Why do you shiver after epidural?
Christopher Davis
Updated on April 19, 2026
It can occur after a general anaesthetic and during or after a regional anaesthetic (for example, an epidural or spinal). What causes it? Most shivering after an operation is due to a small decrease in your core (central) body temperature.
Why do people shiver after an epidural?
Postoperative shivering is a common complication of anaesthesia. Shivering is believed to increase oxygen consumption, increase the risk of hypoxemia, induce lactic acidosis, and catecholamine release. Therefore, it might increase the postoperative complications especially in high-risk patients.Does epidural make you shiver?
Most women experience some shaking or shivering during labour, but they are rarely prepared for the intensity of this physical reaction. Whether you have a vaginal birth, an epidural or a c-section, chances are you will experience this little known phenomenon.Why does spinal anaesthesia cause shivering?
Surgery and anaesthesia cause shivering due to thermal dysregulation as a compensatory mechanism and is worsened by vasodilatation from spinal anaesthesia that redistributes core body heat.How long does post anesthesia shivering last?
Although it can be extremely distressing, shivering is not usually dangerous1 and should stop within 20 to 30 minutes. It can occur after a general anaesthetic and during or after a regional anaesthetic (for example, an epidural or spinal).I have back pain. Is it because of my epidural? What can I do about it?
How do you stop shivers after anesthesia?
First-line treatment consists of warming the patient; more persistent/severe cases may be treated with medications such as tramadol, pethidine, clonidine, and nefopam, which work by reducing the shivering threshold temperature and reducing the patient's level of discomfort.Why do you shake after labor?
This is normal, and probably has nothing to do with being cold. Rather, “the shakes occur from the immediate hormonal shifts that occur after delivery.” They might also be a reaction to the anesthesia or an endorphin release. Don't worry; they'll go away within a few minutes or, at most, a few hours.What are postpartum chills?
Postpartum chills is a physiological response that occurs within two hours of childbirth. It appears as uncontrollable shivering. It is seen in many women after delivery and can be unpleasant. It lasts for a short time. It is thought to be a result of a nervous system response.Is it normal to have chills after giving birth?
Postpartum Fever and Other Signs of InfectionChills or fever of 101 degrees F or greater: A fever after childbirth may be a sign of endometritis, an inflammation on the lining of the uterus (womb) caused by infection,3 or other infection.
Why are you cold after anesthesia?
Background: Inadvertent postoperative hypothermia (a drop in core body temperature to below 36°C) occurs as an effect of surgery when anaesthetic drugs and exposure of the skin for long periods of time during surgery result in interference with normal temperature regulation.Do you pee under general anesthesia?
Urination ProblemsGeneral anesthesia paralyzes the bladder muscles. This can make it not only hard to pee, but impact your ability to recognize you have to urinate altogether. Additionally, many surgeries involve the placement of a Foley catheter—a tube put in the body to drain urine from the bladder.