What is an epidural and why is everyone telling me to get it?

My responses: Epidural steroids involve injection outside of the spinal canal to control pain. Not infrequently used during labor and delivery, and less commonly employed to defray symptoms due to root level disc compression of nerve in neck or back. Maybe a chorus is singing praises, but I for one, would caution you that there are risks and this should be used only in special indications.