Spinal block is sometimes known as spinal.  It provides pain relief to the lower part of the body for a limited period of time. A narcotic or anesthetic such as fetanyl, bupivacaine or lidocaine is injected below the spinal column directly into the spinal fluid.

Difference between a spinal block and a spinal epidural

 
It is easy to confuse these two because they are both injections in the spinal area. However for the spinal block, narcotics or anesthetic is injected once with a needle. A spinal epidural or combined spinal epidural uses a catheter which is placed in the epidural space to allow continuous anesthesia.
 
Spinal blocks are not widely used today because of the preference for epidural. However they can be used in more complex situations or cesarean sections.

What are the advantages of a spinal block

 
Pros of having a spinal block include the following :

• pain relief starts right away
• you stay awake and alert
• the needle used to inject the medicine is thinner than that used for an epidural

What are the disadvantages of having a spinal block

 
A spinal block may cause one of the following conditions

• low blood pressure (hypotension)
• it may provide an uneven pain relief affecting one side of the body more than the other
• you may have difficulty controlling your bladder. You may need a catheter
• severe headache requiring an epidural blood patch
• difficulty pushing during the second stage of labor
• you may feel soreness at the injection site

 
Content Sources