How long does an epidural take to be effective?

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Just a curiosity question! How long did it take for the epidural to kick in? Was it worth it?
About 25-30 minutes.  (+ info)

How long does it take for a Large thigh Hematoma to heal?

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An ATV fell on my right leg causing a Large hematoma on my thigh. It has been 3 months and the hematoma is still swollen and hard. Do I need to have it drained? Please advise.
An ATV fell on my right leg causing a Large hematoma on my thigh. It has been 3 months and the hematoma is still swollen and hard. Do I need to have it drained? The Doctor advised me to put heat on it every couple hours to help the blood to circulate. Can anyone give me advice?
It sounds like it needs some help to resolve. It is possible that an abscess has formed from the dead tissue, and requires treatment. It should be evaluated by a doctor.  (+ info)

How does it take hematoma to form after surgery?

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How does it take hematoma to form after surgery? I had breast reduction surgery April 13th and the next day, I was complaining about burning under my armpit. I was wrapped up like a mummy with bandages, so there was no way for me to check that area. On the following Monday, I was getting dressed and noticed a small bruise in my arm pit. On Tuesday, the pain was so bad, I ripped off all the bandages, saw that the bruise was actually huge and fluid filled. Was the burning in my armpit on the 14th a sign that a hematoma was forming?
Not too sure, have you talked to your doctor about it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematoma

http://www.breasthealthonline.com  (+ info)

For those who have had a natural birth and had a epidural?

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I am planning on not having an epidural, for personal reasons i just do not want one. I would like to hear some expierences from women who have had them, and those who did natural. I am going to go in with an open mind, i am not too nervous about the pain because i know i can always opt for the epidural if its too painfull. I am going to try my best not to get one due to the fact that i went threw 9 months of carrying this baby, and im sure i can do 1 day of complete pain to see her face. From your expierence, is a epidural worth it?
I have had a natural birth with no epi, a natural birth with an epi, and a natural birth with a failed epi.
You are on the right track of not having your mind set on anything. Natural birthing is awesome but, don't get too hung up on it. If you need relief from the pain then do not deny yourself that. It could be the difference of having a wonderful birthing experience or having a horrible one.
My first birth (natural and no epi) was horrible. There was no anesthesiologist present (he was too busy) to give me an epi. I had back labor, where the contractions never radiated to the front, and it was extemely painful. I even started hallucinating from the pain. The hospital treated me like crud. Basically told me to quit moaning and complaining. After 18 hours of labor, I had a handsome healthy son and I knew never to go to that hospital again!
My second birth (natural with epi) was wonderful. The best experience I have ever had. The anesthesiologist was very skilled and it didn't hurt at all. He told me to make a few arched "cat" backs and it was over. I had a walking epi where I was still able to walk around and I even went down to the cafeteria and had a drink. I felt NO pain at all and I actually enjoyed the labor and pushing my daughter out. Again, I had a happy healthy baby!
My third birth was okay. It was relatively quick but, I was having a hard time dealing with the pain towards the end. They called the anesthesiologist in and he tried to perform an epidural. He caused a lot of pain and I was screaming for him to stop. He claimed the needle was in but, it did nothing. I still felt every contraction. The midwife thought I should just hang in without calling the anesthesiologist back as the baby was close to being born. I agreed and birthed my 2nd daughter normally although painfully swearing and cursing!
I had back spasms for one year after the birth. I'm guessing he messed something up. But, at least I had my 3rd happy healthy baby and that is what matters!
So, my advice would be to make sure that the hospital you choose has a good anesthesiologist! And as far as an epi being worth it...well, if you are in THAT much pain then an epi feels like nothing if done correctly that is. And if it is done right then it can be absolutely wonderful.
Just keep doing what you are doing...go in the hospital with no expectations. Try to go without an epi. If it is too much then do not feel guilty if you need one.
Good luck and I am wishing you a happy healthy baby!  (+ info)

How common is it for an epidural to not work properly?

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I am definitely getting an epidural when the big day comes, but I've heard a lot of stories of epidurals not doing their job! How common is that & what are some reasons it happens?
According to my doctor, 1 out of 100 women will experience a mild side effect or minor complication. Chances of serious side effects or major complications are about 3 in 1000. Some problems such as a headache or back pain occur when the anesthesiologist doesn't place the epidural in exactly the right spot. Other issues, such as a drop in Mom's blood pressure that causes a drop in Baby's heartrate, are not caused by an error and are impossible to predict.

The reason you hear so many horror stories is that people who have a nice, easy time with a procedure are not as likely to tell their stories as those few who have problems.  (+ info)

How exactly does an epidural work?

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I am pregnant with my first and would like to know how exactly an epidural works and what you would recommend, natural or epidural?
They do use a local anesthetic to numb the area before the epidural needle is inserted. You will either be lying on your side or sitting on the edge of the bed. They clean the area and inject a needle into the epidural space. Don't worry about them hitting nerves because the nerves stop between L1 and L2 and the space they inject is between L3 and L4. The medication will not block all feeling. You will just have decreased sensation in the lower half of your body. The epidural consists of a local anesthetic and a narcotic. After the needle is inserted, a catheter is placed into the needle to let the medication flow. The needle is taken out and sometimes you will have a patient controlled epidural, meaning that if the pain is unbearable, you can push a button to make the medicine flow through the catheter. It is safe because if you push the button too frequently, medicine will not be administered. Hope I helped!  (+ info)

Can an epidural trigger an epileptic seizure in a person with epilepsy?

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A friend of mine who has epilepsy had just had an epidural done, whatever they are, at a hospital and soon after had a seizure. Could the treatment have led to it?
An epidural is when anesthesia is injected into part of the spine. I don't see how that could trigger a seizure, but it is possible.

For more on epidurals = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidural  (+ info)

What are the disadvantages of using an epidural during labor?

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I am only 14 weeks pregnant but i am very concerned about what kind of medications to use during labor? I just wanted to know if using an epidural would harm me or my baby in any way?
Well, you have to keep in perspective, what they put into your spine during the epidural is a VERY strong VERY fast acting drug and basically, just like right now, while you labor, anything you put into your body goes into your baby, so I've too wondered exactly what the effects are to the baby. Our son was VERY sleepy when he came out, and I got IV drugs and an epidural with him... with our second I had the IV drugs and she wasn't nearly as sleepy... our third, I went natural and can promise, that was by far my best/favorite labor experience. Honestly, part of the bonding process and the entire labor experience is the pain. I think because there is a purpose behind it, by trying to numb the pain, we're denying our bodies the experience we really need to "endure"...

Watch this film, it talks in depth about pain meds and birth and it's just wonderful!

http://www.watch-movies.net/movies/the_business_of_being_born/


Good luck and don't needlessly psych yourself out about "needing" meds. YES, just like with our first, there are legit times when drugs can in fact help relax you enough to speed up labor/help you dilate. However, TOO MANY are denying they are strong enough to go through labor naturally. I personally want to have this baby naturally... something about experiencing birth in it's entirety without drugs is a miracle/amazing experience.


Add: the video link says it's under maintenance, but try it in a while anyways... it should work eventually...  (+ info)

How long does it take for a hematoma to heal?

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I got kicked in calf muscle while training and now I have a hematoma. There is an upcoming martial arts tournament 7th August. Would it be healed by then?
A hematoma is a lot like a bruise. They both occur when blood escapes from the vessels and gets into the surrounding area. In the case of a hematoma, the blood pools under the skin.

You just have to wait until your body cleans everything up. I don't think it should take much longer than it takes for a regular contusion to heal.  (+ info)

What are the differences between a pregnancy epidural and a lower back epidural?

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What are the differences between a pregnancy epidural and a lower back epidural? Thanks
REGIONAL ANESTHESIA
Regional Anesthesia includes spinal and epidural anesthesia. Regional blocks are administered by injection of an anesthetic solution into the lower back to ease the pain of labor or for anesthesia during a cesarean section.

What is PCEA?
PCEA, more commonly called a "patient controlled epidural analgesia," or simply an "epidural", is one of many options for pain control (analgesia) during labor. It is achieved by injecting pain medicine directly into the epidural space of the lower back via a small plastic tube. This epidural catheter is typically left in place so that additional medication can be administered for as long as you are in labor. Once you have delivered, it is removed. PCEA is generally considered one of the most effective methods for patients wishing for pain relief but wanting to be awake and able to participate in the birth. “Patient controlled” means that you help decide what level of pain relief you require

What is the difference between a spinal and an epidural?
Although they are very similar means of administering pain medication, a spinal and an epidural have important differences that dictate when and why they should be used. Because the epidural's catheter allows for a continuous infusion of analgesic over time, this procedure is typically chosen for pain relief during the course of labor.

A spinal however, usually involves a single, one-time dose of anesthetic, which is injected beyond the epidural space into the fluid –filled spinal canal. Whereas an epidural takes effect gradually over a 10-15 minute period, and lasts throughout labor, a spinal takes effect almost immediately but is shorter acting. There is one type of spinal, called a saddle block that can be used just before the delivery of your baby for effective short-term pain relief  (+ info)

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