Headaches that take place because of occipital neuralgia can be extremely painful. The issue requires a sudden but intermittent piercing, taking pictures, or shock-like pain. This could very last from the handful of seconds to many minutes.
Your healthcare service provider may possibly use an occipital nerve block for diagnostic applications. It may help them decide if The top or neck pain you’re experiencing is coming from an occipital nerve or some other place. This may enable them figure out the ideal treatment approach.
“Occipital neuralgia can cause a taking pictures, stabbing, or burning pain that commences in the back of the head. The pain can unfold towards the very best of The pinnacle or even into the forehead or temples,” Olson claims.
Occipital neuralgia can impact any one. You may be more very likely to are afflicted with occipital neuralgia For those who have:
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A few of these forms and causes overlap with occipital neuralgia. 1 pro details out that it's scarce to encounter only occipital head pain.
When Not one of the abovementioned therapeutic selections help our patients, we refer them to a pain administration professional to consider interventional choices. Numerous processes could be used, including:
For most people, conservative therapy or occipital nerve blocks are pretty efficient in relieving their pain.
If these extra conservative methods don’t do the job, your health care provider might inject a neighborhood anesthetic into your occipital area, or back again of your respective head. This treatment can provide immediate relief and previous for several hrs.
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Some doctors execute a nerve block utilizing a local anesthetic to see if this will eliminate or relieve the pain, helping to substantiate the diagnosis. X-rays of your neck, CT scan, or MRI scan may be ordered when there is a concern that some underlying here problem is producing the symptoms.
One way your health care provider may possibly Look at to view if you working experience pain is by implementing tension towards the back of one's head.
You may be able to ease the pain with residence solutions such as applying heat or using OTC prescription drugs. Injections can help minimize nerve pain. Surgical techniques tend to be the final vacation resort if no other treatments do the job.
In case your headaches have persisted for over three months and also have not responded to traditional treatments — including migraine medication — it’s the perfect time to see a health care provider.