The SPG nerve block has become an increasingly common treatment for migraine and chronic headaches. A 2015 clinical trial shows that it stops pain quickly.
How the SPG is involved with headache disorders
The SPG nerve block directly targets the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a group of nerves that is connected to the brainstem (often the origin of migraine or cluster headaches) and the meninges (connective tissue layers covering the brain) via the trigeminal nerve.
Inflammation and vasodilation (blood vessel widening) in the meninges causes the transmission of pain signals through the trigeminal nerve to the brain, explains the American Headache Society. When migraine or cluster headaches occur, the pain messages go through the SPG along the way.
The SPG, which is in the back of your nose, helps send through pain signals and other sensory data,says the American Migraine Foundation (AMF). It also “plays a role in autonomic functions, such as tearing and nasal congestion” – which explains why those symptoms are sometimes coupled with head pain.
Since so much pain information passes through the SPG, blocking it can stop the unpleasant sensation before it reaches the brain. “If you apply local anesthetics (or numbing medications) to block or partially block the SPG,” says the AMF, “this can be helpful in reducing head and facial pain.”
Today’s FDA-approved treatments use a nasal applicator to deliver an anesthetic to the SPG.
Study: SPG block technique reduces head pain
People with migraine and headache disorders are often told to be patient about alleviation of symptoms, but today’s SPG nerve block treatments can actually bring relief in about 10 seconds, notes a study released in March.
Four females ranging from 15 to 44 years old were recruited for the clinical trial at the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. The study was essentially simple. Each of the patients was given their first SPG nerve block treatment. They were then asked to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 and to answer questions about their quality of life.
The results were nothing short of incredible, according to chief researcher Dr. Raheleh Rahimi Darabad. “All four patients reported significant pain relief at the 15-minute time point after doing the procedure,” she said. “With the average [pain rating] before procedure being 7.3, it decreased to 2.3 after the procedure.” Plus, the effectiveness seems to be cumulative: additional treatments led to progressively better results.
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