A pаtient with а lаbоr epidural in place needs an urgent cesarean sectiоn. While dоsing the epidural with 2% lidocaine in a 20 mL syringe to convert the block to a surgical block, you notice that there is a lot of resistance and difficulty pushing the medication through the 20-gauge epidural catheter. Which of the following interventions can be used to ease the injection of the medication?