Occipital Nerve Block

What is an Occipital Nerve Block?

During a nerve block, pain-relieving medicine is injected to the region where the nerve crosses the skull. The needle is placed near the nerve and the anesthetic (or a combination of anesthetic and steroid) are injected. Pain relief may be immediate and usually lasts as long as the numbness, sometimes the relief may be long lasting.

An occipital nerve block manages:

Pain that affects the back of the head or one side of the head.
Migraines or cluster headaches
Spondylosis of the cervical facet joints
A tender or painful scalp, which may be a sign of an inflamed nerve