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

Posted by suszy39 @suszy39, Dec 12, 2025

I suffer from occiptal neuralgia headachs. Three weeks usally @ a time. I do have trigger shots but medicare has cut my time to every
fours months, they do help. Hot Hot showers, massage, $$ on pillows.
Beginning to take VitB2?
A comment on Mayo chat they take Valium/Medrol dose? any other ideas?

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@suszy39 And it hit us quickly. God Bless you and heal you.

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@sherminator Thank you, I appreciate the care and concern we have for one another.

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@suszy39 So sorry - I am quite afraid of many medications.

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@sherminator I beginning to understand. Makes you wonder how it is affecting my brain.

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I just don't trust the newer medications. The side effects are terrifying. I hope you find the right treatment. Really changes the way we live...hugs

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@suszy39 Thank you Suzy, I appreciate your input very much. I am afraid of Botox and side effects from some of the other medications indicated for this condition as I usually get them from most of the medications I take. I have been studying ON as per your suggestion and I think the blocks and massage sound like they would be acceptable. I have a cervical fusion and arthritis in the area as well. Hell getting older.. Anyway thank you!

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@sherminator I have having Botox every three mounts for about a year. They do help & I have had no side affects. They do help my headaches but it wears off after about two months. The neurologist that gives me the 31 shots is very good. She teaches others to do it properly. If you live in Illinois I highly recommend you make an appointment. She is in the Schaumburg area. Her name is Dr. Anderson a Neurologist. Good luck Bernie

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Thank you for the info, very kind of you. Something to discuss with the doc. I no longer live in IL. I am in a rural area and my doc is 90 mins away. I am happy for your results.

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See a dentist and a specialist who can x-ray your teeth and make sure you have no cracks. My neuralgia was immediately controlled when my tooth broke. Evidently hairline cracks in your teeth apply pressure to the nerves which result in the pressure and headaches. It was the most horrible pain in the world. I don’t know what I would’ve done if my wisdom tooth didn’t break after four months. I took the opioid. I had on hand for my degenerative disc condition for the ON pain. The dentist told me that hairline cracks in your teeth can go unnoticed on the x-rays.Good luck.

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See a dentist and a specialist who can x-ray your teeth and make sure you have no cracks. My neuralgia was immediately controlled when my tooth broke. Evidently hairline cracks in your teeth apply pressure to the nerves which result in the pressure and headaches. It was the most horrible pain in the world. I don’t know what I would’ve done if my wisdom tooth didn’t break after four months. I took the opioid. I had on hand for my degenerative disc condition for the ON pain. The dentist told me that hairline cracks in your teeth can go unnoticed on the x-rays.Good luck.

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@loriesco Wow Thank goodness. solved your problem. For years I had reoccuring ulcers on my tright side of my tongue they would go away come back they hurt so bad could not eat very well.
Finally a Dr. suggested I could be having problems with the mercury in my teeth. Sure enough
they removed all my old filllings, sores went away never came back!!!!!

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Me too. We have commonality...

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@sherminator The last "Flair Up days" lasted almost a month. But I do believe the help of a book I ordered :Treat Your Own Neck, by Robin McKenzie has helped when I ordered the Cervical Roll. You put it inside pillow case therefore you can sleep on your side and the pillow
is giving your neck great support. I would wake up stiff neck, I no long so. Then I take a very Hot
Shower, and do my neck erexceries that the book lists plus a few Dr. Saunders on Net does.
I believe my poor posture is to blame for some but who knows about the remainder.I will continue to have trigger shots, and nerve blocks and for get about the meds... thats where I am plus resting a little more........Time will tall if all this is helping???

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Thank you for the info, very kind of you. Something to discuss with the doc. I no longer live in IL. I am in a rural area and my doc is 90 mins away. I am happy for your results.

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@sherminator I will add one more helpful treatment "Clinical Massage Therapy" it helps so
much, even once a month. I look forward to this, check with massage in your area it is so worth
it. I live in Northern Calif. and the place my Dr. sent me about 30 min. away so very very thankful.

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