How do i know whether i should get low dose epidural?

Is pain controlled?: The first question, is do you need an epidural or will other options for pain relief be sufficient? If you decide that an epidural is needed, a conversation with your anesthetist about the level, and your wishes will answer that question.

Discuss the goals : For your epidural with your anesthesiologist. He will help to tailor it to your needs and adjust it as needed.

Its up to you: If this is for a labor epidural then it will be a low dose one which means that the local anesthetic will be of low concentration and mixed with a narcotic (usually) and this will allow you to move your legs, get up out of the bed if you wish and not feel like a log during the labor. Most other epidurals are for major surgery and have higher concentrations of local and will numb the muscles.