Occipital Nerve Blocks

An occipital nerve block given in the back of the head along the superior nuchal line (the horizontal ridge of bone just above the neck). The nerve supplies sensation from the skin of the posterior scalp. Patients with greater occipital neuralgia may benefit from an occipital nerve block with a local anesthetic with or without a orticosteroid. Occipital nerve blocks with corticosteroids can also be effective for transitional or short-term treatment to temporarily turn off cluster headaches. Occipital nerve blocks may even be an effective treatment for acute migraine headaches. The block may relieve headache by altering the painful input to the trigemino-cervical complex (an area in the upper cervical spinal cord containing nerve fibers important in migraine generation).