Headache & Facial Pain Relief:
Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) Nerve Block

The Sphenopalatine Ganglion:

A Command Center for the Face

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The Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) is a bundle of nerve cells located in the back of each nasal passage. The SPG acts like a nerve relay station for both the Trigeminal Nerve and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The Trigeminal Nerve serves many areas in the head region such as the teeth, gums, muscles for chewing, and plays an important role in headache and facial pain disorders. The ANS is the regulatory part of our nervous system that runs all on its own to manage our internal organs and to create homeostasis. The SPG is covered by a thin layer of nasal mucosal membrane which makes it a viable target for topical administration of medications.

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A System Reset: The SPG Nerve Block

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Repetitive SPG blocks act to power down and essentially "re-boot" the SPG nerve bundle and has been shown to effectively abort headaches and facial pains.

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There are several methods for administering the SPG block. Dr. Wang has researched and selected the most accurate, most comfortable non-invasive method to administer this block for her patients. She uses the FDA-approved Tx360® device to administer a very small amount of medication (local anesthetic, corticosteroid) into each nostril with a thin flexible catheter. The process is non-invasive, pain-free, mostly drug-free and has very few side effects. The procedure typically produces a rapid response with pain relief typically lasting over 24 hours after the initial dose. Complete therapy typically requires between 6-12 doses, scheduled 2-4x/week to achieve longer lasting pain or headache relief. Total number of treatment sessions can vary depending on each individual's response. Once pain relief has been achieved, a custom maintenance plan is created.

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What is the SPG nerve block used to treat?

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SPG blocks are indicated for use in many facial pains and headaches such as:

• Migraine headache

• Cluster headache

• Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia

• Trigeminal neuralgia

• Trigeminal neuropathy

• Atypical facial pain

• Herpes zoster

• Paroxysmal hemicrania

• Cancer related pains of the head or neck

• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

• Refractory headaches and facial pain (not responding to other treatments)

• Long COVID symptoms (please read more on our Long COVID page)

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Potential Side Effects

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The most common side effects are:

• numbness or bitter taste in the throat (can last about 15-20 min)

• lowered blood pressure

• nosebleed

• light-headedness

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Patients are requested to remain in the office for approximately 20 minutes after receiving the nerve block for observation.

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Is the SPG block appropriate for everyone?

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Though the SPG block is a very safe, non-invasive treatment with few side effects, it may not be appropriate for everyone.

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Common reasons that the SPG block may NOT be appropriate for you:

• high blood pressure

• nasal polyps or other obstructions

• allergy to local anesthetic or corticosteroid

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Contact our office to schedule an evaluation today.