OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

I HAVE BEEN DX W/OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA, JUST IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, SINCE THIS DISCOVERY MY NEUROLOGIST DC ME AND NOW SENT ME TO PAIN MGMT.  I HAD A SERIES OF INJECTIONS TO BACK OF HEAD, NERVE BLOCKS, AND GIVEN AN RX OF MUSCLE RELAXERS.
ANYONE HAD THIS OR CAN YOU GIVE ANY OTHER RELIEF RECOMMENDATIONS.  THIS IS PRETTY DEBILITATING.

PLEASE SEND RESPONSES.

[dw42]

Hi, I'm at the same stage you're at...I've been diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuralgia with Cervicogenic Headaches. I've had the steroid and botox injections, at the base of my skull. I'm on Lyrica, pain med. and zanaflex. I'm scheduled to have a facet nerve root injection in the vertebrae area c3, c4 under gen. anestesia by a pain mgt, Dr., I had a EBG- test today to see if there were any other compressed nerves by three of my bulging discs in my neck. If you live near Houston, tx. My Neurologist, Dr. Blake is wonderful; she pioneered a surgery when she was the director at Georgetown Univ. The Surgery done is done by a Plastic Surgeon Dr. Perry: it's called Occipital Nerve Decompression.My Problem... Insurance will not pay..It is termed experimental/needs more clinical trials. Therefore, the first surgery, is 15,000. If a second surgery is needed, it's another 15,000...yea!! It has been successful but I do not have the funds..and I can not seem to spread Public Awareness fast enough to help my PAIN!! Any suggestions , DW

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
The main treatment options for occipital neuralgia include oral pain medications, local injections, nerve blocks, physiotherapy, massage and heat therapy.
Please check out the link below it may be helpful to you.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/occipitalneuralgia/occipitalneuralgia.htm

Take care!