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Chronic headaches are a condition that many people with fibromyalgia suffer from. And odds are good that if you ask a fibromyalgia sufferer what the worst of their health-woes are, they’ll mention some of the debilitating migraines that they suffer from. But, odds are also good that they may not actually be suffering from migraines at all, but rather another related condition called occipital neuralgia.
Occipital neuralgia causes symptoms that are very similar to that of migraines. The symptoms are so similar, in fact, that many doctors diagnose the condition with migraine headaches. But if you are suffering from occipital neuralgia, the good news is that the there’s a type of medication that might help called Sarapin. Sarpin is injected into the nerves to help relieve some of the pain of chronic neuralgia. So, what exactly is occipital neuralgia? What is Sarapin? And can it work for you?
What Is Occipital Neuralgia?
Occipital neuralgia is a condition that causes a variety of debilitating symptoms like:
- Tingling, burning, or stabbing pain along the spine and bottom of the skull.
- Pain behind the eyes.
- Photosensitivity.
- Scalp pain.
- Pain when moving the head.
The basis of this condition lies in the occipital nerves, which run up through the spine and to the top of the scalp. Sometimes, these nerves can be blocked by injuries, inflammation, or overly-tight muscles. Basically, the tissue in the spine begins to press on the nerves, which causes the type of symptoms we associate with the condition.
The best way to tell if you’re suffering from occipital neuralgia rather than migraines is to press your fingers into the base of your skull. If your pain spikes or you get a burning or stabbing sensation, then odds are good that you’re suffering from pinched occipital nerves. And treatment for this condition is very different than the treatment for migraines.
So, it’s best to see a doctor and confirm the diagnosis so you can get on an effective treatment regimen. And one of the drugs doctors use to treat the condition is something called Sarapin injections.
What Is Sarapin?
Essentially, this is a type of drug stops the transmission of pain signals along the nerves. The doctor will examine your body to help determine where the affected nerves are by pressing along the base of your skull and registering where the pain is most severe.
At that point, they will decide where the best place to inject the drug is. Afterwards, they’ll take a syringe and carefully inject it into the muscles near the back of the skull. Most doctors recommend that the patient lie still for around fifteen minutes to give the medication time to take effect.
Side effects are very minimal. In fact, we don’t know of any lasting risks associated with the drug at the moment. That’s not to say that there may not be any, simply that if there are, clinical testing hasn’t revealed them. Although, many patients report a heavy feeling at the base of the skull, or radiating warmth and a tingling sensation after the injection. But this usually resolves itself within half an hour.
The lack of side effects makes it a good alternative to one of the most popular forms of treatment for occipital neuropathy, cortisone injections. The principal behind this treatment is the same. Cortisone, a form of stress hormone, is injected into the nerve, blocking them from releasing pain signals.
But cortisone carries a number of possible side effects like weight gain, high blood pressure, and even a thinning of the bones.
Does It Work?
Sarapin is derived from biological compounds found in a type of plant. At the moment, we don’t fully understand why these compounds seem to block nerve signals. But evidence shows that they do so fairly effectively.
But it’s important that the drug is injected in the right place. Its effectiveness is determined by how closely it is injected to the affected nerves. So, if you find that the drug is not working, it could simply be that the doctor injected it in the wrong place. Because getting the position right is so complicated, it might be a good idea to seek out a doctor who specializes in this form of treatment.
Unfortunately, many doctors don’t know about the availability of Sarapin, since it isn’t marketed by large pharmaceutical firms. So, the next time you find yourself at your doctor’s office, it could be worth your time to ask and see what they know about it. It might just help manage your pain.
So, do you use Sarapin? Does it work? Let us know in the comments.
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