← Return to Occipital Neuralgia Headache: Terrible pain lasting weeks, what helps?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Profile picture for rnlorena @rnlorena

@suszy39 I was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia by a Neuro-Opthalmologist in Texas and the only thing she did was press on my neck and ask if I had any tender spots when she did it. I did feel a spot or two that was sore but nothing really bad. I went out of state because I could not find any Doctor where I live to give me a diagnosis. They blamed it on my blood pressure and that is not it. I have had pressure in one place at the back of my head. No sharp shooting pains. So they put me on gabapentin. I have been taking the gabapentin but I don't get side effects from it but I still get head pressure. When I get head pressure my blood pressure goes up. I am in control of my blood pressure. So then after I came home I decided to look closer to home and found a Neuro-Opthalmologist in Alabama and she thinks I don't have Occipital Neuralgia. I have read all about it and I don't have the sharp shooting pains in my head and the other things it says. I am not sure I have it either. So I talked with my Doctor and he is sending me to a group of Doctors who do pain management and more. I spoke with someone in the office today and she told me they also burn the nerves if needed. She told me what to look at on their website it explains a lot. So If I get numbing plus a steroid shot the steroid will make my blood pressure go up. I know this because I had an injection in my back and it did just that. I have been on B12 for some time now. It will be another 30 days before I get to see this Doctor. The appt isn't till January. Then they talk about what they can do for you. So January makes it 11 months that I am still waiting for more help. Gabapentin is one of the medications they give for Occipital Neuralgia and as I said before it hasn't caused me any side effects. I am grateful for that Yet I still get head pressure. I am surprised you are only getting injections. So the shots only last for about three weeks? Since it will be 30 days till I see this Dr. I will have to come back with some responses on what they can do for me and let you know. It is like the goal post keeps moving away from me. I also am aware you can only get so many steroid shots in a time frame. What kind of Doctor did you see to get diagnosed? Did he offer you any type of oral medication? I look up all meds so I am aware of any side effects. I research everything because that helps me to think about what questions to ask. @rnlorena

Jump to this post


Replies to "@suszy39 I was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia by a Neuro-Opthalmologist in Texas and the only thing..."

@rnlorena Thank you for your comments. I am a typical occiptal Neualgia sufferer. Pain belgan on my right neck muscles, travels up right side of my head
. They put me on Gabapentin about two years, I finally slowly took myself off did not feel
it helped at all. Ablazgon was performed three years ago (nothing). I have Neuralgist, but they
will never give me anothing for pain, if you go to emergency they give yu mingraine cocktell but
when that wears off you are back at #1. They have sent me to a pain centre He gives me trigger
shots, of course they help but a few months later another attack (they last three weeks, all day
all night). Ice pack, heat, massage etc. I read on this sight about a person who sounds just like
I feel, same probelm, they gave her Valium/Medrol shots. Beleive you me I will be asking for
this combo my next shot date Jan 12, 2026. So thankful to share our common problems. Other
than these awful ice pick headachs I am in good leath. Many Many Thanks