I have a disk #6 that is narrowing, pincking the nerve that is down my right arm. thay would like to try an aperderal. prior to surgery

In : In general, conservative treatment is often preferred over surgery for the initial treatment of herniated discs or acute radiculitis (acute problems with the nerve). While the mainstay of conservative treatment is physical therapy, epidural injections are quite useful to reduce the pain. A few cautionary statements, however: not all pain management physicians are adept at cervical injections. I would make sure that the pain management physician (or the surgeon or radiologist- all do these injections) is experienced with cervical injections as these can be more difficult than lumbar (low back) injections. In the hands of a trained physician, the risks of a cervical epidural injection are low, but not zero. The main risk is infection, which is about 1%. Rarer risks include injury to the nerve or to the vertebral artery (one of the blood vessels to the brain, which runs very close to where the injection is placed). However, I have sent patients for injections in the neck for years without any of these complications occurring. Also, if you have progressive weakness of the arm, you may need to consider surgery instead. For pain of the arm, however, injections are often quite helpful in reducing your pain.

Sounds: Like a reasonable idea and you may get very good relief from it and not need or delay surgery.