At Salma Health, a nerve block is a quick procedure where we place a small amount of numbing medicine, sometimes with an anti-inflammatory, near a nerve to calm pain signals. We commonly use nerve blocks to help with migraine and chronic daily headaches; headaches after a concussion or traumatic brain injury (post-traumatic headache); cluster headaches and related trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias; pain from the back of the head or neck (occipital neuralgia and cervicogenic headache); and facial pain, including trigeminal neuralgia and trigeminal neuropathy. Your clinician will explain the benefits, risks, and what to expect and help decide if a nerve block is right for you.
How do they work?
Pain from the head and face travels along well-mapped nerves. During a nerve block, your clinician injects a small amount of numbing medication near the target nerve. This temporarily “switches off” pain signaling to the brain and can also reset irritable pain circuits.
Common targets we use include:
- Greater and lesser occipital nerves (back of the head) - for migraine, occipital neuralgia, cervicogenic headache
- Sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) - a small nerve cluster behind the nose for migraine, cluster headache, and select facial pain
- Supraorbital, supratrochlear, and auriculotemporal nerves - forehead and temple distribution headaches
- Branches of the trigeminal nerve - for trigeminal neuralgia and trigeminal neuropathy
Most patients feel numbness or warmth in the area within minutes, with pain relief that can last from days to weeks. A series of blocks may extend the benefit.
Treatment plan
Step 1: Initial consultation
- Thorough review of symptoms and history
- Focused neurological exam to pinpoint pain generators
- Discussion of prior treatments and goals
Step 2: Procedure day
- Targeted injection in the clinic using a fine needle
- For SPG blocks, medication is delivered through the nose with a soft applicator
- Visit typically takes 15–30 minutes with minimal discomfort and no sedation
Step 3: Recovery and results
- You can return to normal activities the same day
- Numbness at the site or temporary facial/scalp heaviness can occur and usually resolves within hours
- Many patients notice rapid relief, with maximum effect over the next 24–72 hours
Step 4: Ongoing care
- If helpful, blocks can be repeated on a schedule tailored to your pattern of headaches or facial pain
- We may combine blocks with medication management, targeted exercises, or other therapies to improve durability of results
Getting started with care
If headaches or facial pain are limiting your life, a nerve block may offer fast relief and a clearer path forward. Schedule a quick call to see if this option is right for you and to plan next steps with our team.
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