inflammation at C1, C2 of cervical spine causing cervicogenic headach

Posted by kathy513 @kathy513, Feb 5, 2024

Has anyone received injections or ablation at C1, C2 for inflammation at this level of the cervical spine or any other treatments? Limited to what medications I can take due to Eliquis. Thank you!

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Profile picture for docb99 @docb99

Hello all
Cervicogenic headache and occipital neuralgia may have different causes and different interventions. I started with a broad diagnosis of cervicogenic headache almost two years ago at a major medical center because I reported head and neck pain.
I’ve had multiple facet and medial branch injections at every level including level 1 that most docs won’t do. Because they didn’t help ablation wasn’t recommended.
A neurologist said the occipital pain at the base of my neck suggested occipital neuralgia and I moved to a pain management doc for occipital nerve and cervical plexus injections. They help some but don’t eliminate.
I’ve been reading about “dorsal root ganglion”injections at 2-3 as an intervention.
I’m hoping a Mayo doc will determine an accurate diagnosis and an intervention that works.

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@docb99
Did you ever get a diagnosis and treatment that worked?

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Hi Kathy,
What is the cause of the inflammation at the C1-C2? My neck pain is caused by arthritis pressing on the nerves between the C1-C2. The first 3 ablations and cortisone injections worked but the last ablation and cortisone did not work.
This is a very risky procedure. Good luck to you

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Profile picture for beachlife67 @beachlife67

@docb99
Did you ever get a diagnosis and treatment that worked?

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@beachlife67 I have had multiple diagnoses because I’ve learned that you can have more than one type of headache.
Occipital neuralgia for me responded best to steroid injections in the greater and lesser occipital nerves and auricular nerve. It eventually went away.
Cervicogenic headaches are broader term that for me were likely related to neck tension. They respond best to muscle relaxing through heat and stretching and headache meds of some sort.
The most recent headache doc I’ve seen was the most helpful in saying that if you are a headache sufferer you can have different headaches and may need different interventions.
I kept thinking I have migraines but they were acting like other types of headaches. Realizing that my headaches might not all be the same was helpful.

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Profile picture for docb99 @docb99

@beachlife67 I have had multiple diagnoses because I’ve learned that you can have more than one type of headache.
Occipital neuralgia for me responded best to steroid injections in the greater and lesser occipital nerves and auricular nerve. It eventually went away.
Cervicogenic headaches are broader term that for me were likely related to neck tension. They respond best to muscle relaxing through heat and stretching and headache meds of some sort.
The most recent headache doc I’ve seen was the most helpful in saying that if you are a headache sufferer you can have different headaches and may need different interventions.
I kept thinking I have migraines but they were acting like other types of headaches. Realizing that my headaches might not all be the same was helpful.

Jump to this post

@docb99

I also have multiple issues, trigeminal nerve, occipital nerves, feels like the muscles are pulsating in the back of my head from my neck. A band of pain goes up from behind my ears and wraps around like a headband. Sometimes I feel like I have a red hot beanie sitting at the top of my head, or like something is trying to break out of my head at the top. The pain constantly changes and I’m dizzy/light headed/off balance 24/7. All imaging does not show anything. Nothing has helped in 2 1/2 years.

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