A caudal block is an injection (shot) of medicine near the tailbone to block pain from about the level of the belly button down through the legs and feet. The anesthesiologist (a doctor who specializes in controlling pain) gave your child a caudal (KAH-dol) block to help with pain during and after surgery. Depending on what medicine is given, most effects wear off in 2–8 hours.

• Ask your surgeon or anesthesiologist when you can expect the caudal block to wear off. While it does, your child needs to sit or lie quietly. They won't be able to feel heat or pain in the numb area, so watch your child near hot and sharp items.
• Until the medicine wears off, your child may pee without knowing (wet their pants). This is normal. You may want to put a waterproof pad under your child. 
• A small bandage may be placed over your child's tailbone. You can take it off that day.
• Follow the surgeon's instructions for caring for your child after the surgery (for example, changing any bandages, bathing, and giving pain medicines).
• If your child got medicine to sleep and not feel pain (general anesthesia) during the surgery, follow the anesthesiologist's instructions for caring for your child.

Your child had the caudal block 10 hours ago and:

• can't feel their belly, lower back, legs, and feet (in older kids)
• isn't using their legs normally (in babies)
• isn't peeing or pooping normally

Also call your health care provider if there is redness or irritation near the tailbone where your child got the caudal block.

Your child has:

• dizziness
• a red (flushed) face
• muscle twitching
• numbness (can't feel) or tingling around their mouth 
• a metal taste in their mouth
• trouble breathing
• confusion

These are very rare problems that can happen from getting too much of the caudal block medicine.

Why do anesthesiologists use caudal blocks? They use it to control pain:

• during the surgery so that less general anesthesia (and sometimes none) is needed
• after the surgery to help the child feel more comfortable and need less of other kinds of pain medicine