A cluster headache is a rare disorder that involves excruciating pain on one side of the head. The Allevio SPG block is a treatment that is increasingly used to deliver cluster headache pain relief.
Cluster headache facts
A cluster headache is a headache type that is relatively uncommon, affecting approximately 1 or 2 individuals out of every 1,000. It is considered by many experts to be one of the most painful medical conditions. In fact, the Migraine Trust reports that many women say it is more excruciating than childbirth.
A cluster headache is experienced unilaterally, on one side of the head. Typically, the pain is located on the forehead, or above one of the eyes or temples. Sometimes the pain becomes more widely distributed, which in turn complicates accurate diagnosis.
Often the pain occurs at about the same time of the day, frequently at night, awakening patients one or two hours after they’ve started sleeping. Generally, the headaches last for about a half-hour to an hour.
In four out of every five people who suffer from this condition, the headaches are experienced regularly for one to three months, typically during the fall or spring. This condition is specifically known as an episodic cluster headache.
The SPG
How is this condition treated? To understand cluster headache pain relief, it’s important to know about the sphenopalatine ganglion, or SPG. The SPG is a band of nerve cells connected to the trigeminal nerve, which is the primary nerve related to headaches.
“The SPG, located behind the nose, carries information about sensation, including pain,” notes the American Migraine Foundation (AMF). “[It] also plays a role in autonomic functions, such as tearing and nasal congestion.”
The SPG Block
The fact that the trigeminal nerve is connected to the SPG is crucial to alleviation of head or facial pain. Introducing local anesthetics to block the SPG can be extraordinarily effective in headache and migraine pain relief.
The Allevio SPG block is an FDA-approved procedure that involves inserting a thin plastic tube, also known as a catheter, into the nose. The catheter is, in turn, connected to a syringe filled with numbing medication.
“There are no needles involved, and [it is] quick, safe, and easy to use,” notes the AMF. “The medication is pushed through the syringe once the catheter is placed into the correct position, and delivers numbing medication to the SPG to help treat headache and facial pain.”
Safe & effective cluster headache treatment
Are you experiencing the agony of cluster headaches? At Atlanta Medical Clinic, we offer the Allevio SPG block, a quick and non-invasive treatment for chronic head pain. Learn more.