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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Occipital nerve block
        
(Message started by: lulu2000 on Jan 3^rd, 2003, 5:57pm)

Title: Occipital nerve block
Post by lulu2000 on Jan 3^rd, 2003, 5:57pm

I have read about deadening the occipital nerve and in some cases this relieves CH. They did it at the Mayo clinic in Texas and in Phila. If it works with lidocaine then surgery is done so that it is permanent; some type of box is implanted.

Anyone here try it? I am having the injection done on Monday. The neuro I go to said he has done it for headache patients but had never heard of it for CH; I gave him the write-ups off of the web and he said he would try it. Of course, if the injectyions don't work it's all over. I think there was about a 40% success rate at the Mayo - it would mean no more drugs and no more headaches - sounds good.

Title: Re: Occipital nerve block
Post by Bob P on Jan 3^rd, 2003, 6:31pm

Here is aresponse from Dr. Dodick who does the surgery:

Dear Mr Pahlow,

I very much appreciate your letter. I am currently lecturing at a
meeting in Montreal and was speaking with Dr Robinson just last night.
He spontaneously began to tell me about what a wonderful experience and
privilege it was to speak to your group recently. It is a rare and
invaluable experience indeed to have the opportunity to hear the
experience of such a large group of cluster sufferers. Dr Robinson is a
wonderful doctor and superb neurologist. I work closely with Genarro
Bussone and Massimo Leone who I suspect you know. I look forward to the
opportunity to work collaboratively with OUCH. It is just this type of
collaborative effort that will bring us to better treatment and
hopefully a cure for Cluster headache.

Best wishes,

David W. Dodick M.D.
Department of Neurology
Mayo Clinic
Scottsdale Arizona

If you see Doc Dodick, tell him OUCH sent ya.

Title: Re: Occipital nerve block
Post by RebekahD1 on Jan 17^th, 2003, 1:44pm

How did you make out with the injections?

Title: Re: Occipital nerve block
Post by notseinfeld on Jan 27^th, 2003, 10:08pm

Lulu(2003)--

I had the OCN done about 8 months ago as the desperation string kept growing and I had to put in the 'tried that' junk pile. There was no discernable difference in the pain, frequency or inertia of the attacks. But, like you, I had read there was some success with someone somewhere thus it's worth a shot. Hope you fare better!

nots

Title: Re: Occipital nerve block
Post by athos12 on Jan 29^th, 2003, 12:37am

I met with Dr. Dodick in AZ he and his PA are the ones who diagnosed me with CH finally.

Nice guy shorter than I exptected.... ;)

Athos...

Title: Re: Occipital nerve block
Post by erik on Jan 31^st, 2003, 8:46am

I did have had supraorbital/occipital/paravertibral nervebloks, initial dose of marcaine0.5% totally 15cc, with 80 mg of depo medrol, tapered down to 40 mg of depo medrol on sucessive treatments. received the treatment 3 times a week for 12 weeks. initially it seemed to relief some of the attacks but did not last ones the freezing effect deminished the attack would come rite back, and much more intence. looking back my imitrex use never really dropped much during those treatments .I received mine at the rothbart painmanagement clinic in toronto in 1995 through 1996.
hope you have better success. they sure are painfull but nothing compared to the beast. good luck ERIK

Title: Re: Occipital nerve block
Post by hdbngr on Jan 31^st, 2003, 3:13pm

I don't know if the "box" you refer to is the Medtronic device?

They do these blocks prior to an RFG procedure, where they use microwaves to irritate the nerves and deaden them for up to 6 months. IF it works. The first one eliminated some pain for 2 weeks, then that was it.

A new Neurologist said if the block deadened the pain for even 2 hours, then it could be considered successful, and the patient might be a candidate for a spinal cord stimulator (SCS, medtronic) which uses electrical impulses or "white noise" to drown out the pain signals being sent by your nerves. They are using these in some areas to treat occipital neuralgia, but as the Doc said, cluster headaches are a whole different animal. Clusters are difficult to treat, notoriously unresponsive to most medications and surgery. Not much data and even fewer Docs who do this are available.

Advantages: (If it works)

No medication, rate of stimulation is controlled by the patient depending on intensity of pain. Less expensive than long-term medication use.

Disadvantages:

Scar (who cares?) incorrect placement of leads may not eliminate all of the pain, very expensive initially, may shut off near credit card scanners, or set off detectors in airports. Batteries have to be replaced every 10 years. Trying to find a Doctor who can or will do it to treat a CH sufferer.