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  New CH.com Forum › Cluster Headache Help and Support › Medications,  Treatments,  Therapies › occipital nerve block question
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occipital nerve block question (Read 2445 times)
ariel
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occipital nerve block question
Mar 21st, 2012 at 8:12pm  
Hi, I'm going for the ONB injectio tomorrow & I'm just wondering if anyone ever had any side effects from the steroid in the injection? Specifically, the moon-face type swelling that happens when taking a steroid for awhile. Also, in all of my searches, I can't seem to find out how likely it is to help me. I'm still getting quite a few HA's a day, and thats even with taking sumatriptan before bed as a prevent (which gives me a good 6 hours). So far the increase in verapamil & adding the depakote haven't done a thing for me. I know it may take time. Its just so hard. I don't know how much longer I can stand it & its only been less than 2 months since I've been off the prednisone.
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Batch
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Re: occipital nerve block question
Reply #1 - Mar 21st, 2012 at 11:18pm  
Ariel,

It appears you're still looking for a silver bullet to stop your CH...  They don't exist...

The occipital blockade is only good for a week to 10 days and shouldn't be repeated back to back without upping the risk of nerve damage...  so it's not a lasting method of controlling your CH. 

There's not enough steroid in the injection to get moon-faced or turn into a eatamus anythingus.  However, some CH'ers get sensitized to the steroid that's injected after one or two of these blockades which prevents further use.

You said you were going to try the anti-inflammatory regimen with vitamin D3...  Have you started it yet?  Did you get the lab test for 25(OH)D?  If not, ask for it when you see your doc.

You've also commented on oxygen therapy as an abortive, but I take it you've not asked for a prescription for it.  Why not?  Oxygen therapy at flow rates that support hyperventilation is one of the most effective and least expensive abortives available to CH'ers.  If used properly, it's better than 95% effective with very short abort times ~ ave 7 minutes, and it has no side effects...

Take care and keep us posted.

V/R, Batch
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« Last Edit: Mar 21st, 2012 at 11:19pm by Batch »  
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ariel
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Re: occipital nerve block question
Reply #2 - Mar 22nd, 2012 at 7:50am  
I will ask about the oxygen today. Can I start this vitamin regime without the labwork? Right now I don't have health insurance, but I may have it next month, if I get approved with the NY Bridge Plan. They require you to have a pre-existing condition, and of course cluster (or migraines) is not on the list of approved conditions. So I have to submit a letter for review before I can get approved & start the plan. Then I can see my GP for labs & such. Right now, its 200 each time I see the specialist, plus travel costs to the city. I'm kinda strapped right now. One other q, will calcium or Vit D interfere with the calcium channel blocker (verapamil) I am taking? Thankyou for your reply.
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ariel
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Re: occipital nerve block question
Reply #3 - Mar 22nd, 2012 at 10:54am  
I've just come back from the store, I picked up the fish oil, & vitamin D3. I'm ready to start on this. The fish oil is 1200 mg each & the D3 are 4000 IU's each. I already take a calcium supplement & multivitamin every day. Now off to the doc's. Oh, and I did read that its ok to start before the labwork, so I will begin it in the morning.
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« Last Edit: Mar 22nd, 2012 at 12:28pm by ariel »  
 
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