What chemicals are used to take away pain, especially those that paralyze or numb us like spinal epidural?
The primary component in a spinal is a local anaesthetic agent, usually Marcain Heavy 0.5%. This works by binding to the synapses at the spinal cord, preventing the transmission of nerve signals, both pain and movement. This is mixed with a low dose of an opiate; usually diamorphine or fentanyl – this works on the whole system as an analgesic. The block wears of as the agent is washed out of the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), into the bloodstream, then metabolised by the liver and kidneys. This technique is used in caesarian section, and will not be used for normal vaginal delivery due to the paralysing effect on the uterine muscles An epidural is similar, but instead of going into the spinal canal and the CSF, it bathes the nerve roots outside of the main spinal canal in an area called the para-dural space; and effects the pain nerves in the first instance – it takes a long time for motor function to be affected. With this, an agent such as ropivicaine, or bupivicaine, is used in higher
