Greater occipital nerve blockade in cervicogenic headache

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 1998 Dec;56(4):720-5. doi: 10.1590/s0004-282x1998000500004.

Abstract

Cervicocogenic headache (CeH) is a relatively common disorder. Although on ideal treatment is available so far, blockades in different structures and nerves may be temporarily effective. We studied the effects of 1-2 mL 0.5% bupivacaine injection at the ipsilateral greater occipital nerve (GON) in 41 CeH patients. The pain is significantly reduced both immediately and as long as 7 days after the blockade. The improvement is less marked during the first two days, a phenomenon we called "tilde pattern". GON blockades may reduce the pool of exaggerated sensory input and antagonize a putative "wind-up-like effect" which may explain the headache improvement.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anesthetics, Local / therapeutic use*
  • Bupivacaine / therapeutic use*
  • Cranial Nerves
  • Female
  • Headache / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neck
  • Nerve Block / methods*
  • Occipital Lobe
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Bupivacaine