Medication-Free Treatment of Migraine; Nerve Blockage
Migraine disease, which is a common health problem seen in one in every 6 people in the society, can be treated with the 'occipital blockade' method. When medications are not effective and headaches begin to affect daily life activities, occipital blockade management, which is an alternative solution for migraine treatment, appears as an effective solution method.
•Headache lasting 4-72 hours
• Being unilateral
• Being pulsatile (throbbing)
• Presence of moderate to severe pain
• Increase in pain with routine physical activity
•Nausea - vomiting
•Discomfort to light and sound
If the answer to most of these questions is YES, you most likely have a migraine.
What is Nerve Blockade?
Occipital blockade is the process of blocking the part of the head that perceives the sensation of pain with anesthetic substances and increasing the pain threshold by reducing the excitability of the nerve. Thanks to this method, the pain sensation in the nervous system that causes pain is blocked and therefore the pain is stopped.
How is Nerve Blockade Applied?
The treatment is easy to apply and the patient is seated. A local anesthetic agent is injected into the greater occipital nerve area at the back of the head with a very thin needle. Patients who apply to our hospital are examined, injected and then briefly observed. The application takes around 10 minutes and the entire process takes around 45 minutes. In most of our patients, a single application provides long-term effectiveness, and from time to time, 2nd and 3rd applications are needed.
In the treatment of occipital blockade, which is a local method; Although there is no problem other than numbness in the neck lasting 4-5 hours, rarely dizziness, sensitivity at injection sites or neck pain may occur.
Who Can Apply to Nerve Blockage?
It can be preferred in people who have migraine disease and do not want to use medication, or in people who are unsafe to use medication (those with liver and/or kidney failure, breastfeeding women, pregnant women, people who cannot use painkillers due to digestive system disorders, those who are allergic to analgesics). It can also be used in people with cervicogenic medication. It is also effective in headaches, tension-type headaches, cluster headaches, and occipital neuralgia patients.
Is Nerve Blockade the Definitive Solution to Migraine Disorder?
In Migraine Prophylaxis. Medications used (in preventive treatment) reduce the frequency, severity and duration of pain by an average of 40-70%. In this case, it is necessary to use medication for at least 6 months. An average of 50-70% reduction in occipital blockade is achieved and this effect may last for 3-6 months, but patients benefit from the treatment after 1 - 3 applications without feeling the need to use medication.
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