Seems to have worked like a charm for me. Old whiplash (20 years ago) with re-whiplash 4 years ago when a ladder fell straight down had left me with daily occipital pain for past 4 years often accompanied by severe headaches. Tried physical therapy, accupuncture, chiropractic, Massage Therapy, heat, swimming, muscle relaxers, Topamax (hellish drug!) and finally neurontin. I have not felt this good for 4 years! No pain right now. Has only been about 10 days, but I will be SO happy if this continues to work so well. I feel like I might actually get might life back.
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The periodic nature of mild occipital neuralgia usually does not interfere with daily life. The prognosis for persons with more severe occipital neuralgia is also good, as the pain is usually lessened or eliminated by treatment.
If your doctor has told you that you can exercise with occipital neuralgia, then yes, it is usually possible, however most physicians will caution you not to do certain movements, etc. For advice, always seek the help of a physician or qualified headache specialist.
From the treatment it appears that a massage therapist would be beneficial. Chiropractic care can also help to alleviate the symptoms of O.N.
Chiropractors offer great help in the treatment of occipital neuralgia. These experts are skilled in providing treatment for the spinal column and nervous system. They use various treatment methods to relieve their symptoms. Plus, they give quick relief by reducing inflammation and irritation of the occipital nerve. The sacro-occipital technique (SOT) is a type of chiropractor who specializes in treating pain by improving spine alignment. They also help relieve any chronic pain. When it comes to occipital neuralgia, it can help due to the tight muscles that can cause discomfort and pain. So, there are fewer chances of getting occipital neuralgia if you have a treatment from a chiropractor. But, if you feel pain in your neck and head after chiropractic therapy, then you should seek medical help promptly.
The five types of neuralgia include trigeminal neuralgia, which affects the facial nerves, and postherpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles. Occipital neuralgia involves pain in the back of the head and neck due to irritation of the occipital nerves. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia causes severe pain in the throat and ear area, while diabetic neuropathy can lead to various types of nerve pain in those with diabetes. Each type has distinct causes and symptoms, often requiring different treatment approaches.
Although statistics indicating the frequency of persons with occipital neuralgia are unknown, the condition is more frequent in females than males.
Occipital neuralgia can be considered a disability if it significantly impairs an individual's ability to perform daily activities or work. The condition involves severe headaches and pain in the back of the head and neck, which can be debilitating for some people. Whether it qualifies as a disability often depends on the severity of symptoms and their impact on one's functional capabilities, as evaluated by medical professionals and disability standards.
Neurontin, or gabapentin, is primarily used to treat neuropathic pain, which arises from nerve damage or dysfunction. This includes conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia (pain following shingles), and certain types of nerve pain associated with spinal cord injuries. Additionally, it may be prescribed for fibromyalgia and to help manage pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Have you researched Occipital Neuralgia. I have it and know other who do and we have those symptoms. I suggest you "image" google Occipital neuralgia and I think it may help you with your question. I found a support board through mdjunction for C2/Occipital neuralgia with fellow sufferers.
A nerve block can be a safe and effective treatment for occipital neuralgia, providing pain relief by interrupting pain signals along the occipital nerves. However, the safety and efficacy depend on individual patient factors, including their overall health and specific condition. It's important to consult a healthcare professional to discuss potential risks and benefits before proceeding with this treatment.
If the steroids did not work there are a couple of possibilities: - First, how was your occipital neuralgia diagnosed? Occipital neuralgia implies damage to the nerves that innervate the dermatomes of your head (occipital nerves), from trauma, tumor, etc. That being said, the first possibility is that you were misdiagnosed. Is it possible that you are simply sufering from tension-type headaches or another syndrome that has similar symptoms? Steroids may not be effective for tension-type headaches, and this might explain why they didnt work. If this is the case then chiropractic can almost certainly help, as it is very effective for tension-type headaches. - Second, steroids do not always work, and you may speak to your medical doctor about a nerve block instead. If you want to avoid drugs then you may consider trying a chiropractor even if the diagnosis was correct. There is almost no risk to chiropractic treatment and it has been shown repeatedly in the literature to be an effective pain reliever. Give it a try, you can aways try something else again if it doesn't work.