I was under the same impression as you Christy, that the epidural and spinal block could both go in the same place (i.e. one needle spot IYKWIM).

I had the epidural first, and then because of having to have the emergency caesarean, I distinctly remember the anaesthetist saying that I had to have a spinal block. The spinal block worked REALLY quickly (and I didn't have another needle......he told me it would go in the same spot as the epidural) but the epidural took closer to half an hour to work I think, and I was able to still move my legs etc, but with the spinal, I couldn't move from the boobs down!