The occipital nerves emerge from the top of the spine and pass through muscles at the back of the head. When irritated â by muscle tension, joint dysfunction, or nerve compression â they can produce persistent headache or scalp pain known as occipital neuralgia.
Your consultant will carefully locate the affected nerve(s) â usually with reference to anatomical landmarks or ultrasound guidance â and inject local anaesthetic and corticosteroid. This helps to calm inflammation and interrupt the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
The greater occipital nerve is most commonly involved, but the lesser and third occipital nerves may also be targeted depending on the pattern of your symptoms.
Relief may be immediate and temporary, or longer-lasting depending on the underlying cause. Where relief is present but short lived, other options to provide longer term relief include pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation, and peripheral nerve stimulation.
This is a brief outpatient procedure, usually lasting 10â20 minutes. Youâll be seated or lying comfortably while the injection site is cleaned and numbed. Your consultant will gently insert a fine needle near the targeted occipital nerve(s) and inject the medication.
You may feel temporary numbness or a tingling sensation in the scalp.
Youâll be monitored briefly after the procedure and can usually go home the same day.
All procedures carry some risks, which will be discussed in detail with you during your consultation. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, and formal consent will always be obtained before any procedure is carried out.
At Wessex Pain Clinic we find that the best results come from combining medical treatments with active rehabilitation. Procedures are often most effective when paired with physiotherapy, movement-based exercise, and â where appropriate â psychological support. This comprehensive approach addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of pain and supports longer-term improvement.
Results vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed. Your consultant will discuss whether this procedure is appropriate for you.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, we work as a team and meet regularly to discuss complex, treatment resistant or unusual cases. As such you will often receive the expertise of several pain consultants. We believe that we are one of very few pain clinics to offer this.
Driving advice: You should not drive that day if receiving any sedation. Our procedures do vary on whether they are possible to drive home from yourself, please seek advice from your consultant about driving advice. If you are seeing us for an injection and planning on driving, please check with us beforehand about whether it will be possible to drive yourself home afterwards.
Wessex Pain Clinic provides consultant-led assessment and treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions. Our multidisciplinary team includes Consultant Pain Specialists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists, offering evidence-based interventions alongside rehabilitation and self-management support. We welcome patients from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Surrey and Sussex, including Winchester, Basingstoke, Southampton, Portsmouth, and Chichester â with both in-clinic appointments and remote consultations available across the wider Wessex region.
Our friendly team is on hand to support you every step of the way. Please get in touch at any time.
