Question:
Is an Epidural more effective for pain relief?

I just got my Surgery date. It's June 16th and now I'm starting to get a little nervous because now it's for real! I was wondering who's had an epidural and what their experience was like. I had one while in labor with my son 3 years ago and it didn't work completely. It only took diagonally. So much for not feeling any pain! My Surgeon said it was up to me and the anesthiseologist to decide.    — Shelli M. (posted on May 17, 2000)

May 17, 2000
I had an epidural and, it was so much better than what I had when I had my son. I was not druged out the whole time I was in the hospital like when I had my son. Also I got my catheter out when I got out of ICU.
   — regina H.

May 17, 2000
Yes, I agree discuss this with the anesthesiologist.. I expressed my fear of morphine and sleep apnea with the anesthesiologist at Centennial Medical apnea, we both decided Epidural was the way to go and I thank my lucky stars I did.. I was up and walking 8 hours after surgery in the ICU.. No breathing problems etc..I never had to have any secondary pain medication, shots, pills or otherwise at the hospital or at home.. I was awake at the appropriate times (not groggy or sleepy) which meant I walked the halls more.. Dr. Husted had to locate me in the halls for daily visit *Smile* The epidural worked great for me.. I'd use it again in a NY minute.
   — Victoria B.

May 17, 2000
Ditto the epidural. It was great to be alert, walking and pain free.
   — Toni B.

May 19, 2000
Well, for me it was not a good idea. I got the epidural hoping that it would be effective. It did not work on me. Everyone is different and for me I will never get an epidural again. On the other hand, it worked for my mother. She was pain free the whole hospital stay. So therefore I would say if you used it before and it did not work for you like it should have then I would not use it again. This surgery is very painful and I was glad that I got the pca pump that same night when the epidural was not working. I am very happy that I had this surgery. It has changed my life so much already, I am only a little over three months out. I have lost 57lbs and 67 inches. I wish you lost of luck on your decision.
   — Lee Ann B.

May 24, 2000
I had surgery last Wednesday, May 17th. I had an epidural. It only half works. They finally stopped it and put me on morphine drip, which helped a lot better. Best of luck on your surgery.
   — Betty W.

March 21, 2003
I am a nurse in the surgical unit, and I will tell you that 95% of the time epidurals are better for abdominal surgical patients. I have never seen one patient who didn't love it. They can walk (for rapid recovery you have to walk a lot!) without pain, and usually say, "This epidural is great; I can't believe I have no pain!" On the otehr hand those who have a regular morphine PCA drip, are normally having peaks and valleys in pain control, and they sleep A LOT! They have lots of side effects to the morphine (profuse sweating that requires the linens be changed, and the patients hate that cuz they have to move which causes more pain!, nausea, dizziness, and frequently sleep.). Don't get me wrong, morphine can be a good drug for pain control, but it's second to epidural. And, if the epidural doesn't work, they can easily switch to the morphine PCA drip; it just goes through the IV. Talk to your anesthesiologist and surgeon about this.
   — Laura H.