I'm writing from Ontario Canada on behalf of a friend of mine. She gave birth to her 3rd child on September 22nd 2007. She was given an epidural, but the problem was the fact that the doctor administering it poked her spinal cord directly on the bone SIX times, trying to get it in the right spot. Because of this, she ended up feeling as though her brain was being "drained" as she put it, and got very dizzy and unable to stand or sit up. After her son was born, she was unable to breastfeed him unless she was lying on her side, and she had (and in fact, still HAS) excruciating headaches on and off, until she was offered a blood patch. The blood patch is when blood is taken from her arm and injected into the epidural site to clog and block the opening. Even this was not performed properly, as they ended up hitting her bone a 7th time, and she actually lost spinal fluid, resulting in further complications.

As of this point (October 1, 2007), she is home with her son and two older children. Her fiancé works full time and is not able to get leave to be with her right now, so she is forced to take short and painful breaks throughout the day to try to feed, bathe and nurture her children and catch up on any housework that accumulates when he is not home. She is able to breastfeed her newborn, though again only by laying on her side because of the sitting/standing up problem.

What sort of case would she have against the hospital or doctor, if any? I understand that an epidural is a risky medical procedure, but they took it way too far in my opinion.

An epidural in no way touches the spinal wall. It is placed, after freezing the area, in the ligaments. If she had freezing first, how did she feel all of this poking going on.

If she thinks she has a case she should call the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Toronto and start a complaint procedure. That is all she can do at the moment.

Epidural is not a risky procedure.

Is there any recourse in Canadian law for the medical system you are on? I presumed it was much like the US military health care system I have experience with. You can complain all you want, but you can't sue them.

Our OHIP socialized medical plan is still paid for by the individual. If you are employed you still have deductions to cover. It isn't free. She does have recourse as anyone does who feels they have a valid claim. Physicians here are sued for malpractice but the malpractice has to be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt even before it gets to court, by the College of Physicians and Surgeons. They determine beforehand if the case is valid.

Like I said, she has to get her facts together, dates times doctors and inform the College of her claims.

Epidurals are risky business.. I am living proof of that... My epidural was given 1976. I heard the doctor swear and I know he put it in my spine a second time.. I was having my second baby. After the baby was born my upper thigh area on both legs felt rather numb. It has never returned to normal.. I now have terrible lower back pain and the sciatic nerve has been affected. After all these years, I now cannot bend my knee and I have edema in my legs as well as stasis dermatitis. All of this has come about because the epidural was inserted in my back a second time.. Whatever the doctor did, he did wrong.. there is no doubt in my mind.. My GP sent me to a neuologist soon after the birth and all they prescribed was iron pills to help the nerve heal.. They also tried to cover up the mistake by saying the baby's head was resting on a nerve before birth.
All I know is that I am in constant pain from my left hip down my left side. When I walk I have to go down stairs sideways because my hip will not hold my weight and when I climb upstairs now, my knee will not bend due to pain and I use my right leg only to pull myself up.
There is no doubt that the sciatic nerve has been compromised somehow. There are many women with bad left hips.. and if you asked them if they had an epidural, they look at me funny and say.. "how did you know"... well experience has taught me that the left hip is the one most damaged by epidurals.

There is no way to prove any of this.. I live with pain and will keep trying to find remedies to stop the pain.. Chiropractors are helpful.. maybe massage therapy might help too.. pain killers llike turmeric tablets are also good.. I use an obus form back support roll on the lower back area for support.. that helps too.

I am also from Ontario Canada and I had a bad experience with a botched epidural too. My baby was born in West Lincoln memorial hospital in Grimsby in 1976. I was given an epidural by a doctor who obivously was not paying any attention to his responsibility.. He has since died.. It has been 33 years now.

I was OK until just recently when I was prescribed cipralex for depression.. Now I have problems with my lower left hip and down my leg and the pain seems constant. It didn't bother me so much until now.. In the past I could tell there was a pain in my lower back area because it hurt to touch there.. now.the pain is constant and I have pain in my knee too.

Epidurals are risky and don't let anyone tell you differently.. I would not advise anyone to have one.. my pain is very real and my life has been deeply affected by it.

This thread is from 2007 and OP has not been back.

You seem to have good info to offer - why not find a recent thread and join in?

I am new here and am not familiar with my way around the site.. How do I find a recent thread?

Look for threads which interest you but check the dates before you respond.