Occipital Nerve Block Treatment | Pain Management San Diego

Being in pain is not a new experience for many people. In fact, a surprising percentage of U.S adults suffer from chronic pain conditions that affect their quality of life. There are countless different types of pain, from persistent dull aching to sharp, agonizing stabs, as well as dozens of places within your body that you may experience pain.

Fortunately, we’ve also developed many different ways of dealing with pain. One of these treatments is known as an occipital nerve block. Here’s what you need to know about the occipital nerves, what it’s used for, and how this treatment works.

What are the Occipital Nerves?

The occipital nerves are a group of nerves that emerge from between the bones of the spine in the upper neck and extend round into the head. There are two varieties of occipital nerves. These are known as ‘greater’ and ‘lesser’.

The two greater occipital nerves extend through muscles at the back of the center of the head and into the scalp. They can reach nearly as far as the forehead, but do not extend onto the face or onto the area around the ears (which are supplied by other nerves instead).

The two lesser occipital nerves extend from muscles at the back of the head too, but on opposing sides, extending upwards into the scalp into the area behind the ears.

What is an Occipital Nerve Block?

An occipital nerve block is a procedure that involves injecting pain-relieving medication and steroid medication into the greater and lesser occipital nerves. It is most often used as a course of treatment for chronic headaches/migraines and a condition known as occipital neuralgia.

What are the Symptoms of Occipital Neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia can be tricky to diagnose as the symptoms share many similarities with headaches/migraines. Fortunately, an occipital nerve block is usually a suitable treatment for both of these issues, as well as occipital neuralgia.

You may be suffering from occipital neuralgia if you experience any of the following:

Persistent aching, throbbing, or burning pain that extends from the base of the head and into the scalp, on one, both sides, or in the center of your head.
Sharp, shocking, or shooting pains affecting the same area.
Pain experience behind the eye on the affected side of the head.
Even touching your hair is sufficient enough to cause pain.

As the name of the treatment suggests, an occipital nerve block works by blocking the nerve impulses that send pain signals around the body. Meanwhile, the steroid medication works to reduce inflammation of the nerves, which also reduce your discomfort. The effects of an occipital nerve block are temporary, much like a local anesthetic. When it wears off, it does so gradually, and so patients will slowly start to notice the lessening effect of the treatment.

While an occipital nerve block is usually used as a form of treatment, it is also a valuable diagnostic tool. This is because if the treatment proves ineffective, it indicates that the occipital nerves may not actually be the cause of your discomfort and further investigation may be needed to uncover the source of your pain.

To find out more about occipital nerve blocks, contact Alicja Steiner, MD in San Diego, California at (619) 304-1539 to learn more and schedule an appointment.