What Is an Occipital Nerve Block?
What an Occipital Nerve Block Is. During a Nerve Block, Pain-Relieving Medicine Is Injected to the Region Where the Nerve Crosses the Skull. the Patient Is...
What an Occipital Nerve Block Is. During a nerve block, pain-relieving medicine is injected to the region where the nerve crosses the skull. The patient is usually lying on his or her stomach. The needle is placed near the nerve and the anesthetic (or a combination of anesthetic and steroid) are injected.
How long does an occipital nerve block last?
The local anesthetic will wear off in 4 hours. At that time, your usual level of pain may return until the steroid starts working. This can take up to 2 weeks. Pain relief from an occipital nerve block usually will last for several months, but this may vary from patient to patient.
What are the side effects of an occipital nerve block?
- The most common side effect is pain at the site of injection.
- Other side effects include infection, bleeding, dizziness, weakness, numbness and lightheadedness. These effects are temporary and often last only six to eight hours.
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