What Are Epidural Injections?
An epidural (short for epidural anesthesia), is a type of local anesthesia used to ease severe pains in the lower back region. Epidurals are injected into the spinal canal to block pain transmission to the nerves during surgery, childbirth, or to relieve chronic back pain. The anesthesia can be delivered by needle or catheter. The injection may be given with the patient lying on his or her side, or with knees drawn into a seated fetal position. By curving the spine, one can widen the gap between which the injection must fit. Usually, epidurals are given in the lower back to reduce the risk of injuring the spinal cord. Since the insertion point is so close to the spinal cord, doctors must take exceptional care in administering epidurals. The injections are more critical for patients with spina bifida, scoliosis, multiple sclerosis, or certain heart-valve problems. For patients with bleeding disorders, infection near the insertion point, or bloodstream infections, epidurals should not be
