Finally, patients suffering from debilitating headaches have hope for relief.

During the procedure the physician gently inserts a soft, floppy spaghetti-sized catheter (or tiny tube) into the nose and towards the back of the nasal passages, and administers lidocaine to the sphenopalatine ganglion. The sphenopalatine ganglion (or SPG) is a nerve bundle just behind the nose associated with migraines. When the initial numbing of the lidocaine wears off, the migraine trigger doesn’t seem to have the maximum effect it once did. Some patients report immediate relief. The procedure itself is not painful—some people feel mild pressure, like “something is in my nose”, or feel like they have to sneeze. To ease this, we numb the nose with a local numbing medication beforehand.

There are no restrictions. Headache Blocks are effective for patients who suffer from cluster headaches, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, sinus headaches, post-concussion pain, upper dental pain and more.

The great news is that VIRA’s Headache Block is an outpatient procedure so patients are treated in VIRA’s North Macon office on Sheraton Blvd, conveniently close to the Mall at River Crossing. You can make an appointment, have the procedure, then grab lunch and shop—finally headache-free.

Benefits to VIRA’s Headache Block or SPG Block include:

1) that the relief can last for up to 6 or even 8 months, whereas many Botox patients only get relief for several weeks.

2) With Botox, patients are limited to how many injections they can have (I believe its every 12 weeks), so if your headache comes back before you can have the next injection, you're out of luck. The SPG block can be done as many times, and as often, as needed. Since it's just numbing medicine, and not invasive, there are no limits.

3) The SPG procedure does not include using needles - NO SHOTS!

4) SPG block is not just for migraines. Can treat nearly all headaches and upper facial pains, regardless of their cause.

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The Headache Block typically provides effective relief for 4 to 6 months and can be repeated if necessary. The VIRA physician will consult with you to develop the plan that’s right for your pain.

The risks of the procedure are minimal, and most are really more side effects than risks. They include discomfort during the treatment, a numb sensation when swallowing, bitter taste from the medicine, and rarely bleeding from the nose, and light-headedness. These side effects typically resolve within minutes to a few hours. There is minimal risk of seizures, and infection. Since we use preservative-free medications, there is essentially no risk of allergic reaction. 

Most providers have found that the procedure is equal to or better than Botox.

I am happy to see children who are suffering from headaches, or concussion-related pain. However, at this point, we are limiting the SPG procedure to children 12 or older. Whether the SPG procedure will be successful in children depends largely on the child. Factors include incomplete sinus development/anatomy issues, ability to tolerate the procedure, and to stay still.