The nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord at the base of the neck up through the scalp are known as the occipital nerves. There are two types of optical nerves, the lesser occipital nerve and the greater occipital nerve. It is the greater occipital nerve that is treated in preventative measures for a migraine.
Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) region of the brain deals with vision including colour recognition, spatial awareness and word recognition. Most people who experience migraines and headaches on a regular basis also have inflammation in the sub-occipital region of their skulls. Innovations in pain management technology utilize neuro stimulation to target tension headaches that originate from the occipital nerve.
Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is used as a preventative method to treat a chronic headache like a tension headache, migraine, cluster headache and hemicrania continua. Occipital nerve stimulation includes inserting an electrode under the skin at the base of the head. The electrode supplies electrical impulses to the occipital nerve at the base of the head with the aim of disguising the pain. The patient can control the strength of the impulses manually by regulating them to the suitable level to relieve the pain. Managing the impulses takes practice and it may take some months before the patient begins to feel any benefits.
Peripheral nerve blocks are injections or implants to the nerves that block them from sending pain signals to the brain. The injection reduces the inflammation and swelling of the tissue surrounding those nerves, which may also reduce pain. They are regularly used for chronic conditions that involve pain, such as Migraine. For patients with a migraine, it is common for the occipital nerves to be the target of nerve blocks. This aims to chemically block the migraine pain pathway.
This is not a first line treatment and is usually administered after people have exhausted medicines and other routine procedures. Optical Nerve Stimulation (ONS) is emerging as a promising treatment option and has already provided a better quality of life for some individuals. However, the ultimate confirmation should come from randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Peripheral Nerve Blocks (PNB) are generally considered quite safe. A small number of patients who receive them will experience numbness or tingling following administration.