We may use this treatment for the following conditions:

• Occipital neuralgia, which can cause shooting, burning or aching pain and headaches from the base of the head and spreading along the scalp
• Retrobulbar pain, which is pain in the eye caused by inflammation of the optic nerve at the back of your eye
• Cervicogenic headaches, which are a type of recurring headache that usually starts after neck movement

What to Expect

During a C2 nerve/dorsal root ganglion injection, you will sit on the exam table. We will insert a needle into a muscle in the neck between the first and second vertebrae, which are bones at the top of your spine. Ultrasound allows us to see the needle under the skin to guide placement.

Once the needle is in place, we will inject two medications: a medication to numb the area and a steroid medication to reduce inflammation in the area.

You will need to stay in the office for 30 minutes after the injection so we can monitor you for side effects and check to see your level of pain relief.

It may take up to 2 weeks for the full effect of the injection. We may repeat the injection based on the percentage of relief that you get. In a follow-up appointment and depending on the percentage of pain relief that you get after each injection, we can discuss pulsed nerve ablation or peripheral nerve stimulation, which can provide more permanent results.