What is Residual Epidural Pain and How Postpartum Chiropractic in Costa Mesa Can Help

If you're a new mom still feeling lingering pain at or near your epidural site weeks—or even months—after delivery, you're not imagining it. Many women experience residual epidural pain, especially in the low back or tailbone area, long after birth. While epidurals are incredibly common during labor, they can sometimes leave behind soreness, stiffness, or nerve irritation that interferes with your postpartum recovery.

At Blooming Chiropractic, a leading Costa Mesa chiropractor specializing in postpartum chiropractic care, we help moms feel more like themselves after birth. Whether you had a vaginal delivery or C-section, with or without an epidural, we’re here to support your healing—naturally and gently.

Why Do Some Moms Have Pain After an Epidural?

Postpartum Chiropractor in Costa Mesa, CA

Epidurals are a widely used form of pain relief during labor. They involve inserting a needle and catheter into the lower back to deliver medication directly around the spinal nerves. While the procedure is generally safe, it’s not uncommon for moms to report:

• Soreness at the injection site

• Stiffness or restricted movement in the lower back

• Pain when bending, twisting, or lifting

• A dull ache or burning sensation in the tailbone or hip

• Tingling or numbness in the low back or legs

Some moms feel fine for a few days or weeks, then start to notice pain creeping in as they care for their newborn—especially with all the bending, lifting, and feeding that postpartum life demands.

Epidural Pain or Just Postpartum Back Pain?

It can be hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Here’s the truth: childbirth puts an enormous amount of stress on your spine, pelvis, and nervous system, whether or not you had an epidural.

But if you're experiencing pain that seems centered at or near the site of your epidural—or you’re feeling sharp, burning, or radiating pain—it’s possible the needle insertion created inflammation or irritation that’s still lingering. In some cases, this pain can also be related to how your body responded to being in certain labor positions or the pressure from delivery.

Either way, your body is asking for support. And that's where postpartum chiropractic care in Costa Mesa can help.

How Postpartum Chiropractic Care Can Help with Residual Epidural Pain

At Blooming Chiropractic, we help new moms every day who are dealing with a wide range of postpartum concerns—including low back pain, tailbone pain, hip discomfort, and yes—even that nagging spot where the epidural went in.

Here’s how our care supports healing:

Postpartum Chiropractor in Costa Mesa, CA

1. Helps Reduce Inflammation and Irritation

When the body is under stress, especially in one area like the low back or sacrum, inflammation can build up and cause pain. We use gentle techniques to help calm that inflammation and promote better circulation—so your body can heal from the inside out.

2. Relieves Pressure from Compensating Muscles

After delivery, your body may start to move differently—especially if you’re favoring one side due to soreness or pain. This can create muscular imbalances that lead to tension and discomfort. Our care focuses on improving balance and movement so your body doesn’t have to work overtime to compensate.

3. Supports the Nervous System

If your nervous system is on high alert from birth trauma, sleep deprivation, and stress, your pain can feel more intense and harder to shake. As a nervous system chiropractor in Costa Mesa, we help your body shift out of that fight-or-flight mode so it can rest, digest, and repair.

4. Addresses Pelvic and Spinal Misalignments

Many women develop subtle shifts in their pelvis or low back during pregnancy or delivery. These shifts can put pressure on nerves near the epidural site, increasing pain and tension. Our care is designed to help bring your body back into a more functional, balanced state—without force or discomfort.

Real Moms, Real Relief

We hear it all the time:

“I thought I just had to live with the pain after my epidural, but it was actually something I could fix.”

“After just a few visits, I could sit without pain again—and I wasn’t even thinking about that sore spot anymore.”

“It wasn’t just about my back—it helped my whole body feel better.”

At Blooming Chiropractic, we understand what your body has just been through, and we meet you exactly where you are in your postpartum journey.

Postpartum Chiropractor in Costa Mesa, CA

Other Postpartum Symptoms We Help With

Even if epidural pain brought you in, many moms also find relief from other common postpartum issues with chiropractic care, including:

• Upper back and shoulder tension from nursing or holding baby

• Neck stiffness and headaches

• Wrist and elbow discomfort (a.k.a. “mommy thumb”)

• Fatigue and poor sleep

• Pubic bone or tailbone pain

Our care is holistic and designed to support your entire body as you recover and care for your little one.

Serving New Moms in Costa Mesa and Orange County

Our office is a safe, supportive space for healing—and babies are always welcome. Whether you need to feed, change, or rock your baby during your visit, we’ve got you covered.

We proudly serve new moms from Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Huntington Beach and surrounding Orange County communities, helping you get back to feeling like yourself again.

Let’s Support Your Healing—One Visit at a Time

If you’re dealing with residual epidural pain, postpartum back pain, or just don’t feel quite right in your body, you don’t have to push through it alone. At Blooming Chiropractic, we’re here to help you feel supported, seen, and cared for—without judgment, pressure, or jargon.

📍 Location: 1525 Mesa Verde Dr E, Suite 210, Costa Mesa, CA
📞 Call or Text: (657) 845-1669
🌐 Book Online: www.bloomingchiropractic.com

You gave birth to a human—let’s give your body the care it deserves. 💜