Procedure & Treatment Library

Greater / Lesser Occipital Nerve Block

What is an Occipital Nerve Block?

Prior to the Procedure

Occipital nerve block
Image by Henry Vandyke Carter [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

What Will Happen?

  1. You will be admitted to the day surgery by a nurse.
  2. The anaesthestist will speak with you and insert a cannula (plastic needle) into your hand or arm if you are having sedation.
  3. In the procedure room, you will be positioned onto the X-ray table.
  4. The tender spots will be felt at the back of your skull. The area will then be cleaned with a chlorhexidine solution or alcohol wipe.
  5. Corticosteroid and local anaesthetic will then be injected into the target site.
  6. Some pressure will be applied to the area for a couple of minutes at the end of the injection.
  7. If both sides of the back of your skull are to be injected this may need to be performed approximately 30 minutes apart or on two separate occasions.

Post Procedure

If you require further explanation of the procedure, please contact Hunter Pain Specialists nursing staff on (02) 4985 1800.

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