Greater Occipital Nerve Blocks in Children with Primary Headache, Migraine, and TN.
Published in the journal of Paediatric Neurology in 2014, the researchers treated 46 children that suffered with severe headaches, using a greater occipital nerve block. The children were between 7 and 17 years of age.
Nerve blocks are among the safest of the headache and migraine treatments available, with no known lasting side effects or dangers. This makes nerve blocks an obvious choice for children, and adults alike.
In headache medicine, a nerve block is an injection of local anaesthetic mixed with an anti inflammatory steroid, like “Depomedrol”. The “Greater Occipital Nerve Block” injection, is displayed in the adjacent diagram.
35 out of the 46 children in the study had chronic migraine, 9 had New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH), and 2 had tri-geminal neuralgia (TN). Out of the 35 children with chronic migraine 18 benefitted from this single injection. 10 benefited significantly. Of the 9 children with NDPH 3 benefited significantly. Neither of the children with TN benefitted.
There are many other types of nerve blocks that can be administered safely at the same time. These are depicted in the diagrams below.
Specialists can view the original study at this link Outcomes of Greater Occipital Nerve Injections in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Primary Headache Disorders
