Self Administered SPG Block Treats Both Cancer Pain and Chronic Headaches, Migraine and Cluster Headaches

I routinely teach patients how to self Administered SPG Blocks for TMJ disorders, orofacial pain, Myofascial pain ,Migraines, Cluster headaches, Trigeminal neuralgia and many other conditions.

The most effective treatment for chronic pain in my experience is usually self administraion. This allows the patients to achieve quick relief in the comfort of their own home. Side effects include a feeling of well being, lower BP , decreased stress.

This Indian study (abstract below)”Home-based Application of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Head and Neck Cancer Pain Management.” of 100 cancer patients showed that 88% found self- administration easy.

The study concluded that : “The home-based application of SPGB is an easy, safe, and cost-effective method to manage cancer pain. It provides excellent immediate pain relief with a minimum side effect. It can be performed bilaterally, repeatedly and even with a feeding tube in place.”

SPG Blocks for treating chronic headaches and migraines is also “easy, safe and cost effective method of treating pain” This autonomic block works on both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves and is very effective treating trigeminal autonomic cephalgias. The Sphenopalatine Ganglion is located on the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve.

I routinely utilize this approach for treating pain in my Highland Park office treating both Chicago patients and long distance patients.

I have recently taught courses in Seattle, buenos Aires and Scottsdale on several different methods of delivering Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks including intra-oral injections, extra-oral injections, suprazygomatin injections and nasal SPG Blocks with Sphenocath, Allevio, TX360 and cotton tipped nasal catheters to neuromuscular dentists. This youtube link has several SPG Block Testimonials of my patients. https://www.reddit.com/r/SPGBlocks/

Visit Dr Shapira’s Website: WWW>ThinkBetterLife.com

Ira L Shapira DDS, D,ABDSM, D,AAPM, FICCMO
Past Chair, Alliance of TMD Organizations
Diplomat, Academy of Integrative Pain Management
Diplomat, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine
Regent & Fellow, International College of CranioMandibular Orthopedics
Board Eligible, American Academy of CranioFacial Pain
Dental Section Editor, Sleep & Health Journal
Member, American Equilibration Society
Member, Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences
Member, Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
www.ThinkBetterLife.com
www.DelanyDentalCare.com
www.NorthShoreSleepDentist.com
www.IHateCPAP.com
www.iHateHeadaches.org
www.SleepandHealth.com
www.SphenopalatineGanglionBlocks.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk9Bfz6pklC7_UluWFHzLrg

Indian J Palliat Care. 2017 Jul-Sep;23(3):282-286. doi: 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_39_17.
Home-based Application of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Head and Neck Cancer Pain Management.
Sanghavi PR1, Shah BC1, Joshi GM1.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Head and neck cancer pain is intractable and difficult to manage. Many a times it is difficult to treat with oral opioids and adjuvants.
AIM:
This study aims to study the effects of transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB), administered using cotton swab/ear bud by patients’ caretaker, at home, for pain management.
STUDY DESIGN:
This is a prospective, single-arm observational study conducted on 100 head and neck cancer patients, from January 2014 to December 2015. Patients and caretaker were given a demonstration of the procedure using sterile cotton swab/ear buds. They were advised to repeat the procedure when their visual analog score (VAS) was more than 5. They continued with the oral analgesics. They kept the records of pre- and post-procedure pain score (VAS), the frequency of repetition, ease of performance of procedure, and morphine requirement. A paired t-test (SPSS software) was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
A significant reduction in pain was noted by a decrease in mean VAS from 8.57 ± 1.31 to 2.46 ± 1.23 (P < 0.0001), immediately on first administration. The mean duration of analgesia was 4.95 ± 3.43 days. Pre- and post-procedure mean morphine requirement were 128.2 ± 84.64 and 133.8 ± 81.93 (P > 0.05) mg per day, at the end of 2 months. Ease of performance was observed in 88 patients.
CONCLUSION:
The home-based application of SPGB is an easy, safe, and cost-effective method to manage cancer pain. It provides excellent immediate pain relief with a minimum side effect. It can be performed bilaterally, repeatedly and even with a feeding tube in place.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *