Can I sue for nerve damage after epidural?

You may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit if you have suffered any serious medical condition after receiving an epidural injection, such as severe pain and paralysis.

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What happens if an epidural injection hits a nerve?

This can occur if the epidural or spinal needle or the epidural catheter damages a single nerve, a group of nerves or the spinal cord. Contact with a nerve may cause 'pins and needles' or a brief shooting pain. This does not mean that the nerve is damaged, but if the needle is not repositioned, damage can occur.

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Can a failed epidural cause nerve damage?

Permanent nerve damage

In rare cases, an epidural can lead to permanent loss of feeling or movement in, for example, 1 or both legs. The causes are: direct damage to the spinal cord from the epidural needle or catheter. infection deep in the epidural area or near the spinal cord.

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How rare is permanent nerve damage from epidural?

The risk of damage to nerves is between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100,000. In many of these cases the symptoms improve or resolve within a few weeks or months. Nerve damage is a rare complication of spinal or epidural injection.

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How do you know if you have nerve damage from an epidural?

In its mildest form the nerve damage may cause just a small numb area or an area of 'pins and needles' on your skin. There may be areas of your body that feel strange and painful. You may also get some weakness in one or more muscles.

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Unresolved Pain After Epidural Injections

35 related questions found

What is the most common symptom of nerve damage?

The signs of nerve damage

Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. Feeling like you're wearing a tight glove or sock. Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs. Regularly dropping objects that you're holding.

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What nerve damage feels like?

Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can feel as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. You may be very sensitive to touch or cold. You may also experience pain as a result of touch that would not normally be painful, such as something lightly brushing your skin.

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At what point is nerve damage permanent?

Seruya wants his patients to know that after a period of 12-18 months nerve damage can become permanent.

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Why does my back hurt 2 years after epidural?

Because of where the needle and catheter need to go and its proximity to the spine, any issues with this process can cause spine or nerve injuries and back pain. In this way, an improperly administered epidural can cause back pain years later.

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How much can you get from permanent nerve damage?

It's difficult to pinpoint an exact value for personal injury verdicts and settlements because each case is unique. Victims who suffer mild to moderate nerve injuries may receive up to five figures, while compensation for a victim with severe injuries can range from $100,000 to millions in damages.

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Can a doctor mess up an epidural?

It is very rare for an epidural to be improperly administered, but unfortunately it happens sometimes. When a doctor makes an epidural error and the error constitutes medical negligence, it may be possible to recover damages for any injuries that resulted.

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What happens if an epidural is done wrong?

Mothers who are given an improper epidural injection may suffer low blood pressure, cardiac arrest, seizures, or other medical emergencies that can cause injuries to a child. Any of these emergencies can deprive the child of oxygen and cause serious birth injuries.

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How can you check for nerve damage?

Electromyography (EMG) is used to record the electrical activity in muscle. It can identify abnormalities in the muscles or nerves resulting from peripheral neuropathy, nerve degeneration or damage to the protective covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds the nerves in your brain or spinal cord.

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How do you know if an injection hit a nerve?

If a nerve is hit, the patient will feel an immediate burning pain, which can result in paralysis or neuropathy that does not always resolve.

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How do you know if a needle hit a nerve?

IV Needle Contact With Nerves and IV Insertion Injuries

Such an injury is typically followed by prolonged pain, burning and possibly numbness or loss of function.

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What are long term side effects of epidural?

Potential side effects of an epidural may include headache, soreness, urination problems, and a decrease in blood pressure. While long-term complications are extremely rare, they may result in permanent nerve damage and persistent numbness and tingling.

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Why does my back hurt 4 months after epidural?

Back pain is a common side effect of an epidural, especially in the days or weeks following the procedure. Some causes of back pain after an epidural include an allergic reaction, poor positioning, or nerve damage.

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Why does my back hurt 3 months after epidural?

The main reason is that your back and abdominal muscles are shifting back to their original before-birth position. However, this does not mean that epidural does not have disadvantages. The main symptom of epidural-related back pain is numbness or tingling around the injection area.

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Does MRI show nerve damage?

An MRI may be able help identify structural lesions that may be pressing against the nerve so the problem can be corrected before permanent nerve damage occurs. Nerve damage can usually be diagnosed based on a neurological examination and can be correlated by MRI scan findings.

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Is nerve damage a big deal?

A nerve injury can affect the brain's ability to communicate with muscles and organs. Damage to the peripheral nerves is called peripheral neuropathy. It's important to get medical care for a peripheral nerve injury as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent complications and permanent damage.

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What happens if nerve damage goes untreated?

Nerve damage can become permanent

At first, neuropathy may cause occasional numbness and pain, but as it progresses, your symptoms may become more persistent. The pain may reach a high point before reaching a state of constant numbness. Once your nerves become too damaged, they can't send signals to your brain.

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Is nerve damage a disability?

Peripheral neuropathy and can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the upper or lower extremities. If you are living with peripheral neuropathy and it is so severe that it prevents you from earning a gainful living, you may be awarded Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

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What are the three stages of nerve damage?

Peripheral Nerve Injury Classification
  • First degree: A reversible local conduction block at the site of the injury. ...
  • Second degree: There is a loss of continuity of the axons (the “electrical wires”) within the nerve. ...
  • Third degree: There is damage to the axons and their supporting structures within the nerve.

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What are the symptoms of severe nerve damage?

Sensory nerve damage may produce the following symptoms:
  • Pain.
  • Sensitivity.
  • Numbness.
  • Tingling or prickling.
  • Burning.
  • Problems with positional awareness.

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