A Descriptive Study of 100 Patients Undergoing Palliative Nerve Blocks for Chronic Intractable Headache and Neck Ache

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether repeated (palliative) nerve blocks over a long period of time provide benefit to patients with chronic intractable headache and neck ache.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients who were receiving repeated nerve blocks as part of their pain management regimen completed a structured interview questionnaire. The patients had all been investigated and received a diagnosis of cervicogenic headache. Changes in pain rating, depression rating, anxiety rating, activities of daily living and quality of life were measured.RESULTS: After each nerve block session, the subjects reported significant improvement in their levels of pain, depression and anxiety. They also reported improvements in their quality of life and in their ability to participate in activities of daily living.CONCLUSIONS: Repeated (palliative) nerve blocks appear to be a useful modality in the armamentarium of pain control techniques for patients with chronic intractable headache and neck ache of cervical origin.