Urine Smells Really Strong And Different. Does An Epidural Make Urine Smell Bad?
I hope you underwent an epidural anesthesia. Epidural anesthesia does not causes any direct change in smell of urine. It may be associated with urinary retention or stasis (not able to pass urine for sometime) but not with any direct effect on smell. At times retention of urine itself may bring some changes in urine smell.
Use of other drugs/ decrease intake of water or fluids/ infection of urinary tract are other possible causes to bring about change in smell of urine. If you have fever/ burning sensation while passing urine or pain in abdomen (tummy)/ high colored urine, please see your doctor as this may indicate infection. If you had a catheter/ tube in your pee-hole during hospital stay, chances of infection are more.
Drink more water (if not prohibited medically or otherwise) for the time being. See your doctor on priority if you are a diabetic; if you have any other symptom beside this; if you have any of above symptoms of infection; you are quite bothered or if the problem persists.
Feel free to discuss further.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder XXXXXXX
Also, this was an out patient procedure.
The steroid given in Epidural steroid injections may be excreted through kidneys and this depends upon the steroid used. The effect of excretion of that steroid in urine in a particular individual will be dependent on steroid used and the individual both. Most commonly used steroid in these procedures "triamcenolone" is not known to cause such changes in urine. However you need to consult your pain physician about the steroid used and its effects on excretion through kidneys.
The other possibilities for such a change remains same, as i discussed above. with one more addendum. If you are repeatedly having steroid injections, you may have catabolic (tissue breakdown) effects of steroids and predisposition to diabetes. Both of them can cause urinary changes and need assessment by your physician.
Feel free to discuss further.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder XXXXXXX