Signs of Nerve Damage from an Epidural

 Posted on August 26, 2025 in Maternal Injuries

Epidurals are one of the most common forms of pain management during childbirth. For many families in Cook County, they are seen as a routine way to make delivery more manageable and less traumatic. But while most epidurals are given safely, there are cases where things go wrong. 

Nerve damage from an epidural can be devastating, leading to lasting pain, mobility issues, or even permanent disability for a mother. Recognizing the signs of nerve injury early is critical, both for your medical care and for protecting your legal rights if the damage was caused by medical negligence.

Attorney Allen Schwartz and his team have decades of experience handling birth injury cases. He has secured many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for families whose lives were permanently altered by mistakes in labor and delivery. If your family has been affected by epidural-related nerve damage, experienced legal guidance can help you understand your options.

As of August 2025, Illinois families continue to have the right to bring medical malpractice claims under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, which sets the statute of limitations for actions against health care providers. These cases are complex, but they provide a path to accountability when negligence causes lifelong harm. If you believe you are suffering from ongoing nerve damage from a badly placed or rushed epidural, call our Chicago maternal injuries attorneys today.

What Causes Nerve Damage After an Epidural?

Administering an epidural involves inserting a catheter into the epidural space around the spinal cord to deliver anesthetic medication. While it can be highly effective for pain relief, it is also a delicate procedure requiring precision. Nerve damage can occur if the needle compresses a nerve, if medication is injected incorrectly, if there is bleeding or infection around the spinal cord, or if the procedure is done by a medical provider without the experience or skill required. 

Not all nerve injuries from epidurals are permanent, but even temporary damage can be life-altering for new mothers already navigating the challenges of recovery and caring for a newborn. For example, new mothers with epidural injuries frequently complain of incredibly painful headaches. When you are already dealing with severe sleep deprivation and exhaustion from caring for a newborn, chronic, overwhelming pain can push you past the breaking point. 

What’s more, nerve damage from an epidural can make it difficult to walk, roll over in bed, bend over, or do any of the other things you need to do to take care of a new baby. If you are having any symptoms that suggest you may be suffering from nerve damage, do not ignore them. Get help right away. 

Common Signs of Epidural-Related Nerve Damage

The symptoms of nerve injury may appear immediately after delivery or may develop gradually in the days that follow. Warning signs include:

• Numbness or tingling in the legs, buttocks, or feet beyond the expected effects of anesthesia

• Sharp or burning pain radiating from the back down to the legs

• Weakness or inability to move one or both legs

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Persistent headaches accompanied by neurological symptoms

• Muscle spasms, twitching, or unusual sensitivity to touch

While some of these symptoms can result from normal post-delivery effects, persisting or worsening signs may indicate something more serious. Families should seek immediate medical evaluation and request imaging or neurological testing if nerve damage is suspected.

Long-Term Consequences of Epidural Nerve Injury

For many women, nerve damage from an epidural is not temporary. Long-term effects may include chronic pain, difficulty walking, permanent weakness, or loss of mobility. In severe cases, mothers may require assistive devices, ongoing physical therapy, or surgical intervention.

The emotional toll is equally profound. Instead of focusing on bonding with their child, mothers may spend months or years dealing with pain, disability, and frustration. These outcomes affect the entire family, altering relationships, finances, and daily routines.

When Is Epidural Nerve Damage Considered Malpractice?

Not every adverse outcome from an epidural is malpractice. Some nerve injuries can occur even when a provider follows all proper procedures. However, malpractice may be at play if any of the following happened:

• The anesthesiologist did not review your medical history for risk factors

• Sterile technique was not followed, leading to infection

• The needle was placed incorrectly due to inattention or poor training

• Warning signs of nerve compression were ignored

• Post-procedure monitoring was inadequate

Under Illinois law, malpractice occurs when a provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure causes harm. Proving this requires expert testimony and a thorough review of medical records. Once you have evidence that your injury was caused by malpractice, you can move forward to the next step – estimating the value of your claim. 

Medical malpractice cases involving epidural injuries typically involve both medical and economic evaluations. Lawyers and experts work to determine how bad the injury is and how likely the effects are to be permanent. They will also need to estimate the cost of future medical care, including surgeries and rehabilitation, the impact on your ability to work, and the pain, suffering, and loss of normal life experienced by you and your family.

Contact a Cook County, IL Birth Injury Lawyer

Medical malpractice claims are some of the most complex cases in Illinois law. Hospitals and insurance companies vigorously defend against them, often arguing that nerve damage was a known risk rather than the result of negligence. To succeed, families need an attorney with deep experience, resources to hire expert witnesses, and a history of standing up to powerful institutions.

Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. has the experience and resources to help families in Chicago who have been permanently devastated by medical errors. Our results show that we know how to fight and win in these high-stakes cases.

If you believe you or your loved one suffered nerve damage from an epidural, you may have the right to pursue compensation. A skilled Chicago, IL maternal injury attorney with extensive experience and proven results can evaluate your case and help you decide what to do next. Call Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. at 312-462-4200 today to schedule a free consultation.