What is an occipital nerve block?

During an occipital nerve block procedure, the doctor injects pain-relieving medicine into the region where the nerve crosses the skull. The patient lies on their stomach and the doctor injects the needle near the nerve and the anesthetic (or a combination of anesthetic and steroid). 

What conditions is an occipital nerve block used to treat?

• Pain that affects the back of the head or one side of the head
• People who have sensations of shooting, zapping, stinging, or burning pain
• Some migraines or cluster headaches
• People with chronic headaches
• Spondylosis of the cervical facet joints
• A tender or painful scalp (this may be a sign of an inflamed nerve)

What are the results of an occipital nerve block procedure?

The goal of an occipital nerve block procedure provides pain relief so the patient can resume normal activities.

The steroid may help the nerve heal by reducing inflammation. This procedure may relieve pain over a period of a few weeks/months while the nerve is healing or in some cases, permanently.

Epidural Steroid Injections

Steroidal medication injected into a painful joint space can help soothe pain in arthritic joints. Injecting corticosteroids into an arthritic joint will not provide permanent relief on its own,  it can dramatically reduce inflammation and pain. The effects can last anywhere between 1 week to 1 year. Injections for joint pain are usually one of the steps taken before resorting to surgery. In some patients, steroid injections can reduce pain to the point where patients are able to participate in Physical Therapy, which in turn can strengthen the surrounding muscles and eliminate the need for further treatment.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients with medical problems or injuries that limit their ability to take part in their daily lives. Patients will usually see a physical therapist after a referral by their primary physician. Physical therapists work with patients who have experienced an injury or disease that has affected their movement and range of motion.

At Nextgen Pain & Injury Clinic, our team of licensed physical therapists and rehabilitation experts will focus on your total health and wellness. Regardless of the cause or source of your pain, we will develop a treatment plan with your unique issues in mind.

Our treatment philosophy emphasizes evidence-based manual and therapeutic exercise techniques that are tailored toward efficiently returning patients, athletes, and employees to their pre-injury status. We treat orthopedic and sports injuries, provide spinal rehabilitation, post-surgical rehabilitation, and industrial rehabilitation. Personalized physical therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions.

• Chronic and acute medical problems
• Knee pain
• Back pain
• Leg Pain
• Ankle pain
• Sports injuries
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Chronic medical problems
• Neurological conditions such as spinal cord injuries