A physician referral is required. Our team can guide you through the process.
Occipital Neuralgia at a Glance
3.2% of the general population affected at some point in their lifetime
Women more frequently affected — particularly during middle age
80% of patients respond to conservative treatment including nerve blocks
Often misdiagnosed as migraine, tension headache, or cervicogenic headache
What Is Occipital Neuralgia?
A Neurological Pain Condition of the Scalp & Neck
Occipital neuralgia is a distinct neurological pain condition caused by irritation, compression, or inflammation of the occipital nerves — most commonly the greater occipital nerve (GON), lesser occipital nerve (LON), or third occipital nerve (TON).
It produces a distinctive shooting, electric-shock-like pain that originates at the base of the skull and radiates up over the scalp — often toward the ear or eye.
Occipital neuralgia is distinct from other headache disorders, though it frequently co-occurs with migraine and cervicogenic headache. It is commonly encountered following:
- Whiplash injury or motor vehicle collision
- Cervical spine disease or disc herniation
- Prolonged neck tension and poor posture
- Post-surgical scarring in the occipital region
Accurate specialist diagnosis is the essential first step toward effective, targeted treatment.
Who Should Seek Occipital Neuralgia Treatment in Calgary?
You should speak with your doctor about a referral if you experience:
- Recurring shooting or electric-shock pain at the back of your head or scalp
- Tenderness at the base of your skull or along the scalp
- Pain radiating from the neck up over one or both sides of the head
- Headaches that do not respond to standard migraine treatments
- Symptoms that began after neck injury, whiplash, or cervical surgery
- Pain significantly affecting sleep, work, or daily functioning
👉 A specialist assessment is required to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment.
How Is Occipital Neuralgia Different from Migraine?
While they can co-occur, occipital neuralgia and migraine are distinct conditions:
- Occipital neuralgia — shooting, electric-shock pain from the skull base, scalp tenderness on touch, provoked by palpation of nerve points
- Migraine — neurological disorder with photophobia, nausea, often aura — a different mechanism entirely
- Tension headache — bilateral pressing pain, without the shock-like neuralgic quality
These conditions can overlap — which is exactly why a specialist headache assessment is essential. Treating only one when both are present leads to incomplete relief.
Your Occipital Neuralgia Treatment at Infiniti Medical
What to expect at your specialist appointment
01
Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
A detailed history of your pain — onset, location, character, radiation, aggravating factors, and prior treatments. Palpation of the occipital nerve exit points at the base of the skull is a defining feature of this assessment.
02
Diagnosis & Nerve Block
- Diagnosis confirmed using IHS criteria
- Diagnostic nerve block may be performed at first visit
- Confirms diagnosis and provides immediate relief
- Differentiates from migraine & cervicogenic headache
03
Individualized Treatment Plan
- Nerve block schedule established
- Medications prescribed where appropriate
- Physiotherapy referral coordinated
- Written plan sent to your referring physician
Why Choose Infiniti Medical for Occipital Neuralgia Treatment
Accurate diagnosis and precise procedural treatment make all the difference in occipital neuralgia. Patients choose our clinic for specialized occipital neuralgia care in Calgary — not general headache management.
Expert differential diagnosis — distinguishing neuralgia from migraine
In-clinic nerve block procedures — no hospital admission
Individualized plans aligned with IHS and CHS guidelines
Collaborative care with your family doctor
NW Calgary — Symons Valley Rd · Free parking
Treatment Options for Occipital Neuralgia
Your specialist builds an individualized plan — combining the following evidence-based approaches:
Greater Occipital Nerve Block
The cornerstone treatment — injected adjacent to the GON at the base of the skull. Confirms diagnosis and provides rapid, significant pain relief. Repeatable at clinically appropriate intervals.
Neuromodulating Medications
Tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, or carbamazepine — prescribed as preventive therapy for frequent neuralgia by reducing occipital nerve excitability.
Trigger Point Injections
Injections into the trapezius, semispinalis, and suboccipital muscle groups — relieving the muscular compression that drives nerve irritation in many patients.
Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation
Cervical joint mobilization, suboccipital stretching, postural retraining, and ergonomic assessment — addressing the musculoskeletal root of nerve compression.
👉 Additional options including Botox injections, topical agents, and pulsed radiofrequency referral are also available where clinically appropriate.
How to Access Occipital Neuralgia Treatment in Calgary
Step 1
Visit your family doctor and describe your occipital symptoms: shooting pain at the back of the head, scalp tenderness, pain radiating from the neck upward.
Step 2
Request a referral to Infiniti Medical Headache & Migraine Clinic. Your physician faxes the referral to 403-460-4569.
Step 3
Our team contacts you to schedule your specialist assessment, diagnosis, and nerve block treatment.
👉 We guide you through the entire process. Full referral information here.
FAQ
FAQ — Occipital Neuralgia Treatment Calgary
What is occipital neuralgia and what does it feel like?
Occipital neuralgia is a neurological condition caused by irritation or compression of the occipital nerves — the nerves running from the upper cervical spine up through the scalp. It produces sudden, sharp, shooting, or electric-shock-like pain originating at the base of the skull and radiating over the scalp, sometimes reaching behind the ear or eye. The scalp is often tender to the touch over the affected nerve. It is classified by the International Headache Society and is distinct from — though frequently confused with — migraine and tension headache.
Do I need a referral to see an occipital neuralgia specialist in Calgary?
Yes. Infiniti Medical Headache & Migraine Clinic requires a physician referral for all new patients. Please speak with your family doctor about your symptoms and request a referral to our NW Calgary clinic. Your physician can fax the completed referral form to 403-460-4569. Full referral details are available at infinitimedical.ca/headache-clinic/referral-information/
What is an occipital nerve block and how does it treat occipital neuralgia?
A greater occipital nerve block (GONB) is an injection of local anaesthetic — with or without corticosteroid — placed adjacent to the greater occipital nerve at the base of the skull. It serves two purposes: confirming the diagnosis and providing direct therapeutic relief. Most patients experience rapid onset of relief within hours to days. Blocks can be safely repeated at clinically appropriate intervals. The procedure is performed in our NW Calgary clinic without sedation or hospital admission.
How is occipital neuralgia different from migraine or tension headache?
Occipital neuralgia is defined by its neuralgic, electric-shock quality pain originating at the base of the skull, scalp tenderness over the occipital nerves, and provocation by palpation of the nerve exit points. Migraine is a neurological disorder with photophobia, nausea, and often aura. Tension headache causes bilateral pressing pain without the shock-like quality of neuralgia. These conditions can co-occur — which is why specialist assessment is essential before beginning treatment.
Is occipital neuralgia caused by neck problems or spine disease?
Occipital neuralgia can be triggered by cervical osteoarthritis, C1-C3 facet joint disease, disc herniation, whiplash injury, or post-surgical scarring. It can also occur from muscular compression or vascular nerve compression without identifiable spine pathology. Your specialist will take a detailed history and review available cervical imaging. A cervical MRI may be recommended where structural causes could guide treatment decisions.
How many occipital nerve block injections will I need?
The number of injections varies between patients depending on duration of relief achieved, presence of underlying structural causes, and response to combined management. Some patients achieve sustained relief after 1–3 injections; others require ongoing treatment at regular intervals. Your specialist will establish a personalized injection schedule and integrate nerve blocks with medications and physiotherapy to optimize your results.
Take the First Step
Start Occipital Neuralgia Treatment in Calgary with a Specialist
Shooting pain at the back of your head is not something you have to live with. Our Calgary headache clinic provides structured, specialist-led care — including nerve block procedures — designed to confirm your diagnosis and deliver targeted, lasting relief.
⚕ Physician referral required · Fax: 403-460-4569 · Phone: 403-460-4502
Phone
Fax (Referrals)
403-460-4569
Location
#10 – 12432 Symons Valley Rd NW