If you have difficulty sleeping because of occipital neuralgia, talk to your ENT doctor about trying a cervical pillow. Aligning your spine can help to reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. If you suffer from occipital neuralgia, using a cervical pillow may help to decrease the tension on the nerves in your neck. It helps keep your spine aligned, which can reduce pain. Why Use a Cervical Pillow?Ī cervical pillow supports your head and neck while you sleep. They can help you decide if this is the best option for you. If you have tried other treatments without success, or if your pain is severe, speak with your ENT doctor about the possibility of occipital neuralgia surgery. You will also need to take some time off work. You will likely have some pain and swelling after the surgery, but it is usually mild. With this surgery, you can usually go home the same day and recover in a couple of weeks. The surgeon may also work with other nerves that may cause trouble for you. They then release the greater occipital nerves from anything compressing them. In this same-day outpatient procedure, the surgeon cuts in the back of your neck. They may perform surgery to help you decompress the greater occipital nerves. Your ENT specialist is a board-certified surgeon specializing in head and neck issues. What If Medication Doesn’t Work for Me?Īn “occipital release surgery” procedure may help if your condition doesn’t get better. There are many things they can do to help alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life. If you suffer from occipital neuralgia, talk to your ENT doctor about ways to get a good night’s sleep. Experiment until you find what works best for you. Others find that sleeping on their side with a pillow between their knees is best. However, many individuals find relief by sleeping with their head elevated and using a cervical pillow. What works best for you may vary depending on the severity of your condition and the medications you are taking. There is no one best way to sleep with occipital neuralgia. Is There a Best Way to Sleep With Occipital Neuralgia? Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, as they can interfere with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.Elevating the head helps to decrease tension on the nerves in your neck. Elevate your head with supportive pillows when sleeping in any position other than on your back.Consider trying a cervical pillow if you have not already done so. Use a comfortable pillow that supports your head and neck well.The cold will help to reduce any inflammation and pain. Place a cool or cold pack on the back of your head and neck for fifteen minutes before bedtime.Try these more natural ways to handle the struggle, but see your ENT doctor if the pain persists and affects your sleep. There are some things you can do to help you get a good night’s sleep if you suffer from occipital neuralgia. Tips for Sleeping With Occipital Neuralgia They may also use steroid injections, botulinum toxin or talk with you about surgical options. Your ENT doctor may prescribe medications to relax the nerves that fire and cause the pain. At this point, your doctor may look at other more permanent solutions to help you. If this works to deaden your pain and tenderness, your doctor will let you know that it’s likely you suffer from occipital neuralgia. Often, first-line treatment is a nerve block. Your ENT doctor may find that you feel tender in the occipital nerve area by palpating your neck and head. Some individuals feel numbness, while others feel extreme tenderness. These nerves can cause the neck and head to feel painful to the touch, and the pain can run along your neck and head. When these occipital nerves are damaged or irritated, they can send signals to the brain that feel like electric zaps or tingles. They sometimes reach nearly as far forward as your forehead, but they don’t go near your face or ears. Occipital nerves start between the bones in your neck, go through some muscles at the back of your head, and then into your scalp. Finally, we ask the question: what is the best way to sleep with occipital neuralgia? What is Occipital Neuralgia? We will also explore ENT doctors’ tips on how to get a good night’s rest. This blog post will discuss what occipital neuralgia is and how it can affect your sleep. Do you suffer from occipital neuralgia? This condition affects millions of people every year.
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