WHAT IS IT?
The occipital nerve runs from the upper part of the neck to the back of the scalp. The nerve carries pain signals and when it becomes inflamed causes headaches in a condition known as occipital neuralgia. When this happens, the area can be injected with local anesthetic to diagnose and treat the pain.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
There is some risk of bleeding, infection, allergic reactions, nerve or blood vessel damage, side effects from the medicine and failure of pain relief.