Migraine Relief and Occipital Neuralgia Treatment Procedures

Migraine is a recurrent headache disorder that manifests in attacks lasting 4 to 72 hours. It stems from a unilateral location, pulsating with moderate or severe intensity, can be aggravated by routine physical activity, and is associated with nausea and/or photophobia and phonophobia (sensitivity to light and sound). It is often life-long and can be highly disabling, especially in the case of chronic migraines wherein migraine sufferers experience severe recurring headaches for at least 15 days out of a month.

Occipital neuralgia, on the other hand, is commonly due to compressed or irritated nerves that run from the neck, up the back of the head to the scalp. It can sometimes be accompanied by diminished sensation or dysaesthesia (abnormal sensation) in the affected area, and is commonly associated with tenderness over the nerve concerned. 

Occipital neuralgia causes similar problems to migraine headaches, but may respond very differently to certain forms of treatment.  Both occipital neuralgia and migraine headaches are initially treated with medication in an attempt to reduce symptoms and prevent their reoccurrence. Unfortunately, many medical approaches stop working over time. In addition, often these medications have side effects that can disrupt patient’s lives in unpleasant ways. Botox® injections can be helpful in treating both types of headaches, depending on each patient’s specific condition, and are particularly helpful for occipital neuralgia.

How
We Can
Help

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Botox® Injection Treatment

Our specialists can administer an FDA-approved approach to migraine treatment, involving Botox® injections around the head and neck, at intervals of about 12 weeks.
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Migraine Headache Surgery

Our specialists can help permanently reduce or eliminate migraine headaches using a revolutionary surgical procedure available only at a limited number of locations in the United States.
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Nerve Decompression Surgery

Our specialists can relieve nerve sites with a minimally invasive surgical approach that removes muscle, tissue lining, and blood vessels from the areas in which the nerves travel.

Our Mission Is To Improve The Quality Of Our Patients’ Lives

Our cutting-edge procedures have helped transform the lives of thousands of patients. Hear their stories and more about the procedure here: 
How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story
How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story
Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story
Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story
Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident
Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident
Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia
Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia

29 Conveniently Located Offices Across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
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535 Sycamore Ave
Shrewsbury, New Jersey 07702
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Flemington
Flemington
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194 NJ-31
Pavilion 2, Suite 102
Flemington, New Jersey 08822
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Phone: 609-608-0142
Hackettstown
Hackettstown
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57 Route 46E
Suite 201
Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
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1401 Fairmont Street
Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Montclair
Montclair
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Mountainside Medical Center (Inside Harries Pavilion) 1 Bay Avenue
Suite 4
Glen Ridge, New Jersey 07028
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Phoenixville
Phoenixville
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826 Main Street
Suite 203
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Brick
Brick
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74 Brick Boulevard
Building 4, Suite 205
Brick, New Jersey 08723
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Phone: 855-980-6981
East Brunswick
East Brunswick
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192 Summer Hill Rd
Suite 201
East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Florham Park
Florham Park
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83 Hanover Road
Suite 260
Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Hopewell
Hopewell
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1 Capital Way
Suite 390
Pennington, New Jersey 08534
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Phone: 855-980-6981
New York City
New York City
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635 Madison Ave
14th Floor
New York City, New York 10022
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Rockland County
Rockland County
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257 Lafayette Ave
Suite 200
Suffern, New York 10901
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Phone: 201-967-9200
Bridgewater-Greymark
Bridgewater-Greymark
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1200 US Route 22 East
Suite 19
Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Edison
Edison
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102 James Street
Suite 202
Edison, New Jersey 08820
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Freehold
Freehold
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3499 Route 9 North, Building 1
Suite 1A
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Egg Harbor Township
Egg Harbor Township
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4096 English Creek Ave
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey 08234
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Hackensack
Hackensack
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20 Prospect Ave
Suite 903, 9th Floor
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
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Phone: 551-228-2208
Montgomery
Montgomery
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700 W Germantown Pike
Suite 200
East Norriton, Pennsylvania 19403
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Union
Union
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950 West Chestnut St
Suite 102
Union, New Jersey 07083
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Marlton
Marlton
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11 Eves Drive
Suite 170
Marlton, New Jersey 08053
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Phone: 908-751-1071
Gahanna
Gahanna
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1080 Beecher Crossing N
Suite A
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
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Phone: 614-686-4083
Springfield
Springfield
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100 West Main St
Springfield, Ohio 45502
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Phone: 937-521-3900
San Francisco
San Francisco
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45 Castro Street
Suite 121
San Francisco, California 94114
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Phone: 415-565-6136
New Orleans
New Orleans
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1717 St. Charles Avenue
Rear Entrance
New Orleans , Louisiana 70130
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Phone: 504-608-7499
San Antonio
San Antonio
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9635 Huebner Rd.
San Antonio, Texas 78240
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Phone: 210-692-1181
San Antonio
San Antonio
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540 Madison Oaks
Suite 600
San Antonio, Texas 78258
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Phone: 210-558-7012
Linwood
Linwood
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222 New Road
Building 6, Suite 603
Linwood, New Jersey 08221
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Maywood
Maywood
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113 W. Essex Street
Suite 204
Maywood, New Jersey 07607
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Phone: 201-289-5551
Ridgewood
Ridgewood
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1124 East Ridgewood Ave
Suite 201
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
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Phone: 201-289-5551
Neptune City
Neptune City
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19 Davis Avenue
7th Floor
Neptune City, New Jersey 07753
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Phone: 732-353-1973
Livingston
Livingston
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22 Old Short Hills Road
Suite 202
Livingston, New Jersey 07039
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Phone: 609-608-0142
Somerset
Somerset
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35 Clyde Road
Suite 104
Somerset, New Jersey 08873
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Phone: 609-608-0142
Paramus
Paramus
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305 Rt 17 South
Suite 3-100A
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
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Phone: 201-967-9200
Miami
Miami
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6200 Sunset Drive
Suite 402
South Miami, Florida 33143
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Phone: 786-632-5716
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
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200 Medical Plaza
Suite 460
Los Angeles, California 90095
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Phone: 213-246-4318
McKinney
McKinney
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4510 Medical Center Dr
Suite 202
McKinney, Texas 75069
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Phone: 945-224-0926
Manahawkin
Manahawkin
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517 NJ-72
Suite K
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
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Phone: 609-363-2944
Cape May Court House
Cape May Court House
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106 Court House South Dennis Road
Building 200, Suite 200
Cape May Court House, New Jersey 08210
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Phone: 609-363-1174
North Bergen
North Bergen
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7650 River Road
Suite 240
North Bergen, New Jersey 07047
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Phone: 201-778-9181
Westwood
Westwood
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260 Old Hook Rd
Suite 304
Westwood, New Jersey 07675
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Phone: 855-980-6981
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale
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2320 NE 9th St
Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
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Phone: 954-563-4500
Houston
Houston
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9230 Katy Fwy
#600
Houston, Texas 77055
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Phone: 713-489-5979
East Windsor
East Windsor
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300B Princeton-Hightstown Road
Suite 101
East Windsor, New Jersey 08512
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Phone: 609-448-6200
Woodlands
Woodlands
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18354 I-45
Suite 300
Shenandoah, Texas 77384
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Phone: 713-965-6344
Tinton Falls
Tinton Falls
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1 Executive Dr
Suite 4
Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07701
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Phone: 732-450-9700
Forked River
Forked River
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730 Lacey Road
Lacey Township, New Jersey 08731
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Phone: 609-212-4699
Hammonton
Hammonton
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219 N White Horse Pike
Suite 104
Hammonton, New Jersey 08037
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Phone: 609-363-2694
Plano
Plano
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3801 West 15th Street
Suite 150B
Plano, Texas 75075
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Phone: 214-501-5427

How To Get Rid of Your Migraines

Consultation for our Migraine Relief and Occipital Neuralgia Treatment: Is it right for you?

In order to best assist you and expedite your inquiry about our Migraine and Occipital Neuralgia treatment you may be asked to provide the following information:
  • Have you been diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia?
  • Have you had a recent MRI of the Brain? ( last 2 years)
  • Have you had an Occipital Nerve Block and did you get relief for any length of time?
Have questions, need more information, or would like to find out if our Migraine and Occipital Neuralgia Treatment program is right for you? Get in touch with us today.

About
The Institute for
Advanced Reconstruction

The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction is uniquely positioned as the ‘go-to’ center for revolutionary nerve procedures, as well as world-class reconstructive treatments.

These include cutting-edge procedures such as nerve transplantation that may restore a significant degree of function for those who have suffered from stroke and other forms of paralysis. Patients who at one time believed they had exhausted their paralysis treatment options come from around the country and the globe to our practice in New York City and Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction is also composed of the Axon Advance Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on new horizons in research, innovation and surgical treatments for peripheral nerve damage and spinal cord injury.

Frequently
Asked
Questions

What is occipital neuralgia?

In occipital neuralgia, the occipital nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp are injured or inflamed, which is what causes the painful headache symptoms. In addition to pain, these headache sufferers can feel tenderness or diminished sensation around the area of the nerve.

What is the difference between occipital neuralgia and migraine headaches?

While occipital neuralgia causes a jabbing pain in the area of the occipital nerve, migraines are characterized by recurrent headaches lasting 4-72 hours. Occipital neuralgia causes similar problems to migraine headaches, but may respond very differently to certain forms of treatment. Neurologists and other headache specialists sometimes have difficulty diagnosing the headache condition as one or the other, and there may be overlap in the classification. The bottom line is that there are 28 million migraine sufferers in the United States, one-third of whom find little or no benefit from traditional medical therapies.

What are the differences in treatment for the two conditions?
Both occipital neuralgia and migraine headaches are initially treated with medication in an attempt to reduce symptoms and prevent their reoccurrence. Unfortunately, many medical approaches stop working over time. In addition, often these medications have side effects that can disrupt patient’s lives in unpleasant ways. Botox® injections can be helpful in treating both types of headaches, depending on each patient’s specific condition, and are particularly helpful for occipital neuralgia.
What surgical options are available for these types of headaches?
If patients benefit from Botox® therapy, Nerve Decompression Surgery is offered as a permanent way of reducing or eliminating headaches. This treatment is available at only a limited number of locations in the United States, with The Institute of Advanced Reconstruction being one of them. We have been performing this surgery since 2005 with tremendous success, especially in patients with occipital neuralgia.
Can you describe Nerve Decompression Surgery?
This surgery involves a minimally invasive approach to the nerves in the head and neck region that cause or contribute to headache symptoms. The nerve sites are relieved when the surgeon removes muscle, tissue lining, and blood vessels from the areas in which the nerves travel. Multiple trigger point sites can safely be addressed in one procedure. The number of locations on which to operate depends on each patient’s symptoms, and in which locations Botox® therapy has been effective.
Is Nerve Decompression Surgery successful in reducing symptoms?
Some of our patients have essentially been “cured” of their condition. This means they no longer need medical therapy and rarely, if ever, have a headache. Though each individual case varies, if you suffer from occipital neuralgia there is a good chance your symptoms would be helped by either Botox® or surgery.
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