Living with chronic migraines can disrupt every part of your life, from your daily routine to your ability to focus, sleep, and engage with the people around you. When standard medications and home remedies fall short, it’s time to consider more targeted solutions.
At Grand Rapids Pain, we specialize in advanced interventional pain management, offering real relief for patients dealing with stubborn head and neck pain. As West Michigan’s most experienced team of board-certified pain specialists, we use techniques like nerve blocks to precisely identify the source of migraine pain and treat it at its origin. Our goal is to relieve pain, improve function, and help you reclaim control—without relying solely on medication. Schedule your consultation today to explore personalized treatment options.
If you're wondering whether a nerve block could work for your migraines, here's everything you need to know, broken down step-by-step.
What Are Nerve Blocks?
Nerve blocks are targeted injections that use a local anesthetic, often combined with a corticosteroid or anti-inflammatory agent, to disrupt pain signals traveling along specific nerves. These injections are typically placed near the occipital nerve, trigeminal nerve, or other branches that contribute to chronic migraine and headache pain.
Common types of nerve blocks used in migraine treatment include:
- Occipital nerve blocks (targeting the greater, lesser, or third occipital nerve)
- Trigeminal nerve blocks (focusing on nerves involved in facial and eye pain)
- Stellate ganglion or sphenopalatine ganglion blocks for complex or cluster headaches
By temporarily numbing these nerves, we can interrupt pain signaling and provide short- or long-term migraine relief while also gaining diagnostic insight into the source of your headache pain.
How Nerve Blocks Help with Migraine Relief
Nerve blocks are not a cure for migraines, but they are a valuable migraine treatment option, especially for patients with frequent, disabling episodes.
Nerve blocks may help:
- Relieve pain quickly in acute migraine attacks
- Reduce frequency and intensity of future migraines
- Enhance response to physical therapy or medication
- Delay or prevent escalation to more invasive treatments
For many patients, an occipital nerve block for migraine can provide pain relief within minutes to hours. The results may last days to weeks, and in some cases, repeated nerve blocks can lead to longer-term benefits.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Nerve Block Migraine Treatment?
You may benefit from a nerve block for migraines if:
- You experience chronic migraines that haven’t responded to standard medications
- You’re unable to tolerate migraine medications due to side effects or other conditions
- You’re seeking non-opioid, non-surgical relief
- You have migraine symptoms that localize to the back of your head, neck, or upper spine
- You’ve been diagnosed with cluster headaches, occipital neuralgia, or nerve-related headache syndromes
During your consultation, our team will review your history, symptoms, and treatment outcomes to determine if a greater occipital nerve block or similar injection could be helpful for your case.
What to Expect During the Occipital Nerve Block Procedure
A nerve block migraine treatment is typically performed in the office and takes only a few minutes.
Here’s how it works:
- Positioning: You’ll be comfortably seated or lying down depending on the injection site.
- Cleansing the area: The skin near the occipital nerve or other targeted site is disinfected.
- Injection: Using a thin needle, your provider injects a small amount of anesthetic near the affected nerves.
- Monitoring: Most patients are observed for a short time after the procedure to ensure there are no immediate reactions.
Side effects are typically minimal, though you may experience brief soreness or a feeling of pressure near the injection site. Serious side effects are rare but may include infection, dizziness, or numbness beyond the treated area.
Why Choose Grand Rapids Pain for Headache and Migraine Treatment
At Grand Rapids Pain, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all care. Our providers are highly trained in interventional pain management, including advanced techniques like peripheral nerve blocks, spinal injections, and MIST (Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapeutics).
This means we don’t just manage symptoms—we find the root source of your pain and treat it with the most precise, least invasive solution possible.
What sets our care apart:
- Board-certified experts in interventional pain
- Specialized migraine care that addresses nerve-related and spinal contributors
- MIST techniques that provide relief with fewer systemic side effects
- Personalized plans for patients with complex pain syndromes like CRPS, post-surgical nerve damage, and chronic headaches
Whether you're dealing with nerve irritation, migraine-related neck pain, or have tried other treatments without success, our team is here to help you move forward with confidence.
Find Relief That Lasts in West Michigan
Nerve blocks can be a powerful, low-risk option for managing migraine pain, especially when conservative therapies fall short. At Grand Rapids Pain, we’re here to help you find the source of your pain and treat it with solutions that are both precise and proven.
Ready to explore whether an occipital nerve block or other advanced treatment is right for you? Call Grand Rapids Pain at (616) 727-0083 or schedule your consultation online to get expert support from West Michigan’s leaders in interventional pain care.
