Occipital Nerve Block for Headache
An occipital nerve block is a small injection of numbing medicine near the nerves at the back of your head. It may calm head pain that those nerves help carry.
What is an occipital nerve block?
The occipital nerves run from the top of your neck up over the back of your head. The greater occipital nerve travels up the back of the head. The lesser occipital nerve heads toward the ear. These nerves can carry pain signals in several kinds of headache.
An occipital nerve block is one type of peripheral nerve block: an injection placed in or near a nerve involved in headache. For an occipital nerve block, a doctor uses a syringe with a small needle to place medicine near the occipital nerves. The medicine is usually a local anesthetic, which numbs the area. Sometimes a steroid (a medicine that lowers swelling and irritation) is added.
The goal is to quiet the pain signals that travel along these nerves to the brain. It can be used to stop a bad stretch of pain, to help prevent attacks for a while, or both.
Which conditions it is used for
Headache groups list occipital nerve blocks as an option for several conditions:
- Migraine, including chronic migraine. It may help ease an attack when other treatments have not worked. It may also serve as a short-term “bridge” while a longer-term preventive treatment starts to work. The National Headache Foundation notes it may help with migraine attacks that go on for a long time.
- Cluster headache. The American Migraine Foundation says studies show benefit from occipital nerve injections that combine a steroid and a local anesthetic. These are used as a short-term bridge while preventive medicine takes effect, and they often cause fewer side effects than steroid pills.
- Occipital neuralgia: sharp, shooting pain over the back of the head, neck and scalp. When stretching, exercise and other simple steps are not enough, occipital nerve blocks may be needed.
- Cervicogenic headache: head pain that starts in the neck. An occipital nerve block is one option, along with physical therapy and some medicines.
A nerve block is often added to other treatment, not used alone. Sources describe these injections as especially useful when standard medicines do not help, cause side effects that are hard to tolerate, or are not safe for someone to take.
What to expect at the visit
- Before: your doctor reviews your headache history and examines you to decide whether a block makes sense for you.
- The injection: the medicine is given at the back of the skull with a syringe and a small needle.
- Right after: parts of your scalp may feel numb for several hours. This is expected and fades.
- Afterward: the benefit can last longer than the numbness, because fewer pain signals are reaching the brain.
Technique varies between doctors. In a National Headache Foundation podcast, one headache specialist explained that he uses larger amounts of fluid to gently separate tight tissue around the nerve, and only numbing medicine with no steroid, so the block can be repeated as needed. This is one expert’s approach, not a fixed rule.
Side effects and safety
The American Migraine Foundation describes peripheral nerve blocks as safe and well tolerated. There are few reasons someone cannot have one. Expected effects include short-term numbness of the scalp near the injection.
Pregnancy: both the American Migraine Foundation and the National Headache Foundation say nerve blocks with lidocaine or other local anesthetics can be used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning to be, tell your doctor so the plan fits your situation.
How long relief may last
Results are different for each person. The American Migraine Foundation says relief may last from several days to several weeks, and it may get better with each repeat injection. Blocks are often repeated every few weeks, based on your doctor’s advice.
The National Headache Foundation podcast noted that some people with occipital neuralgia had lasting relief after a single block, while for others relief lasted weeks or months. Some people find a block helps only briefly. Talk with your doctor about what a realistic result looks like for you.
Cost
At Park Your Headache, an occipital nerve block is $395. See occipital nerve block fees for details. Every patient first has a 90-minute new patient consultation ($520). If appropriate, the injection may be done during that visit for the added fee. We are direct pay, so there is no insurance billing and no referral needed. Questions about using an HSA or FSA? See our FAQ.
What patients say
5.0 from 21 Google reviews
★★★★★
Dr. Park offers a truly innovative approach to treating headaches. I trust her training and knowledge base implicitly. She fosters a collaborative physician-patient relationship. She is highly skilled at injections and approaches her work with precision and care. She cares deeply for her patients and their well-being. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
★★★★★
Dr. Park was able to see me same day and provide nerve blocks during an excruciating acute episode.
Reviews are shared from Google in the patients’ own words. Individual experiences vary.
How Dr. Park can help
Dr. Hannah Park is a dual board-certified, fellowship-trained headache medicine neurologist with over 10 years of specialized experience. She has lived with migraine herself. Your first visit is a 90-minute consultation with Dr. Park, including a full history review, a neurological exam, a diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan.
The practice focuses on targeted in-office injection treatments, such as occipital nerve blocks, trigger point injections and SPG blocks, rather than a cycle of prescription medicines. Dr. Park does not prescribe opioids. Appointments run Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., usually within days. Fees are listed on our services page.
Related
Sources
This page summarizes patient information from these organizations, in our own words. It is general education, not medical advice.
- Spotlight On: Interventional Headache Management, American Migraine Foundation
- Interventional Headache Procedures, American Migraine Foundation
- Occipital Neuralgia: A Guide, American Migraine Foundation
- Neck Pain and Migraine, American Migraine Foundation
- Cluster Headache Treatment Options, American Migraine Foundation
- The Complete Headache Chart, National Headache Foundation
- Neck Pain, Migraine, and Headache: How Are They Related?, National Headache Foundation
- Pregnancy, National Headache Foundation
Last updated October 27, 2026.
Pain at the back of your head? Ask about a nerve block.
Every patient starts with a 90-minute new patient visit with Dr. Park.