Test for Occipital Neuralgia?

[howardpatrick58]

Is there a test for occipital Neuralgia (ON):confused:? My headache doctor thinks I have this, and wants to send me for injections at a pain clinic.
Do the injections work to help end the pain??

[prairiegirl]

Is there a test for occipital Neuralgia (ON):confused:? My headache doctor thinks I have this, and wants to send me for injections at a pain clinic.
Do the injections work to help end the pain??

Yes. They will ask you alot of questions about the nature of your pain and if it sounds like ON, then they will do some freezing shots in your head and see how it goes.

[howardpatrick58]

Yes. They will ask you alot of questions about the nature of your pain and if it sounds like ON, then they will do some freezing shots in your head and see how it goes.

Ok thank you for your reply...

[prairiegirl]

Good luck with your appointment. Let us know how it goes. I hope you can get some relief. I've had an ON headache for over a year now. I see a pain specialist weekly.

[hayleyk29]

Is there a test for occipital Neuralgia (ON):confused:? My headache doctor thinks I have this, and wants to send me for injections at a pain clinic.
Do the injections work to help end the pain??

Hi, i am pretty sure that first your doctor has to get you in for an MRI, just to make sure it is occipital neuralgia, and if it is how serious is it? That's what happened to me anyway. I was complaining about my head hurting on and off and getting a tingling almost numb feeling in my head. That's when the neurologist told me to get an MRI and see if it is it, also if it is, they need to see how serious it is.
Hope this helps and good luck :D

[Deborda]

Is there a test for occipital Neuralgia (ON):confused:? My headache doctor thinks I have this, and wants to send me for injections at a pain clinic.
Do the injections work to help end the pain??

I have just been diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia. I am on Neurontin 200 mg 3 x per day. I can't get in with the neurologist until October 9th.... anything anyone can tell me about ON I would appreciate... I have had a CT scan, but will I also need an MRI for a definitive diagnosis? Should I be keeping a journal of my pain to take to the neuro? Thanks for any info you can give me.
Debbie

[prairiegirl]

I have just been diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia. I am on Neurontin 200 mg 3 x per day. I can't get in with the neurologist until October 9th.... anything anyone can tell me about ON I would appreciate... I have had a CT scan, but will I also need an MRI for a definitive diagnosis? Should I be keeping a journal of my pain to take to the neuro? Thanks for any info you can give me.
Debbie

I don't know if you will need an MRI for diagnosis. I have MS and that's what's caused my ON, so I have regular MRIs anyway. THey may send you for one, but the shots they give in the base of the skull, along with the questions they are going to ask you about your headaches is usually how they diagnose, from what I understand.

Keeping a pain journal may be helpful-at the very least it will give them some idea of how often you have headaches and their intensity.

Sorry about your DX. Having ON stinks.