Where is the injection site for epidural anesthesia?

The Back: Epidural injections are given in your back, between the bones of your spine. The level of injection depends on the indication for epidural placement. For example, if given during pregnancy, the epidural injection is given in the lower back.

Any part of spine: An epidural can be given anywhere along the full length of the spine. In the neck and upper spine, it is often used for pain management. An epidural can be placed in the mid-back for pain relief after chest or abdominal surgery. Epidurals are often placed in the lower back for labor pain, c-sections, or orthopedic surgery on the legs. So it depends on the need.

All areas of spine: An epidural anesthetic is usually placed in the lumbar region of the spine. However, the utility of the technique has also led to it being used in the lower and upper thoracic regions. Your anesthesiologist uses this technique to provide pain control at various locations up and down the spine depending on the location of the surgery. Pain doctors can also do cervical injections to control pain.

The epidural space: Can be found at lumbar, thoracic, and cervical levels, as well as around the brain. The location injected depends on the reason for the anesthesia. For labor, low lumbar epidurals are utilized.