This post will be a relatively short one, but this question is very important. I have been queried about this phenomenon numerous times in the office and while lecturing to…
The covering of muscles in humans is called fascia (pronounced fah-sha). It consists of a very tough, fibrous layer of connective tissue that surrounds the muscle itself. What does that…
In this post, we discuss two important terms, ‘neuroplasticity’ and ‘central sensitization’. Neuroplasticity refers to the amazing ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to interactions of…
How was this Concept Discovered & Where are the Nerves Located?
Believe it or not, the idea of a peripheral nerve causing your headache dates back as far as 1000 A.D. when one of the founding fathers of surgery (Al-Zahrawi) first…
The term ‘nerve block’ refers specifically to an injection of local anesthetic that is aimed at inactivating a nerve. These blocks typically work by chemically and temporarily disabling a nerve’s…
In this post, we discuss two important terms, ‘neuroplasticity’ and ‘central sensitization’. Neuroplasticity refers to the amazing ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to interactions of…
Many people consider a migraine to be a really bad headache. The truth is it is a severe, neurologic condition. However, when perusing the medical literature, it becomes apparent that…
Chronic headaches such as migraines remain a huge burden on the American healthcare system accounting for tens of billions of dollars in both direct and indirect costs annually. What’s more,…
Nerve blocks are very powerful tools in helping to determine whether or not a particular person is a good surgical candidate. Nerve blocks are simply injections of local anesthetic which…
Whiplash & Occipital Neuralgia: What’s the Connection?
I am asked routinely about the relationship between whiplash and occipital neuralgia. First of all, what is whiplash? Simply put, it is a sudden jerking of the head, usually in…
Is Permanent Relief from Chronic Headaches Possible? YES!
Migraine headaches have traditionally been thought to arise from within the central nervous system (i.e. the brain and/or spinal cord) and then produce symptoms elsewhere such as throbbing in the…
The title of this post represents the million dollar question. I have posted many times in the past about how ON can be caused by compression from spastic neck muscles,…
If I’m a Candidate, How is Surgery Performed and What are the Outcomes?
Surgical intervention (whether decompression or neurectomy/muscle implantation) for chronic headaches is performed as an outpatient procedure at an accredited surgery center or in the outpatient department of the California Pacific…
As before, neur-algia simply means ‘nerve pain’. The question always becomes, can you figure out which ‘neur’ (i.e., nerve) is causing the ‘algia’ (i.e., pain). Secondly, if you can figure…
There are a number of ways to characterize and define the nervous system. First of all, the primary cells that comprise the nervous system are called neurons. Groups of neurons…
Trigger Point Injections VS Nerve Blocks – What’s The Difference?
Simple question, somewhat nuanced answer. Basically, nerve blocks are injections of local anesthetic aimed at temporarily and chemically inactivating a nerve – pure and simple. Where things get a bit…
One of the first things to assess is whether your surgeon has formal and specific training in peripheral nerve surgery. Since the operationS for chronic headaches/neuralgia potentially involve many nerves…
People often confuse migraine symptoms with something called neuralgia. The former refers to an often disabling neurological condition characterized by severe and sometimes frequent headaches. The latter literally means “nerve…
Just this past week, several patients have asked about the tight muscles in their necks and upper backs. They have all wondered at some point whether it’s the tight muscles…
As I have written previously, neur-algia simply means ‘nerve pain’. The question always becomes, can you figure out which ‘neur’ (i.e., nerve) is causing the ‘algia’ (i.e., pain). Secondly, if…
There are a number of ways to characterize and define the nervous system. First of all, the primary cells that comprise the nervous system are called neurons. Groups of neurons…
As before, neur-algia simply means ‘nerve pain’. The question always becomes, can you figure out which ‘neur’ (i.e., nerve) is causing the ‘algia’ (i.e., pain). Secondly, if you can figure…
If I’m a Candidate, How Is Surgery Performed & What Are the Outcomes?
Surgical intervention (whether decompression or neurectomy/muscle implantation) for chronic headaches is performed as an outpatient procedure at an accredited surgery center or in the outpatient department of the California Pacific…
The title of this post represents the million dollar question. I have posted many times in the past about how ON can be caused by compression from spastic neck muscles,…
Is Permanent Relief From Chronic Headaches Possible? YES!
Migraine headaches have traditionally been thought to arise from within the central nervous system (i.e. the brain and/or spinal cord) and then produce symptoms elsewhere such as throbbing in the…
Whiplash & Occipital Neuralgia: What’s the Connection?
I am asked routinely about the relationship between whiplash and occipital neuralgia. First of all, what is whiplash? Simply put, it is a sudden jerking of the head, usually in…
Nerve blocks are very powerful tools in helping to determine whether or not a particular person is a good surgical candidate. Nerve blocks are simply injections of local anesthetic which…
Chronic headaches such as migraines remain a huge burden on the American healthcare system accounting for tens of billions of dollars in both direct and indirect costs annually. What’s more,…
Many people consider a migraine to be a really bad headache. The truth is it is a severe, neurologic condition. However, when perusing the medical literature, it becomes apparent that…
In this post, we discuss two important terms, ‘neuroplasticity’ and ‘central sensitization’. Neuroplasticity refers to the amazing ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to interactions of…
The term ‘nerve block’ refers specifically to an injection of local anesthetic that is aimed at inactivating a nerve. These blocks typically work by chemically and temporarily disabling a nerve’s…
How Was This Concept Discovered & Where Are These Nerves Located?
Believe it or not, the idea of a peripheral nerve causing your headache dates back as far as 1000 A.D. when one of the founding fathers of surgery (Al-Zahrawi) first…
In this post, we discuss two important terms, ‘neuroplasticity’ and ‘central sensitization’. Neuroplasticity refers to the amazing ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to interactions of…
The covering of muscles in humans is called fascia (pronounced fah-sha). It consists of a very tough, fibrous layer of connective tissue that surrounds the muscle itself. What does that…
Just this past week, several patients have asked about the tight muscles in their necks and upper backs. They have all wondered at some point whether it’s the tight muscles…
This post will be a relatively short one, but this question is very important. I have been queried about this phenomenon numerous times in the office and while lecturing to…