Migraine Headache Treatment FAQS

The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is a set of nerve cells situated beneath the tissue lining the back of the nose that contributes to head and face pain. Nerve impulses can be blocked by applying a local anesthetic to the nerve bundle, providing pain relief. This is called an SPG block.

An SPG block procedure using SphenoCath®, conducted by a qualified practitioner, is both low-risk and efficient in patients of all ages – as well as pregnant females – without the use of needles, cotton swabs or strong medication. As a migraine headache treatment, most patients report instant, week-long or even month-long relief.

Before: Before your first appointment, there is no unique preparation. Your first appointment will take about 30 minutes to assess whether you are an SPG block applicant.

During: You’re going to lay on an examination table and your doctor will use a SphenoCath® device to deliver a local anesthetic (usually 2% lidocaine) to your SPG through your nasal passage. SphenoCath® is small and soft and the procedure is not painful. It takes two to three minutes for an SPG block using SphenoCath®. You will stay in a flat or reclined position for 10-15 minutes to maximize the results.

After: After the operation, some patients will have an unpleasant taste in their mouth or temporary unpleasant numbness in their neck. Some will have trouble swallowing; however, in a few minutes this will resolve itself. Generally speaking, the operation has very little discomfort. After the operation, we suggest that patients refrain from eating or drinking for two hours and avoid any harsh exercise for 24 hours. However, in the small chance you don’t feel comfortable driving, we also suggest having alternative transportation accessible.

A ganglion is a collection of nerve cells that helps control some of your body’s activities. The sphenopalatine ganglion or SPG is in the back of the nose, playing a part in many distinct kinds of upper head pain. The SphenoCath® is specifically intended to promote local anesthetic application onto the parasympathetic, sympathetic, and V2 maxillary divisions of the main structures of the head.

It allows the delivery of drugs to the bilateral Sphenopalatine Ganglia (SPG), PPG, V2 and related fibers covering the entire Sphenopalatine circuit.

Anyone considering the following:

• Seeking an SPG Block as a Migraine Headache Treatment
• Suffering from Chronic and Episodic Migraines
• Cluster Headaches
• Continuous Hemicrania
• Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuritis
• TMJ and pain from Dental Work
• Alleviation of pain from a Post-Operative Sinus Operation
• Post-Concussion Symptoms (Sport and Trauma Medicine)
• Trigeminal Dermatomal Distribution from Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
• Rhinitis Vasomotor
• Overuse of Cephalgia

Some provincial health plans and private insurance firms cover the procedure. Please talk to your physician about these alternatives.

Each patient is distinct and the procedure results will differ from a few days to several months. In some instances, very long-term relief will be obtained.

The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is situated deep in the back of the middle nasal turbinate in proximity to the nasal mucosa. The SPG can be blocked through the surrounding mucosa by applying a local anesthetic. In the SPG – sensory, sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers pass or synapse, making it a main culprit in different kinds of cephalgia. Temporarily blocking the SPG can provide pain relief as quickly as possible and can be successful over a period of months. An SPG block is theorized to provide continuous relief by disrupting dysfunctional neuronal activity, enabling ordinary function to be restored.

For more than 100 years, the SPG block has been described in medical literature. For many sufferers, it has been demonstrated as an efficient method of pain alleviation. Historically, the primary restriction to the operation was that the patient’s discomfort, side effects and the medication application inconsistency – reducing positive outcomes. SphenoCath® addresses all of these problems, making the process fast, simple and effective.

• A 2 to 5 Minute Same Day Procedure
• Immediate Relief for the Majority of Patients
• Very Low Risk Involved
• Very High Success Rates
• Safe for Adults and Kids
• Reimbursed by Most Insurance Companies
• Increases New and Repeat Patients

• Family Physicians
• Emergency Room Physicians
• Neurologists
• Radiologists
• Pain Management (Anesthesia and Physiatrist)
• Trigeminal Neuralgia Dentists
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
• Registered Nurses (RNs)

Anyone considering the following:

• Seeking an SPG Block Treatment
• Suffering from Chronic and Episodic Migraines
• Cluster Headaches
• Continuous Hemicarnia
• Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuritis
• TMJ and pain from Dental Work
• Alleviation of pain from a Post-Operative Sinus Operation
• Post-Concussion Symptoms (Sport and Trauma Medicine)
• Trigeminal Dermatomal Distribution from Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
• Rhinitis Vasomotor
• Overuse of Cephalgia