What is the difference between a labor epidural and a lower back epidural?

See below: A labor epidural is used to provide analgesia for childbirth. Local anesthetics are infused into the space putting to sleep the spinal nerves to the pelvic region. An epidural steroid injection is used for treatment of back pain. In this case, steroids mixed with saline are placed into the epidural space with the intention of coating the spinal nerves with a potent anti-inflammatory.

A labor epidural: Is administered in the lower back, usually at the l3-l4 interspace. So technically they are one in the same. Occasionally, caudal epidurals are given in pain management and in children, where medicines are injected at a hole in the bottom of the spinal canal, called the sacral hiatus. This practice has not been used in labor anesthesia for many years.