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Nerve block is a pain management technique that brings relief from headaches and migraines. According to the World Health Organization, headaches are the most common problems associated with the nervous system. It’s estimated that about half the world’s population is set to suffer at least one form of primary headaches or
Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin and Dr. Leon Reyfman are pain management specialists at Neuro Injury Specialists who understand that not everyone responds in the same way to pharmacological headache treatments and may do better with a nerve block for headaches combined with other complementary therapy. In NY or NJ, get diagnostic testing at Neuro Injury Specialists to ensure you get the right course of treatment for your headaches.
Biologically, you feel pain when damaged nerves relay a message of pain to your brain. A nerve block for headaches impedes this relaying of messages so that the brain is unaware of any problematic pain in the body. The nerve block is nothing more than an injection with numbing medication that interferes with the relay system of the surrounding nerves.
For those who suffer from chronic migraines, the nerve block for headaches is a life saver. Chronic headaches tend to keep hurting for 15 or more days in a month, sometimes lasting for more than three months. This naturally has a drastic effect on the body as well as the mind, diminishing your quality of life.
Other headache types that benefit from nerve blocks include:
Headaches strike both men and women of all ages. Women, however, tend to suffer more. Also, if you’re white, your risk factor increases. When the pain continues for an extended time and pharmaceutical intervention isn’t beneficial, your pain management specialists may recommend nerve blocks for headaches.
If you’re afflicted with chronic headaches, become aware of what triggers your migraines.
A vast number of migraine causes may put you at a higher risk of needing nerve blocks for headaches, including:
Your headache could be the result of a single or multiple causes. The source of where the nerve block is inserted depends on what’s causing your pain. The most common location for the nerve block is at the back of the head to target the occipital nerve.
You may also be told that you need the injection in the frontal region, right above the eyes. Alternatively, it could be the temporal area or the sides of your head near the temples.
The type of nerve block you need depends on the target nerve, which may involve the:
Various types of injuries and conditions can lead to damaged nerves that require pain blocking for chronic headaches, such as:
Unfortunately, the nerve block for headache option is a temporary solution. It does, however, stop your head pain for a while. Studies on greater occipital nerve block, for example, show a 90 percent improvement in pain management after the in-office procedure. It takes just 15 to 20 minutes before you get pain relief. Depending on the severity and type of headache you experience, the nerve block medication could last for weeks or even months.
Contact Neuro Injury Specialists for headache relief in New York and New Jersey to see if you qualify for nerve blocks for headaches. Following detailed diagnostic testing, your neurologist may also recommend other options for headache relief in your personalized treatment plan, such as: