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(415) 751-0583Posted March 11, 2026 in Occipital Neuralgia
I’m often asked: “What do you think about radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for occipital neuralgia?” It’s a very reasonable question. Many patients have heard that RFA can be effective for certain types of nerve pain, so it seems logical to assume that it should work for occipital neuralgia as well. However, once the anatomy and underlying […]
Read MorePosted March 04, 2026 in Nerve Pain
Have you ever heard the term ‘Morton’s Neuroma’? This medical condition was first described in 1876 by surgeon TG Morton in Philadelphia. It typically refers to a tender spot at the balls of the foot or between the toes that can cause pain and sometimes numbness in the space between the involved digits. Once diagnosed, […]
Read MorePosted February 26, 2026 in Occipital Neuralgia
This is one of the most common questions raised in my office. In my view, stress is an underrecognized but meaningful contributor to many aspects of health, including peripheral nerve function. Here, I will specifically discuss the mechanical forces that stress can generate – forces that are directly relevant to the pathology we address surgically […]
Read MorePosted February 26, 2026 in Nerve Pain
Over the years, this question has arisen with some regularity, and the explanation is relatively straightforward although it requires some nuance. Consider an arbitrary area of skin or scalp that is innervated by three separate sensory nerves. In practical terms, this means that all three nerves contribute to sensation in the same region of skin. […]
Read MorePosted February 12, 2026 in Nerve Pain
Like many things in medicine—and in life—a result can be viewed from more than one perspective. A “negative” or “normal” MRI does not mean that nothing is wrong. It simply means that certain serious conditions were not found. And that’s an important place to start. On the positive side, your scan might show: No brain […]
Read MorePosted February 12, 2026 in Occipital Neuralgia
What Happens to a Nerve Under Long-Term Compression? As I’ve written previously, the occipital nerves can be compressed by a variety of surrounding structures—muscle, fascia, scar tissue, or even nearby blood vessels such as the occipital artery. Patients often understand that compression can cause pain. A more interesting question is: What actually happens to the […]
Read MorePosted February 12, 2026 in Nerve Pain, Occipital Neuralgia
Over the past week alone, several patients have asked essentially the same question, “Are my tight neck muscles irritating the nerves, or are irritated nerves causing my muscles to tighten?” It’s a fair question, and frustratingly, the answer is often: both. In many cases, it’s less a straight line of cause and effect and more […]
Read MorePosted February 12, 2026 in Nerve Pain
One of the most important intraoperative decisions a peripheral nerve surgeon must make is whether an injured nerve should be decompressed or transected. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably with “excision,” but that is not technically correct. Excision implies complete removal of a structure—such as a tumor or cyst. Peripheral nerves, however, are not removed […]
Read MorePosted February 11, 2026 in Nerve Pain
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 more complicated is the amount and type of local anesthetic used and if it is mixed with anything else. Each type of local anesthetic has […]
Read MoreNavigating chronic pain can feel isolating. You don’t have to do it alone.
Dr. Peled is active in several online nerve pain communities, particularly those focused on specific conditions, such as occipital neuralgia. He shares general advice, answers questions, and provides support for those seeking clarity about their condition.
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