Does a epidural hurt ?

Not very much!: The anesthesiologist will use local anesthesia to numb the area where the epidural needle will be inserted. If you are having the epidural for surgery or pain management, you may also receive some sedation or IV pain medication at the same time to help you relax. When an epidural is placed for labor or c-section, usually sedation is not given. If needed, ask for more local anesthesia!

No: The use of a good local anesthetic at the point of entry should be adequate to achieve a painless epidural. In some situations, a good preoperative sedation help to allay fears.

Yes absolutely: An epidural is a needle stick and needle sticks hurt. Uusually it hurts about the same as an I.V. But if i hit a bone(1 in 5) it may hurt or rmay not hurt more. U might get a bruise and it may hurt after like any bruise but there is no chacne of disc dammage which is what most mean by back injury. If i hit a nerve (1 in 1000) it hurts like a bang on your funny bone, usually resolves the same.

Not much: The procedure starts with an injection of local anesthetic into the tissue. This burns for about 10 sec. The needle to find the space doesn't usually hurt much unless it is redirected outside the numb area or the space is very deep. Sometimes the catheter brushes a nerve while threading through the needle causing a paresthesia, which lasts 1 sec. After, you may have mild soreness at puncture site.

Should not: It should not be painful. The skin is numbed before the epidural needle is inserted.