Supratrochlear, Supraorbital & Preauricular Nerve Blocks
A superficial injection of an anesthetic (AKA “numbing agent”) above your eyebrows and near your ears to “block” these nerves. The procedure takes 7-8 minutes and typically provides immediate (within minutes) pain relief.
A supratrochlear, supraorbital, and/or preauricular nerve block is a superficial injection of an anesthetic (AKA “numbing agent”) in the forehead region above the eyebrow (for supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve blocks) or near the ear (for preauricular nerve blocks) to “block” these nerves. Within a couple minutes of the injection the affected area will go numb. The procedure itself takes 5-6 minutes and typically provides immediate (within minutes) pain relief as those nerves are blocked. The numbness will persist the remainder of the day (and occasionally partially into the next day) before resolving. Even though the numbness is short-lived, the benefits of “resetting” those nerves (and pain centers in the brain) can provide improvement in headache frequency and severity for upwards of 2-4 weeks after. These can be repeated on a scheduled basis (typically every 4 weeks) for ongoing benefit if desired/needed.
There are no restrictions before or after the procedure. You do not need a driver. There are no major side effects to this procedure besides a numbing sensation in the affected area. Some patients will feel mild dizziness after the procedure as they adjust to the numbness, but this is short-lived if it occurs at all. There are no medication restrictions on the day of the nerve block. We ask that you refrain from putting any ice or heat on the numb area to avoid injuring (thermal burn) yourself due to lack of sensation. You can feel free to ice or heat the area the following day once the numbness has resolved.
This is a non-invasive procedure with low risk. With any procedure, there is risk of bleeding or infection. The site is cleaned beforehand therefore infection risk is low. Likewise, the injection sites are considered “compressible,” therefore any bleeding would resolve with direct pressure over the injection site. For some patients, it can be sore over the injection sites the following day, which can at times cause a temporary exacerbation of head pain. Any worsening of head pain or soreness is temporary and will resolve within days to a week of the procedure. Over-the-counter medications can be used if needed the day of or days following the procedure.
Combined, the providers at PHI have performed over 10,000 supratrochlear, supraorbital & preauricular nerve blocks.
Get in Touch
