occipital nerve block injections

[saphire72]

hi has anybody had occipital nerve block injections for their migraines ? and if so did they work ?

[teadrinker]

Hi there

yes, I had an occiptal nerve block a couple of years ago. I have chronic facial pain / head pain & migraines. It didn't really help although the sensations in my head changed. I also had botox at the same time and this did reduce the intensity & duration of the headaches.

I was warned that the nerve block would take about 10-14 days to work, and that things would be more sore to start with (they were). The doctor said afterwards that they don't suit everyone, but for some people they really help.

It wasn't too bad a procedure, I had it done in outpatients and went home straight away after, though didn't feel too well on the way home.

Like many people I was desperate for something to relieve the misery, so if why don't you try it if you can? What have you got to lose?

Good luck

[saphire72]

Hi thanks at the minute I'm so desperate I'll try anything, unfortunately Botox is not available here at southampton as yet the trust has yet to approve it !

[Sybille]

I had a nerve block, it made things much worse but at the same time I don't regret trying, at least I know.

[MyAcheyHead]

Hey there. I had occipital nerve block injections about 3 weeks ago. The injections it's self was no different from getting a flu jab in the base of the head. I was told it would take between 3/5 to work. Your head on the injection site will feel a little sore for a couple of days.

For roughly 2 weeks my daily head pain had been reduced to a v mild headache. Sadly last week my migraines returned as well as the Cluster headaches. Last Thursday i had 16 Clusters in 24hrs and had a Migraine everyday since. saying all that, I would have this injection again even if it only lasted 2 weeks, To have those 2 weeks with a mild headache was bliss which is something i hadn't had in over 5 years of pain.

[saphire72]

Hi thanks I suffer chronic daily head pain with daily migraines on top my life too is dam right unbearable so I'm willing to try anything x

[Angelface]

Can't say that this has been offered to me, I get 3-4 days of blindness in my right eye first then my left eye, then both together, I would be willing to try anything as this has disabled me so that I can not work at the job that I had attained earlier in the year. It was deemed unsafe by my GP and now I find that I am unable to get any kind of benefits. Just left in limbo really.;

[saphire72 in reply to Angelface]

Hi Angelface, I've tried different drugs but I have too many side effects via my neurologist. After doing some research I asked about these injections and my neurologist finally agreed but he thinks botox would be better but its not available at southampton yet

If I was you, be very firm with your doctor and ask for them, you never know they might just help.

Hope this helps xx

[Awesome1981 in reply to Angelface]

Have you been checked for MS? Might be a good idea

[Angelface]

I do feel really let down by the whole GP system who say in one breath that I can not effectively do any work, then at the same time I cant claim any benefits because of the disabling effect of the illness. I just do not understand it! I will have to be firmer with them.

Thank you for your interest

xx

[Hidden in reply to Angelface]

Hi, I'm in Canada and I think your doctors can help you with medical letters explaining your illness in full and the impact on your life and the inability to work. You should qualify for disability. Good luck!

[mandy241073 in reply to Angelface]

you should be able to get p.i.p. ask your local job centre for phone number they should be able to help you.

good luck. x

[Hidden]

Hi All,

I just wanted to share a portion of my story with you (I have been there/done that for everything).

I am from Vancouver, and have been a chronic migraine sufferer for more than 15 years now, starting in my teens. With my second pregnancy I began to have chronic daily headaches, and they have continued since my son was born over 3yrs ago now. I was on daily narcotics for quite a while, but eventually the extent was such that I truly could no longer work or watch my children. Triptans no-longer worked and I was in bed 5/7 days and cracked-out the other two. My neurologist finally showed me how to use a self-injected medication called DHE. I stings like hell to use, but it *can* be effective for me. She then referred me to "the migraine doctor of BC", Dr Robinson. I finally got in to see him in Nov 2012, and thus my start of the Occipital Nerve Block. First - I think that you MUST have a neurologist who is competent in this procedure and Two - you need to have pain that transfers from your occipital nerve! Duh! So, this means that when you have a migraine, you also have severe pain on the back side of the neck/head as the migraine. This sore spot on the back of your head is where the neurologist would be targeting with his needles. For me, I had my first ONB in late November and it gave me A WEEKS worth of NO migraines! I had not experienced this in YEARS!! After that, it provided me with a severe reduction in the severity of my migraines. I still get them daily, but an Imitrex (Imigran) or DHE will take them away. No Nausea, NO VOMITING!! I have the ONB on both sides and today had my 6th set. The effect only seems to work for 3-4 weeks though, and then I start receiving migraines that won't respond to the usual medications, I start vomiting for days and end up in the ER. Now that I have worked out a pattern I can start to pre-book my appointments.

I must say - that over the Christmas break I was able to get into the Neurology ward at the hospital that my neurologist works at (an almost impossible feat in Canada) and have a 5 day treatment of IV-DHE. While the the DHE hurts like heck, it did stop the current migraine and allow me to break away from the narcotics!

I have been on plenty other medications, and still am after the golden pill, so if you want any other clarification or info, you are welcome to ask.

Good luck to you all! I feel your pain

Sara

xxx

[rowhzee]

I just got my first one two days ago at Ku med. so I haven't had too many days to give it a chance but I am up for any treatment other than more medication as I have been taking as much as 14 prescribed medications a day.

[jasperc163]

I had this done last September - occipital nerve blocks plus trigger point injections done following a sedative. I have a chronic daily (constant) headache with possible migraine flare ups. I'm afraid it didn't help me despite the fact that alot of my headaches seem to begin with a pain at the base of my skull (though it did free my neck up for about 6 weeks!) and if anything i experienced a new pain at the top my skull which took a while to reduce. I am still trying to find a solution

[tinka45]

I just had nerv block injections for my headaches I had to brain surgerys and it didn't help them and the injections helped alot om not sure how long it will work for but I only get mild headaches and not so frequent so I would recommend the injections and yes they do hurt.

[Hidden in reply to tinka45]

May I ask why you had brain surgery? Due to just one type of migraine, or more?

I wish you all the best and hope you find relief! I'm at 4 yr mark and 26days per month reduced to 9-12 now.