Gabapentin for occipital neuralgia
Common Questions and Answers about Gabapentin for occipital neuralgia
neurontin
Hi everyone! I've recently been diagnosed with occipital neuralgia, which isn't exactly common for a 24 year old. When I went to the pain management doctor, I think that he did not quite believe the diagnosis from the neurologist, and informed me that he would give me a "very low dose" of the steroid injection. He also told me that I should try massage therapy instead (I had done this for a few months before, but it did not help).
I'm taking gabapentin for TN and occipital neuralgia (I assume is probably lessens the tingling in my arm and leg as well) and most of the time I have reasonable pain control. However, there are times when the pain really flares up and I'm not sure if there's anything I can do for that. I don't know if gabapentin (neurontin) has a "short term" effect--e.g. if I took an extra dose, would it help?
Hi, probably it is occipital neuralgia, though other possibility is tension headache. Occipital neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder caused by irritation or injury to the occipital nerve located in the back of the scalp. Individuals with the disorder experience pain originating at the nape of the neck. The pain, often described as throbbing and migraine-like, spreads up and around the forehead and scalp.
I know how painful and irritating the TN and occipital neuralgia can be. I think the occipital neuralgia (in my case) was more annoying and painful than my TN.
But , I do/did get the lightening bolt zaps to scalp and head that literally caused me to jump. Are you taking anything for it?
For the blurry vision...Have you tried lubricating eye drops? The neuro-opthamologist I saw said that insufficient tear film over the cornea of the eye can cause blurry vision.
Your symptoms do not exactly match the clinical picture of trigeminal neuralgia but you should continue with the treatment and do notgo in for complicated details.The treatment consists of medicines, surgery, and complementary approaches.
For more information refer http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/detail_trigeminal_neuralgia.
steroid infusions have helped me with TN and occipital neuralgia. I take lyrica (300 mg) and gabapentin (900 mg) both, with percocet for breakthrough pain. I'm also exploring acupuncture as a treatment, though this is very new.
My biggest problem with the anti-seizure drugs is that I feel like my body acclimates to them pretty quickly, so I'm constantly upping the dosage.
Sorry to hear about your pain. I know how you feel.
Perry Rosenthal is doing a lot of work on the problem through the BFS. You may also have occipital neuralgia, which can be treated with a combination steroid / lidocaine injection to the occipital nerve at the base of your neck. This should be tried if it hasn't already. I have to tell you that the combination of vision changes (floaters) and weird pain around the eye IS STILL possibly migraine.
It sounds, like your description, to be 'occipital neuralgia'-- a condition where the nerves to the scalp are irritated, causing pain in all parts of the head except the face. The nerves can be pinched at the spine, or by the muscles that attach to the base of the skull-- or sometimes the nerves are irritated for reasons that remain unknown. The condition is treated with medication like Lyrica or gabapentin, or sometimes with nerve blocks containing local anesthetic and steroids.
it is good you have a proper diagnosis now and that now you know it is occipital neuralgia. Now that you know it is occipital neuralgia, you can treat it properly.
I'm not a doctor or a medical professional of any kind. So please make sure to check any information that I give you with your doctor. Also, I personally think it is best to see a neurologist or a headache specialist if you are suffering from unresolved headache pain.
The type of shot you received was a nerve block.
In January, she was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia and was given a cortisone injection, - the pain got 10X worse. In February, she was diagnosed by another Doctor (Neorosurgeon), with the same condition and had a neve block performed, the pain increased by another 10X. She is now oin the hospital, the Neurodurgeon syas he can't perform surgery, pain management says they have nothing to offer. What are the alternatives? I have read abour Occipital Nerve sectioniong. Is that an option?
I've had TN and severe headaches (occipital neuralgia, I think) for the past year. I've had it mostly under control with gabapentin, but to avoid side effects, I was taking it 6 x/day, which was a bit of an irritation. My dr. switched me to lyrica (50 mg 3x/day)and initially the pain mgmt was even better than with the gabapentin.
Since this weekend I've been having a huge worsening in the pain level.
hello. i really need an advice with my problem. i'm not english so forgive me for the miskaes. i'm suffering from constant occipital neuralgia on the right side of my head, also my neck hurts/burns and sometimes i feel pain in my shoulder and shoulder blade. when the pain just started it lasted for about a month, than it went away for about a month as well and now it's back again. it's almost a month that it's present.
There have been several posts lately concerning occipital neuralgia and occipital nerve blocking. If you scroll down, you should find some of the posts but if you don't try using the "search this community" box on the left hand corner of this screen. It would be really advantageous for you all to share your experiences and what works and what doesn't;
Good luck!
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There is a woman there with ON that recently had a trial stim implanted and had 70% pain relief. She said it was an occipital neuromodulator. (they are doing some trials to use this for severe migraine sufferers because the occipital nerve is the nerve affected with migraines.) She had her surgery done in Pittsburgh, PA.
Her blog is at URL: http://forum.fpa-support.org/forum.aspx?
Thank you all for your sympathies and well wishes on the loss of out cat. It's astounding what a hole pets can leave in our lives. I keep expecting to see him, or hear him--he was really a loud meow-er!! But that not the point of this message.
I asked about my meds for TN and occipital neuralgia. I'm taking the max of Lyrica (300 mg, though some places have the max as 450 and some say 300) and a smaller (compared to the max) dose of gabapentin (900 mg).
Frequent lengthy periods of keeping the head in a downward and forward position such as in your case, is a risk factor for occipital neuralgia. Treatment is generally symptomatic and includes massage and rest. Local nerve blocks and injections of steroids directly into the affected area may also help. Recovery is usually complete after the bout of pain has ended and the nerve damage repaired. Inform your doctor if the medication you are taking is not working for proper management.
Hi
Headaches at the back of the head may have occipital neuralgia, cervicogenic headaches, tension type headaches and migraine headaches as differentials. A scan of the cervical spine will be able to assess if an underlying disorder of the cervical spine may be contributing to the pain. Cervicogenic headaches may also refer pain to the face. Arthritic or musculoskeletal causes have to be ruled out. Occipital neuralgia usually occurs after a mechanical injury to the head or neck.
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