Headache Log : Info on Occipital Nerve Block

I decided that if I'm going to have it done, but I may as well know what it is.  So I did some researching. 
You can see for yourself here
http://www.medcentral.org/main/OccipitalNerveBlock.aspx
or you can read my summation.

Basically they inject a type of steroid into the tissues surrounding (and possibly irritating or pinching) my greater and lesser occipital nerves (two nerves that come out of the base of your skull - if you don't want to wiki where the occipital nerves are).  The steroid is supposed to reduce any inflammation in those tissues that may be aggravating the nerve. 
Obviously there can be some soreness and tenderness at the injection site - the needle goes into some very deep tissues.
But they also apply a local anesthetic to help with the soreness and that will also, at least temporarily, help with any occipital neuralgia. 
The steroid is supposed to work anywhere from a few days to a few months.  (I suppose this depends on the person, the steroid, and the dosage.)

My hope is that it lasts several months.  But my sneaky suspicion is that there is more than one type of neuralgia causing my migraines.  I believe a branch or two of my trigeminal nerve is also involved and to blame for some of the pain.

*sigh*  At least I'm trying something, right?

Headache Log : Rose Clinic

So yesterday I went to the Rose Clinic and met with Dr. Rose.  He's the plastic surgeon who does the Botox injections into the nerves to find out if that's the cause of the migraines and then does surgery to relieve the pressure on those nerves and thus relieve the pain.

http://alifeofpayne.blogspot.com/2011/03/headache-log-plastic-surgery.html

He cleared up a lot of questions and concerns I had.  That's not to say that I don't still have a few questions and concerns.  The stabbing pain I get behind my eyes appears to be the result of one of three branches of the trigeminal nerve.  And, of course, the pain in the back of my head is my occipital nerve.  He explained what surgery is performed with each nerve.  I feel a little better about going under the knife if that is, in fact, the route I take. 
He offered me an injection on the spot, but I declined.  I explained that I want to wait and see what results I get back from the cardiologist and the MRA on my neck first.  Also, even though I don't want to be on preventative medication for the rest of my life (or any medication at all!), I'd like to see if the Cymbalta is EVER going to start working.  Two weeks in and I feel no difference yet.

So I may be following up with Dr. Rose in a month.

Of course, I had not been gone from his office more than 20 minutes when the pain intensified and I was wishing I had just gone ahead and gotten a shot.  Just one little tiny shot.   :(