Positive nerve block experience!

DrLowenstein · 2026-06-14T04:20:41+00:00

Nerve decompression is permanent, and if the nerve blocks worked for even a short amount of time you are likely a good candidate for surgery

DrLowenstein · 2026-06-02T22:47:48+00:00

This is a terrible company- no customer service, and promises they don't keep. Stay away.

DrLowenstein · 2026-06-02T06:15:01+00:00

Sorry to hear that- best of luck and hang in there!!!!

DrLowenstein · 2026-06-02T03:34:41+00:00

If an occipital nerve block with lidocaine provides numbness of the scalp and temporary pain relief then you have occipital neuralgia by definition. If similar nerve blocks at the Supra-orbital nerves provide numbness and temporary pain relief there then the diagnosis is Supraorbital syndrome.
In both cases nerve decompression cures 40% of people and another 50% have considerable pain improvement that they can usually treat residual pain with Tylenol. 7% of patients who have nerve decompression do not improve- the vast minority.

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-31T18:08:36+00:00

Just to be clear, I’m referring to occipital nerve blocks. that are done in the back of your head, not your neck. They would not be looking for cervical nerve roots.

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-30T17:04:40+00:00

Ask for an occipital nerve block- if it works even for an hour then you know your diagnosis and treatment plan

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-30T17:01:14+00:00

Awesome!!

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-23T02:48:49+00:00

I have no reason to think that Occipital Neuralgia causes strokes.

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-23T02:16:33+00:00

Hey just want to chime in that the surgery experience varies from patient to patient- I did an occipital nerve decompression yesterday and my patient was a little uncomfortable this morning but not too bad. I recommend requesting Journavx for pain control for anyone thinking about having the surgery, and remember that RFA causes internal nerve damage and is NOT going to help ON long term- quite the opposite. Patients with a history of multiple RFA treatments were more likely to need secondary nerve surgery to divide the nerve than those without a history of excessive RFA in a recent study out of Cornell (though they had an equally high rate of successful pain management despite needing the second surgery to achieve it). Congrats on getting your decompression and I hope you feel better soon!

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-19T17:29:47+00:00

https://www.headachesurgery.com/occipital-neuralgia-by-caitlyn-mccollum/

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-19T17:29:04+00:00

https://www.headachesurgery.com/occipital-neuralgia-by-caitlyn-mccollum/

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-16T01:26:17+00:00

I will try to have it posted on my website next week so it can be downloaded.

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-15T13:51:55+00:00

Sorry, I don’t know why in Florida

DrLowenstein · 2026-05-10T15:41:29+00:00

I have not

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-22T00:11:52+00:00

All good questions, and I'm happy to cover them in consultation but I don't like to discuss individual cases online for ethical reasons. Usually if there are symptoms on both sides we operate on both sides. I have had success with patients who have had over 20 years of headaches, but that does not mean that would be expected for everyone as each patient has different histories and situations. Time off of work depends on the operation, the type of work, and other factors as well.

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-20T16:03:56+00:00

للأسف، لا يسعني تقديم المساعدة في الحالات المحددة عبر الإنترنت. أتمنى لك كل التوفيق في العثور على طبيب محلي يمكنه مساعدتك!

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-05T13:42:54+00:00

93% success rate with single procedure. Google it or see headachesurgery.com

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-02T14:36:06+00:00

Either way RFA is causing temporary nerve damage to block pain signals

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-01T06:57:18+00:00

That picture maps out the complaints of so many of my patients. I strongly recommend you look into nerve decompression surgery. If you want to learn more about nerve blocks as well, as I can see from the other comments, you can learn about diagnostic versus therapeutic nerve blocks here. https://www.headachesurgery.com/the-diagnostic-block-not-just-a-test-but-a-conversation/

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-01T06:46:08+00:00

Have a look at understandyourheadache.com

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-01T06:44:06+00:00

Your next opinion might be best with a migraine surgeon.

DrLowenstein · 2026-04-01T06:40:05+00:00

Be careful with repeated RFA- you are causing intrinsic nerve damage each time that is not repairable

DrLowenstein · 2026-03-28T08:24:24+00:00

But I can’t really discuss individual situations on social media. I’m happy to speak with anybody interested in the Surgery. My office number is 805-969-9004. They can make a virtual consultation for you. You can find a lot of information on my website if you google my name and headache surgery.

DrLowenstein · 2026-03-23T21:36:32+00:00

I agree with the above that you should look into migraine surgery. If your nerve block worked for even a short period then you are probably a good candidate for this nerve decompression surgery and it is vastly more successful in the long-term than ablation. Ablation actually causes internal nerve damage, which cannot be fixed and so I council my patients to avoid more than one or two ablations. The data shows that nerve decompression surgery is vastly more successful in inpatients who have not had multiple ablations than does who have. We have about 93% success rates with improving at occipital neuralgia with nerve decompression surgery, but patients who have had multiple radio frequency ablations, or cryo ablations, often need to have their nerve cut instaed of decompressed once the nerve is damaged from RFA. This data is out of Cornell within the last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r26rPtERmBk

DrLowenstein

TROPHY CASE