What Are Peripheral Nerve Blocks & SPG Anesthesia?

When severe headaches or facial pain become resistant to daily medications, hyperactive nerve pathways continue sending non-stop pain signals to the brain. Peripheral Nerve Blocks deliver a targeted local anesthetic (often combined with an anti-inflammatory agent) directly around specific peripheral nerve trunks to instantly "reset" these pain circuits.

Our clinic specializes in two advanced, highly effective nerve interventions:

• Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) Block: Involves a precise micro-injection at the base of the skull where the occipital nerves travel up to the scalp. It halts radiating head pain, scalp tenderness (allodynia), and breaks severe, multi-day migraine attacks (status migrainosus).

• Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) Block / Anesthesia: Targets the SPG—a dense nerve bundle located behind the nose that acts as a major control center for cranial autonomic pain. Using a gentle, minimally invasive transnasal applicator (often needle-free), local anesthetic is applied directly to the ganglion to treat cluster headaches and deep facial pain.

Key Highlights

• Rapid Pain Suppression: Provides immediate pain interruption, often reducing headache intensity within 10 to 15 minutes.

• Non-Surgical & Outpatient: Simple, in-clinic procedures taking under 10 minutes.

• Reduces Oral Medication Dependence: Helps break the cycle of medication-overuse headaches (rebound headaches) caused by daily painkiller consumption.

• Sustained Relief: Pain relief can last from several weeks to months, depending on the underlying neurological condition.

Is TPI Suitable for You?

Who Benefits

• Chronic & Refractory Migraines: Patients with frequent, debilitating migraines who get insufficient relief from daily oral preventatives or emergency abortives.

• Occipital Neuralgia: Sharp, electric shock-like, burning, or throbbing pain starting at the base of the neck/head and shooting up into the scalp or behind one eye.

• Cluster Headaches: Excruciating, one-sided head pain centered around the eye/temple accompanied by eye tearing, redness, or nasal congestion (primarily treated via SPG Block).

• Trigeminal Neuralgia & Atypical Facial Pain: Shooting or burning facial pain unresponsive to standard first-line medications.

• Cervicogenic Headaches: Headaches originating from upper neck joint or muscle strain radiating forward.

Exclusions & Contraindications

• Avoid If: Active skin or nasal infection at the intervention site, known severe allergy to local anesthetics (e.g., Lidocaine, Bupivacaine), or severe uncorrected bleeding disorders.

• Note: Nerve blocks are therapeutic and diagnostic procedures; they do not replace structural imaging (like 3 Tesla MRI) when ruled necessary to evaluate underlying structural causes.

The Procedure: What to Expect

• Anatomical Mapping: Dr. Aditya conducts a detailed neurological evaluation to isolate the precise nerve involved (GON at the skull base or SPG via the nasal pathway).

• Administration (5–10 Minutes):

  • GON Block: A fine-gauge needle gently delivers local anesthetic near the occipital nerve at the back of the head. Discomfort is minimal and brief.

  • SPG Block: Performed transnasally using soft, specialized applicators to drip anesthetic solution onto the SPG membrane inside the nasal cavity without external cuts.

• Immediate Observation: You remain seated comfortably for 10–15 minutes while the anesthetic takes effect and headache severity is re-evaluated.

• Recovery & Results: Zero downtime; you can drive home or return to light daily routines immediately. Numbness at the back of the head or upper nasal passage is temporary and normal.

Safety & Side Effects

• Common & Temporary: Mild tenderness at the injection site (GON), temporary numbness on the scalp, light nasal irritation or a temporary metallic taste (SPG), and transient mild lightheadedness.

• Safety Protocol: Performed exclusively by a consultant neurologist trained in precise cranial anatomy, eliminating systemic side effects associated with heavy daily oral painkillers.

Comprehensive Muscle Pain Relief Package includes all the following:

First consultation PLUS Injection PLUS Follow up consultation
- Valid for 2 months