Occipital Nerve Blocks

Overview

An Occipital Nerve Block is an injection of anesthetic medication near an occipital nerve to provide temporary pain relief and help inflammation from headaches or other conditions. Sometimes, the injection may also include steroid medication

The occipital nerves are a group of nerves located in the back of your head. They originate from the C2 and C3 spinal nerves (the cervical vertebrae in your neck). There are three types of occipital nerves.

The three types of occipital nerves are:

1. Greater Occipital Nerve (GON): This is the largest of the occipital nerves and provides sensation to the skin of the scalp from the lower back to the top of the head, including the ears and the skin above the parotid glands.
2. Lesser Occipital Nerve (LON): This nerve supplies sensation to the sides of the back of the scalp and the surface of the visible part of the outer ear (pinna).
3. Third Occipital Nerve (TON): This nerve provides sensation to the skin on the middle lower back of the scalp and can be vulnerable to damage from whiplash.

Most people have two of each kind of occipital nerve, one for each side of their head. Despite these nerves supplying sensation to specific parts of the head, irritation or damage to occipital nerves can sometimes cause pain in other areas of the head or face, known as referred pain.

Procedure 

If sedation is recommended for the procedure, the Healthcare provider may advise the patient to fast for six to eight hours beforehand. Additionally, if the patient receives sedation, they need someone else to drive them home afterwards.

During an occipital nerve block procedure, the healthcare provider will provide specific instructions that a patient should follow carefully, and they should ask any questions they may have. Typically, the patient may be seated with their head tilted down and supported by their hands, or they may lie on their stomach on a procedure table with a pillow under their chest to slightly flex their neck. A mild sedative may be administered through an IV line in the arm to help them relax.

The healthcare provider will then locate the targeted occipital nerve by feeling the back of the patient’s neck. In some cases, imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound may be used to precisely locate the nerve. Once the nerve is located, the skin on the patient’s neck will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution, and the provider will inject the medication as close to the affected nerve as possible.

After the injection, the patient will rest until the medication takes effect. The entire procedure typically takes no more than five minutes.

 Benefits of an Occipital Nerve Block?

The potential benefits of an Occipital Nerve Block include:

1. Temporary or permanent pain relief, which can improve your daily functioning.
2. Temporary or permanent reduction of inflammation in the affected nerves may aid in their healing.
3. Providing a diagnosis of the source of pain.

It’s important to note that not everyone experiences pain relief from nerve blocks. If you do not experience relief, your healthcare provider may suggest other treatment options.