← Return to Occipital Neuralgia: What treatments work for you?

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Rachel. @rwinney Maybe I missed it because I'm in excruciating pain from new onset of occipital neuralgia, but did you find a way to lessen or stop your pain? I've had small-fiber neuropathy also for 20 years, but these ice-pick headaches are new to me. Could SFN be the cause? What is the cure? I've been on Gabapentin for 3 days. At first it seemed to help. Now it feels like it isn't doing anything. I'm up to 400 mg a day now. And I'm taking extra-strength Tylenol.The pain is every few seconds right now. It's really hard to take. Any advice would be really appreciated.

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Replies to "Rachel. @rwinney Maybe I missed it because I'm in excruciating pain from new onset of occipital..."

Hi @blueskies10, it sounds Iike a very difficult time for you. I'msorry and am hopeful you've had some settling after taking gabapentin steadily with increased dose. It may take time to provide relief. In addition to nerve medication, what has worked for me are very basic tools to work alongside, like diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness exercises, physical fitness and joyful, funny distraction. I know it sounds crazy, but the more you direct your brain elsewhere, the more likely your brain can stop "accessing it's pain network". What sorts of distraction do you find enjoyable? Do you have hobbies you enjoy or phone calls to someone who makes you laugh?