Occipital Nerve Block

The occipital nerves arise from the base of the skull and transmit sensory  information from the scalp.  These nerves are often a source of chronic headaches  when they are malfunctioning.  They can also become irritated and cause pain in the  scalp directly, something called occipital neuralgia.   

By injecting a mixture of anesthetic and/or steroid around the nerves, we can “calm  down” the nerves so they don’t transmit as many pain signals.  This can often lead to  relief of headaches for months at a time.   

It is important to understand that optimal management of chronic pain involves  multiple modalities, including: 

• Exercise and lifestyle (sleep, stress management) 
• Weight Loss (Canada’s Food Guide)
• Psychological / Mental wellness (counseling, mindfulness, support groups) • Physical Therapy (Physio, massage etc.) 
• Medications (oral and topical)
• Spirituality (meditation, connecting to nature, religion)