Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Headaches
Abstract
Patients have numerous options for headache management at home, yet when those fail, use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) in the outpatient clinical or emergency department setting can be useful. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) targeting the occipital and trigeminal scalp nerves are increasingly used by primary care and emergency medicine providers for acute headache relief and prophylaxis. The purpose of this article is to provide context, with an overview of epidemiology, diagnostic considerations, and trial evidence, along with procedural guidance for use of PNBs to treat headache disorders in the primary care setting. Despite methodological and outcome heterogeneities amongst randomized controlled trials (RCTs), evidence supports the use of PNBs, particularly greater occipital nerve block (GONB), for both acute headache relief and prophylaxis. It is within the scope of the primary care clinician to provide the option of PNB for appropriate patients. Further RCTs are warranted to define optimal nerve block combinations and procedural standards.
Related
- Successful Use of Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Emergent Trauma Surgery in a Patient With Perioperative Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report
- Regional nerve blocks are associated with greater early analgesia for femoral neck fractures in the emergency department
- Achieving Reliable Peripheral Nerve Blockade in Cardiogenic Shock With Distorted Femoral Anatomy: A Case Report
- Peripheral Nerve Conduction and Anthropometric Characteristics in Elite American Football Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
- Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use Is Associated With Increased Peripheral Nerve Compression After Bariatric Surgery
BibTeX
@article{greenlund2026peripheral,
title = {{Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Headaches}},
author = {Laura S. Greenlund and David N. Brennan and Terin T. Sytsma and Christopher L. Boswell and Fred P. Davis and William J. Ward and Stephen P. Merry},
journal = {Journal of Primary Care \& Community Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1177/21501319261502300},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319261502300},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Headaches
AU - Laura S. Greenlund
AU - David N. Brennan
AU - Terin T. Sytsma
AU - Christopher L. Boswell
AU - Fred P. Davis
AU - William J. Ward
AU - Stephen P. Merry
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
DO - 10.1177/21501319261502300
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319261502300
AB - Patients have numerous options for headache management at home, yet when those fail, use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) in the outpatient clinical or emergency department setting can be useful. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) targeting the occipital and trigeminal scalp nerves are increasingly used by primary care and emergency medicine providers for acute headache relief and prophylaxis. The purpose of this article is to provide context, with an overview of epidemiology, diagnostic considerations, and trial evidence, along with procedural guidance for use of PNBs to treat headache disorders in the primary care setting. Despite methodological and outcome heterogeneities amongst randomized controlled trials (RCTs), evidence supports the use of PNBs, particularly greater occipital nerve block (GONB), for both acute headache relief and prophylaxis. It is within the scope of the primary care clinician to provide the option of PNB for appropriate patients. Further RCTs are warranted to define optimal nerve block combinations and procedural standards.
SN - 2150-1327
SN - 2150-1319
ER -