Comments on: Surgery for Occipital Neuralgia

By: Judy

Judy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:48:49 +0000

Hi: I had my doc appt today and I just want to let some of you know that b4 you go forth with the stimulator, etc. MAKE sure you ask him or her if the “laminectomy” will work. He told me today that no they DO NOT do the stimulator procedure anymore. He said to many risks with it. I started taking Gabapentin 2 days ago and I cannot tell you how awesome I feel. Hopefully this will work. I asked about the ON being “killed” by the shots and he said NO! The shots only make the nerve “Happy” as he said. His philosophy is to do what you can to relieve pain B4 any surgery takes place. and I believe him! so please people ask your Doctors about the laminectomy surgery’s. Maybe they can help you. I have an email address if anyone wants to talk about this. I hope and pray that all of you can find decent doctors to help you out. I live in Wisconsin, so if anyone wants a referal I can give you one. Good Luck to all of us and stay positive. Thank you.

By: Cindy Hieronymi

Cindy Hieronymi — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:20:46 +0000

Yolanda, what is your condition now as of Jan 2012? Did you have the surgery?

By: Cindy Hieronymi

Cindy Hieronymi — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:14:12 +0000

Cathy and Michelle,
I recently found your kind replies, for some reason I was not alerted to it after you posted. I want to thank-you for your concern and encouragement. As of Jan. 2012, my insurance which is BCBS of AL has STOPPED covering ANY Occipital procedures, especially a nerve stimulation implant. I have no help with thw constant pain now except for drugs. My pain Dr. put me on Nucenta which has helped very much with the nerve pains. My insurance is through my husbands employer at Huntsville Hospital and will not approve any surgeons except on the Huntsville Hospital Physicians and Surgeons list. I am trying to find a way to get around this and be able to see Dr. Ducic (sp?). As of now, I had to close my business and have not been able to work since last year. SInce I am NOT one to be disabled…I believe I can still do something to earn money on days i am not in bed in severe pain. BUT, the problem is the drugs I am on( which I depend on to be able to function), keep me from being employed….employers do not want to employ anyone on oxycotin and nucenta.
I am so very grateful for my husband, without him I would not be able to go on. I hope and pray others will not suffer as I have and that Dr.’s WILL start to INFORM patients of the possibility of developing O. N. following cervical surgery.

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:38:06 +0000

Hi: It really saddens me to read all your stories knowing that I will soon be in the position that you all are in. I had a cervical fusion in 2009 and now I am experiencing the the neck and headache pains.
Doc says its the ON. I had a series of 6 shots at once without sedation end of December. No luck with that at all! I have appt. with doc 2marrow because I fell on ice last week and my symptoms have worsened. He wants to see me b4 I go forth with the next shots. I cannot Imagine that some of you have suffered with this for years. I am only on the beginning and it scares the heck out of me. I did ask my Doc what would be the end result and his reply was a Laminectomy ( not sure of spelling). The procedure would be that they scrape the bone around the nerve to release the pressure. I had a laminectomy on the c5c6 level about 15 years ago and it lasted till 2009. Not bad I think. So, did any of you have this procedure done and did it work? I am really scared about the stimulator idea. I pray that we all will be pain free someday. Thank you for any response received.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:12:27 +0000

I also have been suffering from ON for approximately nine years. I have had PT, injections (facet and Occipital blocks), tons of medication which mildly ease the pain, anti depressants (which do not work at all), massage therapy….the list is endless. After this last round of debilitating pain and being completely bedridden for three days I am in search of a surgical option. I have been a Pain nurse for a few years (ironically) and have seen the stimulator work on very few occasions for this problem. So few in fact that it is not an option for me. I think surgery as a permanent corrective action as opposed to having something implanted in my body is the course of action I would prefer to take. Any names of surgeons would be greatly appreciated.

By: sandi f

sandi f — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:57:11 +0000

ive had ON on both sides of my head for 8 years now…i finally found a doctor who gave me steroid shots in the head which worked for 6 to 8 months at a time….well she left the practice a few months ago and now i don’t know what to do…im in pain again…i never knew u could get surgery for this im gonna have to find out about it………i cant stand the pain anymore and no amount of pain med helps…………..

By: Siggy Buckley

Siggy Buckley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:46:20 +0000

I’ve been in constant pain 24/7 for 6 years, mostly at 6 on a scale of 10. Had stimulator which didn’t work (SCS) and last week occip. stim trial as well .I wasn’t sure , had a good and a bad day. Told the doctor. He said that wasn’t good enough. I had to bescreaming for it in order ot get it implanted.but wasn’t sure myself. Since then I’ve been on two SSRI, Pristiq and another Mirtazadine. Since then much better! have you tried these antidepressants that also work on neuropathis /nerve pain? i’m fused on 3 levels in the neck too btw. Good luck!

By: Siggy Buckley

Siggy Buckley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:41:41 +0000

Cathym, I sympathize with you. I had a spinal stim for $100,000 3 years ago that never worked. I felt jolt s and stimulation in my arm pits and breast>hello! Pain was in the neck and back of the head. they offered another surgery to reposition it. I refused. The jolts , even when turned lower, were just irritating never helpful After a year it was taken out. Good luck. Have it adjusted by the Medtronics guy, different. wavelength and strength, frequency etc.

By: Siggy Buckley

Siggy Buckley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:36:39 +0000

Sorry, I meant Cathy! Scrolled down to much here…

By: Siggy Buckley

Siggy Buckley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:35:42 +0000

Alicia,
glad you won.
I just had a trial which was inconclusive/ not convincing. How much can you tell after 4 days? I have a bout 15-2- migraines a month starting from occipital nerve. Now insurance wants to deny claim. Doctor was to get pre-authorization. Unclear if he did or not. I Don’t want to end up with $13,000 for trial. Any tips when dealing with them? Proven clinical studies etc?Had spinal stimulator 3 years ago for $100,000. United Healthcare paid that no problem. regards and thanks, Siggy