The Arnold’s  neuralgia, also known as occipital neuralgia, is a condition characterized by severe pain that run from the back of the neck to the forehead. This condition can become serious and disabling.

The pain can be continuous or intermittent; When you move your neck, you may feel burning in the area. In addition, it can be accompanied by headaches and hypersensitivity of the scalp.

It is very important that a proper diagnosis is made in order to develop a good treatment.

First, the doctor will ask questions about your past medical history or injuries. On the other hand, you will carry out a physical exam.

Sometimes, scan tests are done to observe the condition of the cervicals. These are useful to check if the occipital nerve is being compressed.

In cases where another pathology (such as diabetes) is suspected that may have caused Arnold’s neuralgia, a blood test may be advisable.

The definitive test is the injection of an anesthetic drug into the involved nerve. If the pain is relieved, it is likely Arnold’s neuralgia.

The currently most successful technique for suppressing pain is the occipital nerve block. To do this, betamethasone (anti-inflammatory) and lidocaine (anesthetic) infiltrates the nerve. The pain is relieved during the first minutes and can disappear forever in certain cases.

Contact your GP for further information

 

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