Occipital nerve block

What is occipital headache?

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Occipital headache is pain localized in the back of the head and the neck, often radiating toward the crown, behind the ears, or to the upper part of the neck. The pain may be throbbing, stabbing, or tightening, with varying intensity—from mild to severe.

Most commonly, this condition is associated with:

• tension and muscle spasm in the cervical (neck) region
• prolonged work at a computer
• poor posture and inadequate ergonomics
• chronic stress
• irritation or compression of the occipital (greater and/or lesser) nerves

The pain usually worsens with neck movement or pressure on the occipital area and is often accompanied by stiffness and discomfort in the shoulders.

What is an occipital nerve block?

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An occipital nerve block is a fast and effective therapeutic procedure used to treat occipital headache, especially when the pain is chronic or frequently recurrent. By locally injecting medication around the occipital nerves, inflammation is reduced and the pain signal is interrupted.

The procedure:

• is performed by a medical specialist
• takes only a few minutes
• does not require hospital admission
• provides rapid pain relief

The effect can be long-lasting—from several weeks to several months—depending on the individual condition of the patient.

For which conditions is it suitable?

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Occipital nerve block is recommended for:

• chronic occipital (back-of-the-head) headache
• insufficient response to medication therapy
• occipital neuralgia
• cluster headache
• paroxysmal hemicrania
• SUNCT syndrome
• migraine

The procedure is performed by Dr. Tsvetomir Asenov, neurologist.

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Book an appointment: +359 887 550 322

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