Headaches & Migraines are extremely common and, unfortunately, they can stop you right in your tracks. An intense headache or migraine can last just a few minutes or for days at a time. The pain can be so excruciating that it may cause a person to stay in bed or a dark and quiet room, praying that the pain will stop. Some headaches like cluster headaches will occur like clockwork at certain times of the year with the remainder of the year being relatively normal, while other types like migraines that will come on throughout the year.
What is an Occipital Nerve Block?
The occipital nerve runs along the back of the skull is responsible for a particular type pain called Occipital Neuralgia. During an occipital nerve block, the doctor will clean the area along which these nerves run, numb the overlying skin, and inject a small amount of steroid to decrease inflammation, and therefore, pain. Occipital nerve blocks have been proven to be very effective for these types of headaches.