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Greater and lesser occipital nerves are targeted during the block. Injections help numb irritated or inflamed nerves and prevent flow of pain signals. Steroid reduces inflammation and soothes the irritation of nerves.

Patients undergo occipital nerve blocks either to diagnose if the pain is due to inflammation in these spinal nerves or to treat migraine, occipital neuralgia, cluster headaches and similar pain in the head.

. Cervicogenic headache caused by compression of occipital nerves in the neck
. Pin and needle pain sensation linked to occipital neuralgia or squeezing of occipital nerves.
. Chronic throbbing, burning or stabbing headaches
. Intense, recurrent headache or migraine that worsens
. Extreme headache on one side of the head, also known as cluster headaches
. Chronic daily headache caused by inflammation in the occipital area
. Acute tension headaches

. Migraine patients experience significant and rapid relief within four weeks of having this nerve block. (Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2011)
. The nerve block procedure is good treatment option for cervicogenic headache and occipital neuralgia. (Journal of Pain, 2006)
. A follow-up trial highlights 96 percent success in relieving occipital neuralgia headache over six months. Researchers are also unanimous on the point that pain relief prolongs with increase in number of injections.
. Patients may feel 87 percent reduction in cervicogenic headache over six months. (Pain Practice, 2006)
. Occipital nerve block is helpful in reducing severity, intensity and frequency of headaches. The result lasts for two months in most of the patients.

There is no need for any local anesthesia or IV sedation. However, it depends on doctors to use them to numb the targeted area considering the patient conditions. A small needle is put into the area just below the scalp. The numbing medication with or without steroid is inserted in to the trunk of the occipital nerve. Blocks can be performed on both occipital nerves at the same time.

Performed in an outpatient setting, it takes 10 to 15 minutes.

The scalp side goes numb immediately relieving headache. Patients are discharged after a brief monitoring. Some patients may experience dizziness or soreness in the neck. It is best to have rest for the remainder of the day and join daily works next day.

Headache relief is immediate due to the presence of the numbing medication. But the real effects are visible in a day or two once the inflammation subsides and the reprieve continues for weeks to months.

Patients experience freedom from headache for six to 15 weeks on an average. The degree of relief and duration depends on individual conditions. There are instances where significant respite from headache continues up to six months after having a sitting of occipital nerve blocks.

The effect of occipital nerve blocks wears off with time. Though patients undergo radiofrequency ablation to have long-duration pain relief up to a year, the impact reduces gradually. Doctors suggest repetition of the procedure depending on patient health and medical condition.

Occipital nerves blocks lead to temporary soreness at injection site. However, error by doctors may cause bleeding, bruising, dizziness, brain fluid leak, damage to nerve and skull and infections. Those taking blood thinners or have allergy to steroid should avoid the therapy. Complications are actually rare, it’s a safe procedure.