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Epidural - series—Procedure, part 3

Procedure, part 3

Overview

Before you get an epidural, your doctor will wash your back with antiseptic and determine the best place for the injection. Next, you'll get a shot of local anesthetic to numb the spot where the epidural needle will be inserted.

Review Date 4/30/2025

Updated by: Mark Gjolaj, MD, MBA, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Specialist, The Permanente Medical Group and Clinical Assistant Professor Adjunct, Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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