Epidural anesthesia is the injection of a numbing medicine into
the space around the spinal nerves in the lower back. The
medicine numbs the body below the point of injection, but the
person may remain awake and may have some control of the numbed
area. The skin where the needle will be inserted is first numbed
with a local anesthetic. A guide needle is inserted and then
removed, and a catheter remains in place. The anesthetic is then
injected through the catheter. Medicine that makes the person
sleepy also may be used by injecting it into a vein, depending
on the procedure being done. Epidural anesthesia may be used for
certain types of surgery on the lower body or to control pain
during childbirth. When a woman has an epidural anesthetic
during childbirth, she will feel little or no pain from her
contractions. eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise
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