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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> another suggestion from my dr
        
(Message started by: atwitsend on May 17^th, 2003, 12:14pm)

Title: another suggestion from my dr
Post by atwitsend on May 17^th, 2003, 12:14pm

Went to Boston today AGAIN!! Now my doc is talkin about a shot to block my occipital nerve?? Its an injection givin thru the back of the head - anyone ever heard of this - pissed off yano - everytime I think I found a solution (hahahahaha) someone throws me a new plan!! Not sure if I should try it - this beast is takin over my ENTIRE life. Can't take too much more of this yano. Please let me know!!

Title: Re: another suggestion from my dr
Post by Laurie on May 17^th, 2003, 3:33pm

I've never heard of a shot to the occipital nerve. There has been a lot of discussion here about a new experimental device with some early promising results. The device is a sort of pacemaker that delivers electric stimulation to the occipital nerves, theoretically dampening abnormal trigeminal nerve activity.

The occipital nerves are in the back of your head. If you put the base of your palm against the back of your head and spread your fingers, pointing up, those are the occipital nerves. The trigeminal nerves (the bad guys in CH) are in the front of the head. They exchange electric messages with the occipital nerves. In animal research, when the occipital nerves are electrically stimulated, the trigeminal nerves become less active.

Try doing a search (here or google) on Dr. David Dodick of the Mayo Clinic (+ "occipital"). The info should go back to September 2002, when he presented the preliminary info at the Migraine Trust International Symposium.

I know you're going through some tough times right now. Hang in there. Everybody here is rooting for you.

Laurie

Title: Re: another suggestion from my dr
Post by Odie on May 21^st, 2003, 6:17pm

Ever try oxygen? That works for me to stop headache after it comes on. Does not prevent future headaches. Just need to use again and again. ???

Title: Re: another suggestion from my dr
Post by Ueli on May 21^st, 2003, 6:49pm

A occipital nerve block can bring short time relieve (weeks) from clusterheadaches. There is an article about it in the much neglected OUCH research library:
http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/surgery/occipital_block.htm

Or you might do a web search on "occipital nerve block" and "cluster headache". Click this link (http://www.google.com/search?as_q=%22cluster+headache%22&num=50&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=occipital+nerve+block&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=off) for the results returned by Google.

PFNADs
Ueli