Nerve Blocking Migraine in Children
A Cureus retrospective study explored greater occipital nerve (GON) blocks for severe medically refractory headaches in patients 18 or younger. The blocks consisted of chirocaine and depomedrone in up to 3 administrations. All in the small test group, consisting of 6 patients, found relief after receiving the GON block. In addition to migraine relief, quality of life improved along with better sleep and mobility. Another plus: less risk of potential headache from medication overuse. Repeat blocks were necessary in some of the patients, and worked well.
Although the study size was small and lacked a control group, results were encouraging. The study concluded, “Chronic migraine is a debilitating condition in children with a dearth of well-established therapies, unlike in the adult population. We investigated the effects of greater occipital nerve blocks as a treatment for migraine refractory to standard medications. We found that GON block was well-tolerable and effective in all six subjects for headache burden relief and was associated with improvements in quality of life and concomitant reduction in pain medication usage.”
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