports that paralysis or permanent damage is very uncommon, happening in fewer than one patient in every 240,000 who get the procedure.
If, on the other hand, you are apprehensive about receiving an epidural, whether during childbirth or for another operation, you must take the time to chat with your doctor about your worries and figure out what would make you feel the most at ease.