Migraine attacks significantly reduce quality of life for many patients. For those who do not respond adequately to standard drug treatments, occipital nerve block (GON block) has become a reliable, simple, and effective treatment option.
At the Liv Hospital Pain Clinic, GON block is applied both as a preventive method to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks and as a supportive treatment during acute headache episodes.
Treatment-Resistant Migraine Treatment at Liv Hospital
Occipital nerve block (GON block) is a minimally invasive injection technique increasingly used in recent years, particularly for patients with chronic migraine who:
- Experience severe and frequent migraine attacks
- Rely heavily on painkillers
- Show resistance to conventional drug therapies
The GON block procedure is safe and free of significant side effects. In addition to alleviating migraine headaches, it:
- Enhances overall quality of life
- Reduces the need for chronic medication
Minimizes the risks associated with long-term drug use
Occipital Nerve Blocking Procedures
The occipital nerve is directly linked to the trigeminovascular system, the brain region that plays a central role in migraine attacks.
During the procedure:
- Local anesthetic and/or steroid (cortisone) or radiofrequency current is applied to the occipital nerve under guidance with ultrasound or nerve stimulation techniques.
- This blocks the reversible sodium channels in the nerve fibers, preventing the transmission of pain signals to the trigeminovascular system.
- As a result, the triggers associated with migraine pain are suppressed.
In radiofrequency applications, an additional modulation effect is achieved, regulating the neurological mechanisms that generate migraine pain.