What are the risks and side effects of occipital nerve blocks?
Are there any side effects caused by an occipital nerve block?
- The most common side effect is pain at the site of injection.
- Other side effects include infection, bleeding, dizziness, weakness, numbness and lightheadedness. These effects are temporary and often last only six to eight hours.
How long does occipital injection last?
How long does the effect of the medication last? The immediate effect is usually from the local anesthetic injected. This wears off in a few hours. The steroid starts working in about 3 to 5 days and its effect can last for several days to a few months.
How long does a steroid injection headache last?
Cortisone shots commonly cause a temporary flare in pain and inflammation for up to 48 hours after the injection. After that, your pain and inflammation of the affected joint should decrease, and can last up to several months.
How many injections do you need for an occipital nerve block?
Pain relief from an occipital nerve block usually will last for several months, but this may vary from patient to patient. You may have 3-4 of these injections a year.
Can I drive after an occipital nerve block?
After an occipital nerve block, a patient can usually drive home and return to normal daily activities the following day. The effects of the local anesthetic may wear off in a few hours, but the effects of the steroid begin to increase over the next several days.
Why do I have a headache after a steroid injection?
Although the hole made by a spinal needle is exceptionally small, in some people this can still lead to leakage of CSF. If too much fluid leaks out through the hole in the dura, the pressure in the rest of the fluid around the brain is reduced. This causes the typical headache.
Are steroid injections in the neck Safe?
Potential risks and complications While an epidural steroid injection is generally considered a low-risk procedure when performed by a qualified medical professional, risks and complications may include: Nerve damage. Bleeding. Infection.
What does an occipital nerve block feel like?
Irritation or inflammation of this nerve can cause headaches. People with occipital nerve irritation often report pain starting from the base of their skull on one side of their head. The pain may extend as far as the temple, forehead, and behind the eyes.
What is injected in an occipital nerve block?
During an occipital nerve block, about a teaspoon of local anesthetic and steroids are injected into the scalp where the trunk of the nerve is. The injection is done at the back of the head, just above the neck. The skin is numbed before the injection is done.
How does a back of the head injection work?
A nerve block is an injection of a steroid into the occipital nerves, which are located in the back of the head. The injection reduces the inflammation and swelling of the tissue surrounding those nerves, which may also reduce pain.
Where are steroid injections used to treat back pain?
Here are some of the most common targets for steroid injection therapy: Epidural space. Epidural injections target the area around the spinal cord where nerve “roots” exit and extend to other parts of the body. The area near the nerve roots may be the source of low back pain, such as sciatica.
Where does an epidural steroid injection take place?
Epidural steroid injection is a term applying to a variety of techniques performed to deliver corticosteroid medication around a nerve coming out from the spinal cord in an epidural space. This epidural space is the space between the dural sac – which surrounds the spinal cord and exiting spinal nerves – and the boney spinal column.
Can a back of the head injection help with migraines?
Block migraine pain with a back-of-the-head injection. Migraines can last four to 72 hours, and they can be so severe that they knock the sufferer out of commission until the pain subsides. Doctors use a combination of medications, physical therapy, nerve stimulation and even Botox treatments to help with the pain.