Epidural blocks involve the injection of cortisone into the spinal canal to temporarily reduce inflammation and associated pain. Stenosis in the lumbar spine creates narrowing of the spinal canal, putting pressure on nerve roots and causing pain in the legs when you’re walking that is relieved when sitting, bending forward, or squatting. Activity-related pain is called Neurogenic Claudication. Untreated, this pain will get worse until you can’t walk more than a block down the street. Sciatica means leg pain is usually caused by a disk herniation in the spine, which causes irritation of a nerve root. The distribution of leg pain depends on the location of the herniation and the nerve root being irritated. Epidural blocks will not fix either stenosis or herniation, but may provide pain relief for weeks or months.