If migraine medications aren’t working well enough to help you get your life back, your doctor might suggest a nerve block. It sounds complicated, but the idea is simple: calm the nerves that are sending too many pain signals.

For some people, a nerve block can shorten a migraine attack or reduce how often attacks happen. It isn’t a cure, but it can be another helpful tool in your migraine care plan. It can give you a break from pain while your other preventive medications have time to start working.

Here’s what nerve blocks are, how they work, and what to expect.

What Is a Nerve Block?

A nerve block is a quick injection of numbing medicine near a nerve involved in pain. Doctors usually inject a local anesthetic to numb the nerve. Sometimes they also inject a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and help the effects last longer. The anesthetic starts numbing the area almost right away. If a steroid is used, it may help lower inflammation and provide relief for days or weeks.

The procedure is usually done while you’re awake in a clinic. You won’t need to go to a hospital or an operating room. Most visits are brief, usually under 20 minutes.

Occipital nerve blocks are commonly used for headache and migraine when other treatments do not provide enough relief.

One frequent target is the greater occipital nerve, at the back of the head near the base of the skull. The lesser occipital nerve can also be targeted. The greater occipital nerve carries sensory signals from the scalp to the brain and spinal cord. In migraine, it can become irritated or overactive. By placing medicine next to it, doctors try to quiet those signals.

How Nerve Blocks May Help Migraine

Migraine affects pain pathways in the brain and nervous system. During an attack, the pain pathways become more sensitive, as if the brain’s volume control were turned up too high. Nerves fire more easily, and the brain boosts those signals, so normal sensations such as light, sound, or movement can feel overwhelming and painful.

This oversensitivity is why migraine symptoms can include not only headache but also nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Nerve blocks aim to turn down that volume. Here are some ways nerve blocks help with migraine.

Interrupting Pain Signals

Local anesthetics temporarily block or reduce pain signals from the nerve. By surrounding the nerve with numbing medicine, the injection can temporarily stop pain signals from reaching the brain. If fewer pain signals reach the brain, headache pain may lessen. Nerve blocks can reduce headache intensity and frequency for some people.

Calming Overactive Nerves

Some nerves keep firing even when they shouldn’t. A nerve block can calm that extra activity.

Reducing Central Sensitization

Repeated pain can make the brain more sensitive, a process called central sensitization. Lowering incoming pain signals may help the brain reset and become less reactive.

Who Might Benefit From a Nerve Block?

Nerve blocks are usually not the first-line treatment. Doctors often consider them if:

• You have chronic migraine.
• Attacks are long or severe, and rescue medicines don’t work well.
• Preventive treatments are starting slowly, and you need temporary relief.
• You can’t tolerate some medications.
• You have tenderness around the nerves at the back of the head or neck.

Doctors may consider nerve blocks when standard migraine medicines aren’t working well enough, cause hard-to-tolerate side effects, or are not safe because of other health conditions.

In these cases, a nerve block may help reduce pain and make daily life easier while other migraine treatments continue.

Some people receive them on a regular schedule. One MyMigraineTeam member said, “I get them once a month. Just remember, the pain is less than a migraine!”

What the Research Says

Studies of people with chronic migraine show nerve blocks can make a real difference:

• Greater occipital nerve blocks reduced headache pain and frequency in the first two months compared to a placebo (inactive treatment).
• Repeated nerve blocks reduced the number of monthly headache and migraine days in some studies.
• A review of many studies found that nerve blocks ease pain short term, from minutes to months.

However, the goal isn’t just to numb the skin, but to reduce the total number of days you spend in a dark room each month. Results are different for everyone. Some people get strong relief, while others have mild relief or none. Still, research supports nerve blocks as an option when other treatments do not work well.

What To Expect During and After the Procedure

Many people feel nervous before their first nerve block injection. It’s completely normal to feel this way, especially if you’ve never had a procedure involving a needle near your head or neck. Knowing what will happen step by step can help you feel more prepared and comfortable.

Before a Nerve Block

Before your healthcare provider performs the nerve block, they will review your migraine history in detail. They will ask about how often headaches occur, how severe they are, and what medications you currently take. You may also talk about any previous treatments you’ve tried and whether you have other health conditions that could affect the procedure.

For most people, no special preparation is needed. You can usually eat, drink, and take your usual medications unless your doctor instructs otherwise. It may help to wear comfortable clothing and plan for a little extra time so you don’t feel rushed.

During a Nerve Block

During the nerve block, you will either sit in a chair or lie down on a treatment table, depending on where the injection will be. The area of skin where the needle will go is cleaned carefully to reduce the risk of infection.

A thin, short needle is used to deliver the medication near the nerve that is contributing to your migraine pain. You may feel a brief pinch, pressure, or slight burning when the medicine is injected. You might also hear a soft rushing or crinkling sound. That sound is just the medicine moving into place. The injection itself is very quick, although the full visit may take longer.

Peripheral nerve injections are usually quick, safe, and easy for most people to handle. Any discomfort during the procedure is usually mild and doesn’t last long.

Right After a Nerve Block

Immediately after the injection, you may notice temporary effects at or near the injection site. Common sensations include:

• Numbness or tingling in the area where the injection was given
• Warmth or mild swelling
• Soreness or tenderness, similar to a minor bruise

Some people may feel temporarily dizzy after the injection. These effects usually fade within a few hours, and most people can return to their normal activities the same day. Some people find that applying a cold pack briefly or taking over-the-counter pain medicine can help if the area feels tender.

When To Expect Relief

Everyone responds differently to nerve blocks. Some people notice improvement very quickly. One MyMigraineTeam member shared, “Getting a nerve block today means no headache for a week.” For others, relief may take one to three days to become noticeable.

Pain relief can last different amounts of time for different people, and some people may not get relief at all.

Some feel better for only a few days, while others notice improvement that lasts for several weeks. In some cases, the benefit can last even longer. When nerve blocks do help, a doctor may suggest repeating them every few weeks or months to help maintain that relief.

For some people, repeated nerve blocks and other migraine treatments may lead to better, longer-lasting relief.

Side Effects of Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks are generally low risk when performed by trained providers.

Common side effects include:

• Injection site soreness
• Bruising
• Temporary numbness
• Lightheadedness

Less common side effects include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Allergic reaction
• Worsening headache
• Temporary swallowing problems
• Nerve injury

Serious complications are rare.

How Nerve Blocks Fit Into a Migraine Treatment Plan

Migraine care is often a mix of strategies, such as:

• Preventive medicines
• Rescue treatments
• CGRP-targeted therapies, a class of medications that directly target migraine pain signaling
• Sleep and stress management
• Physical therapy
• Botox
• Nerve blocks

Migraine care works best when treatments are coordinated and individualized.

A nerve block can give you some relief, with fewer painful days and more time for other treatments to start working. Even temporary relief can make life more manageable.

Join the Conversation

On MyMigraineTeam, people share their experiences with migraine, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you tried a nerve block, or are you thinking about one? Let others know in the comments below.