Case report of an alleviation of pain symptoms in hypnic headache via greater occipital nerve block

Background

Hypnic headache is a rare primary headache disorder with a few hundred described cases so far. Due to the fact that this headache disease is rare, there are no placebo-controlled oral medication studies. After all reported oral medication failed to control pain symptoms of a hypnic headache disease, we were able to reduce pain intensity and frequency via two greater occipital nerve (GON) blocks.

Case

We report on a 74-year-old patient diagnosed with hypnic headache in our headache outpatient department two years ago. Over a course of nine months none of the recommended oral drugs had an effect in pain alleviation and we decided to try an occipital nerve injection therapy.

Two GON-blocks then led to a stable and significant pain reduction over the course of six months during monthly follow-ups.

Conclusion

GON block can be a successful therapeutic approach for the treatment of hypnic headache when oral medication fails.

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