Information on an epidural steroid injection to the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar area of the spinal cord. This procedure may be necessary due to a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, nerve root compression, or bone spurs. Learn what an epidural steroid injection is, how it is performed, and when it is used to treat spinal nerve irritation. Find out the possible side effects and risks of this procedure and how to prepare for it. Learn about the procedure, benefits, and risks of epidural anesthesia, as well as recovery steps and the differences compared to spinal anesthesia. Epidural injections are commonly used to provide pain relief (analgesia) during childbirth. [2] This usually involves epidural injection of a local anesthetic and opioids, commonly called an " epidural ". This is more effective than oral or intravenous (IV) opioids and other common modalities of analgesia in childbirth. [3] After an epidural is administered, the recipient may not feel pain, but may still feel pressure. [4] Epidural clonidine is rarely used but has been extensively studied for ...
