Problems can arise from tattoos in this area:
Krzysztof Kuczkowski, chief of obstetric anesthesia at the University of California San Diego Medical Center, published an account in 2004 of a 34-year-old patient with tattoos covering her mid-lumbar area who received an epidural. Afterward she experienced unusual burning, tenderness and swelling where the epidural catheter had been placed. Dr. Kuczkowski believes the tattoo was the culprit. “It’s possible there’s a release of small particles that could contain metals or toxic compounds,” he says.
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Sue the tattoo parlor.
What the heck, they sue the dry cleaners.
Burning, tenderness, and swelling are potential complications of needlesticks whether or not they go through tattoos and whether or not they are inserted in that particular area.
My understanding from talking with anesthesiologists and from my (admittedly) limited internet research is that tattoos have not been shown to increase complications from epidurals or lumbar punctures.
And more so with vaginal delivery.
Vaginal delivery alone can cause nerve damage, that will conveniently get blamed on the epidural.
Obstetrics attracts lawsuits like flies to shit.
A neurosurgeon of my acquaintance reports that his patients voice more concern about whether his incision will distort the appearance of their tramp stamps than about nerve damage or even well-recognized complications of back surgery.
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