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NonInvasive Epidural

 Anesthesia shouldn't involve putting a needle in your spine.
 
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The greatest moment in many people's life is the moment the first child is born. The moments leading up to that slice of time are perhaps the most frustrating and scary - the worst of all being when mother-to-be (who is suffering -- as documented -- the greatest pain anyone could possibly experience in the form of contractions) has to sit still for enough time to have a needle stuck IN HER SPINE for anesthesia.

If the needle is improperly inserted, it could mean a lifetime of back pain and maladies that have no recourse.

I propose a noninvasive epidural involving alternative regulation of blood flow or pain sensation - I believe through something as radical as ultrasound -- that doesn't also harm the fetus.

Ultrasound has proven a very promising technology in the world of non-invasive medicine. Using a combination of ultrasound and C-T technology (to watch what you're doing) we can safely control pain and not harm the fetus.

The reason general anesthesia isn't used is the mother needs to "feel" the birth.

C-Sections are an alternative, but involves much more recovery time and is considerably invasive, which makes it less desirable

—mahatma, May 12 2003

Numby http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/94a1e.htm
I don't think they can do epidurals directly, but it can be used to make the needle stick less painful. [lurch, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

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       Try as I might I cannot find an idea here...   

       Am i missing it?
—briandamage, May 12 2003
   

       Having also had an epidural (trying to avoid general anaesthetic for a knee operation), I fully sympathise. But briandamage is right - this is a call to arms, not an idea.
—DrCurry, May 12 2003
   

       I also agree with your desire to avoid the risks, mahatma. In the birth of my daughter, the risks of the epidural (which can include death) frightened me a good deal more than any of the other possible problems. But surely everyone, even/especially those who perform and develop anesthesia treatments, would opt to use a safer/less invasive method if one were available that offered comparable effectiveness?   

       So I'm not sure how this is not a WIBNI.
—beauxeault, May 12 2003
   

       To paraphrase an anno made elsewhere this fine day: Why not do what cavemen did? Knock 'em out with a club, drag 'em by the hair (not the feet, as they might fill up with sand)
—thumbwax, May 12 2003
   

       bliss: Freudian slip, I guess - corrected.
—DrCurry, May 12 2003
   

       It would be ideal if there was some field, electromagnetic, electrical, acoustic, or something like that, that would cut off spinal nerve transmission without the need for dangerous injections. This post is not a WIBNI, as suggested above, because mahatma suggests that ultrasound might do the job. No doubt that it would -- if you increased the level so that there was cavitation within the tissue -- but then it would be irreversible. But if it could be achieved so that you could toggle the spine on and off from the outside, that would be a blockbuster.
—pluterday, May 12 2003
   

       yes [pluterday] I thank you. There has been some evidence showing the ability of ultrasound in numbing pain... Anesthesia is a littler further off, but not impossible I suppose.
—mahatma, May 12 2003
   

       Call to action without an invention proposal.
—bristolz, May 12 2003
   

       There is a lot to be said for acupuncture, You know. There are plenty of people in the world who have major ops inc. bowel resections and even pneumonectomies, under nothing more than a couple of well placed needles. Mostly tho', these people 'believe' in the treatment. I see epidurals done every day, they are VERY safe (compared to many other treatments), and compared to having a general anaesthetic, for childbirth, they are, in the opinion of most people involved, the most efficient way of rapid onset pain relief availiable at the moment.   

       therefore WIBNI.
—briandamage, May 12 2003
   


 

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