trial, randomized controlled (RCT) An experimental design used for testing the effectiveness of a new medication or a new therapeutic procedure. Individuals are assigned randomly to a treatment group (experimental therapy) and a control group (placebo or standard therapy) and the outcomes are compared.
For an epidural: 1  The doctor injects medicine just outside of the sac of fluid around your spinal cord. This is called the epidural space.  The medicine numbs, or blocks feeling in a certain part of your body so that you cannot feel pain. The medicine begins to take effect in about 10 to 20 minutes. It works well for longer procedures. Women often have an epidural during childbirth.
Abdominal pain is a common problem that is sometimes difficult to diagnose. However, sometimes the location of the pain is helpful in determining its cause. The Mayo Clinic website describes a number of potentially serious conditions that cause epigastric discomfort.