Clipping Board » Medical Harm ─ Unnecessary or inappropriate medical procedures can also cause harm.
Reporter Hsiu Jui-ying / Tainan Report | United Daily News November 29, 2011
A 34-year-old woman suffered from severe headaches for five years after giving birth. Despite consulting numerous doctors, her condition remained untreated, and her family even suspected she had a mental illness. It was later discovered that the pain was caused by an anesthesia injection during her epidural procedure. After an anesthesiologist performed corrective surgery, her headaches immediately stopped. The patient described her life as "turning colorful" without the pain.
Dr. Che Pi-cheng, an anesthesiologist at An-An Women and Children's Center in Tainan, explained that about half of women undergoing natural childbirth opt for epidurals, and similar cases occasionally occur. The main cause is the puncture of the dura mater during anesthesia injection, leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage and intracranial imbalance, resulting in intense headaches. The pain typically spans from the head to the spine and worsens when standing but subsides when lying down.
For years, the woman endured unbearable pain while juggling work, childcare, and household chores. Lying down provided relief, but standing up triggered agony, making daily life nearly impossible. After five years of ineffective treatments, her family even took her to a psychiatrist, suspecting stress-induced mental issues. The chronic pain nearly drove her to a breakdown.
Eventually, a doctor linked her headaches to the epidural anesthesia during childbirth and referred her to an anesthesiologist. After a corrective procedure lasting just minutes, her five-year ordeal ended without medication.
Dr. Che noted that the corrective surgery involves injecting about 20cc of the patient’s blood into the epidural space to seal the leak, preventing further cerebrospinal fluid loss and eliminating headaches.
He explained that epidural anesthesia is typically administered near the tailbone. While most doctors puncture the dura mater directly, this can cause complications. Injecting into the epidural space avoids such risks.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E9……A% 84% E7% A6% 8D- 190400297. html
5-Year Headache... Caused by Epidural
A 34-year-old woman suffered from severe headaches for five years after giving birth. Despite consulting numerous doctors, her condition remained untreated, and her family even suspected she had a mental illness. It was later discovered that the pain was caused by an anesthesia injection during her epidural procedure. After an anesthesiologist performed corrective surgery, her headaches immediately stopped. The patient described her life as "turning colorful" without the pain.
Dr. Che Pi-cheng, an anesthesiologist at An-An Women and Children's Center in Tainan, explained that about half of women undergoing natural childbirth opt for epidurals, and similar cases occasionally occur. The main cause is the puncture of the dura mater during anesthesia injection, leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage and intracranial imbalance, resulting in intense headaches. The pain typically spans from the head to the spine and worsens when standing but subsides when lying down.
For years, the woman endured unbearable pain while juggling work, childcare, and household chores. Lying down provided relief, but standing up triggered agony, making daily life nearly impossible. After five years of ineffective treatments, her family even took her to a psychiatrist, suspecting stress-induced mental issues. The chronic pain nearly drove her to a breakdown.
Eventually, a doctor linked her headaches to the epidural anesthesia during childbirth and referred her to an anesthesiologist. After a corrective procedure lasting just minutes, her five-year ordeal ended without medication.
Dr. Che noted that the corrective surgery involves injecting about 20cc of the patient’s blood into the epidural space to seal the leak, preventing further cerebrospinal fluid loss and eliminating headaches.
He explained that epidural anesthesia is typically administered near the tailbone. While most doctors puncture the dura mater directly, this can cause complications. Injecting into the epidural space avoids such risks.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E9……A% 84% E7% A6% 8D- 190400297. html