Occipital Neuralgia

The following is for general educational purposes only. I no longer accept referrals for occipital neuralgia.

Occipital neuralgia is a disorder in which there is chronic stabbing, throbbing, or electrick-shock pain affecting one or both sides of the back of the head and upper neck. The pain often begins in the neck and shoots up into the back of the scalp and radiates toward the forehead or down into the neck. Pain can often be reproduced by tapping over the occipital nerves on the back of the head.

Treatment of occipital neuralgia consists of medications, physical therapy, massage, rest, and injections or blocks by a neurologist or pain doctor. In cases where occipital neuralgia is persistent despite these measures and impacts a patient's quality of life, occipital nerve stimulation can be very effective. Due to poor coverage by insurance, I unfortunately no longer offer this procedure.