I have had three epidurals. The first was for pain management in my back as a day case.Rather uncomfortable to say the least. A cold numbing substance splashed on my back without warning which made me levitate off the table. The needle was inserted and was slightly uncomfortable, until, the jollop was syringed into my spine. I can only describe the discomfort as my testicles being squeezed in a vice for about 10-12 seconds. My blood pressure shot through the roof and an ambulance was nearly called to take me to A&E in another hospital to stabilise my BP. The other two were literally outside theatre two minutes before major surgery and I was pretty woozy with pre- med and didn't feel the epidural and didn't care anyway.Please do not let my BP story scare you. I just don't happen to like needles and as it was my first epidural I was naturally anxious. Has now cured my phobia of needles now though especially after having had to self inject Fragmin after my last operation two months ago. The first epidural, was a waste of time,for me as far as pain management at the time as it was not appropriate to the real cause of my problem which was not orphopaedic but vascular. I'm sure you will be fine and it may give you some benefit in your case but not mine at the time.