Can occipital neuralgia be cured permanently?

Can occipital neuralgia be cured permanently?

Treatment of occipital neuralgia aims to alleviate the pain; however, it is not a cure. Interventions can be surgical or non-surgical.

Is occipital neuralgia surgery safe?

Conclusion: Micro-surgical decompression of the greater occipital nerve is a safe and effective method for greater occipital neuralgia.

Can occipital nerve damage be repaired?

Decompression surgery to open the area around the nerve also can be performed. Although a specific cure for occipital neuralgia does not exist, there are many effective symptomatic treatment options.

How long do occipital nerve blocks take to work?

The immediate effect is usually from the local anesthetic injected. This wears off in a few hours. The steroid starts working in about 3 to 5 days and its effect can last for several days to a few months.

What type of doctor does nerve decompression surgery?

An orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon may perform spinal decompression surgery. Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of musculoskeletal problems.

How long is nerve decompression surgery?

Nerve Decompression / Neurolysis generally takes less than one-hour per surgical site and can be performed under general or wide awake local anesthesia. After surgery, the surgical area is wrapped in a soft dressing.

How long does it take for occipital nerve to heal?

Most cases disappear in 1 to 2 months. In rare cases, it can last longer than a year. If you’re older than 50, it’s wise to get vaccinated against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia.

Can you become paralyzed from occipital neuralgia?

A common symptom of occipital neuralgia is a headache with pain at the back of the neck and up the head to the scalp. Symptoms are most commonly felt on one side of the head, and if compression is prolonged, nerve damage may result in numbness and possible paralysis.

Is there a cure for occipital neuralgia?

Some of our patients have essentially been “cured” of their condition. This means they no longer need medical therapy and rarely, if ever, have a headache. Though each individual case varies, if you suffer from occipital neuralgia there is a good chance your symptoms would be helped by either Botox® or surgery.

What does surgery for occipital neuralgia include?

What does surgery for occipital neuralgia include? An operation is rare, but it might be an option if your pain doesn’t get better with other treatments or comes back. Surgery may include: Microvascular decompression. Your doctor may be able to relieve pain by finding and adjusting blood vessels that may be compressing your nerve.

What causes pain in the occipital artery?

Occipital neuralgia can cause intense pain that feels like a sharp, jabbing, electric shock in the back of the head and neck. Other symptoms include: Occipital neuralgia happens when there’s pressure or irritation to your occipital nerves, maybe because of an injury, tight muscles that entrap the nerves, or inflammation.

Is occipital neuralgia related to a neck injury?

At the most basic level, occipital neuralgia is caused by irritation, inflammation, or injury to the occipital nerves. These nerves run from the neck, up through the back of the skull (shown in yellow below). Most often, it’s related to a pinched nerve root in the neck, severely tight neck muscles, or a prior injury.