A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in Cypress: A Targeted Nerve Block for Migraine and Facial Pain
A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure for stubborn head and face pain, performed by Dr. Ho, a board-certified anesthesiologist. Cypress residents are welcome at three Houston locations, open 5 am to 9 pm daily.
When Migraine and Facial Pain Just Won't Ease
You know this pain by now. The migraine that wipes out an afternoon. The cluster headache that strikes at the same hour nightly. The facial nerve pain that flares from a light touch or a cool breeze, common across Cypress and greater Harris County Precinct 4. According to the American Migraine Foundation, millions cycle through triptans, preventives, and nerve medications and still end up back where they started.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block, often shortened to SPG block, works on a dense nerve cluster sitting deep behind the nose that plays a major role in head and face pain. It’s a procedure many patients explore once standard migraine or headache care stops delivering results. At Catalyst Health & Wellness, Dr. Ho performs the block in the office, with medical screening beforehand and monitoring afterward. Used for head and face pain, this remains an off-label option, and it’s designed to work alongside the neurologist or headache specialist you already see, not to take that provider’s place. Every patient’s response looks different.
What Exactly Is an SPG Block?
The sphenopalatine ganglion is a compact bundle of nerve cells resting deep behind your nose, inside a narrow space called the pterygopalatine fossa. It ranks as the largest nerve cell cluster in the head outside the brain, and it sits at a busy junction of sensory and autonomic nerve pathways tied directly to head and face pain.
Dr. Ho guides a slim, soft catheter through the nostril and delivers the anesthetic to the back of the nasal cavity, right at the ganglion. This same transnasal method anchors our flagship Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block program in Houston, and the procedure itself takes only a few minutes.
Physicians have targeted this ganglion for head and face pain for more than a century, ever since Dr. Sluder first described it back in 1908. It’s a well-established anesthetic nerve block technique. Used for headache and facial pain, it’s considered an off-label application, which means it hasn’t received FDA approval for these particular conditions. Dr. Ho will walk you through what that distinction means during your consultation.
What the research points to:
What Our Patients Say
How the Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Works
Think of the sphenopalatine ganglion as a control panel for much of the feeling and involuntary activity across your face, sinuses, and forehead. In many headache and facial pain conditions, that panel stays stuck in the on position, driving both the pain itself and the stuffy nose, watery eye, or facial pressure that so often tags along with a bad episode.
Quieting an Overactive Nerve Center
By coating the ganglion in local anesthetic, an SPG block briefly interrupts the signals traveling through it. For some patients, calming that center may help break a pain cycle that's become self-perpetuating. Because the anesthetic reaches the ganglion directly, the effect stays concentrated on the pathways tied to head and face pain instead of spreading through the entire body.
Interrupting the Pain and Reflex Loop
The sphenopalatine ganglion carries parasympathetic fibers, which explains why so many headaches show up with a runny nose, teary eye, or facial pressure on one side. Interrupting that cycle may ease both symptoms together for some patients. Responses differ from person to person, and the block is meant to support your existing care plan and make everything else you're doing easier to build on.
Head and Face Pain We Treat With Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
We consider sphenopalatine ganglion block for Cypress residents whose head or face pain hasn’t improved with first-line treatment. Whether it’s right for you comes down to your diagnosis, your history, and what you’re hoping to achieve.
Chronic or Refractory Migraine
When migraines keep breaking through preventive and acute medications.
Cluster Headache
The condition with the strongest research support for SPG block.
Trigeminal Neuralgia and Facial Nerve Pain
Sharp, shocking facial pain that's hard to control.
Persistent Facial Pain
Ongoing facial pain without a clear structural cause.
Post-Traumatic Headache
Headache lingering after a head injury, an area still being studied.
Other Head and Face Pain
Where your physician believes a nerve block may be worth exploring.
If you're already exploring our other Cypress area options for migraine or chronic pain, Dr. Ho can talk through how a nerve block might fit into that plan. SPG block can also pair with stellate ganglion block for patients managing both trauma symptoms and head pain.
Your Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Experience at Catalyst Health & Wellness
We have shaped every step to feel comfortable, clear, and built around your needs. Here is what to expect.
Step 1: Free Phone Consultation
Your journey starts with a no cost, confidential phone call. It isn’t a sales pitch, just a real conversation about whether an SPG block makes sense for you. You’ll:
- Ask any questions about the procedure
- Share your headache or facial pain history and current symptoms
- Learn what a transnasal SPG block involves
- Get honest guidance on whether it fits your situation
There’s no charge and no obligation to continue.
Step 2: Medical Evaluation
If you decide to move forward, you’ll complete a medical evaluation so we can confirm the block is appropriate for you. This includes:
- Review of your diagnosis, medical history, and current medications
- A look at which headache or facial pain treatments you’ve already tried
- Any imaging or records your referring physician has shared
- A clear explanation of what to expect during and after the procedure
Step 3: Day of Procedure
Preparation is simple:
- No special fasting for most patients
- Wear comfortable clothing
- Arrange transportation if we advise it for your situation
- Plan for an easy rest of your day
Step 4: The Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Procedure
The block itself takes just a few minutes, and you stay awake and alert the whole time.
- You recline comfortably while Dr. Ho positions a slim, soft catheter in the nostril
- He delivers the local anesthetic to the back of the nasal cavity, at the ganglion
- Most people find any discomfort mild
- You may notice a bitter taste, mild numbness at the back of the throat, or a little nasal drip
Those sensations are expected and pass on their own.
Step 5: Recovery and Observation
After the block, you’ll rest while we monitor you.
- We observe you for a short period afterward
- You take it easy for the remainder of the day
- Most people return to normal activity soon after
Step 6: Assessing Response and Follow-Up
Responses to SPG block vary widely from person to person. Some notice a change within the same day, others need a short series of visits.
- We’ll track how you respond
- Repeat blocks may be recommended based on your results
- Together we’ll decide whether and when to continue
Since everyone’s different, we personalize follow up around your individual response.
The Science Behind Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
Interest in the sphenopalatine ganglion for head and face pain stretches back to 1908, and the techniques used to reach it have kept advancing since. A 2025 narrative review published in the journal Brain Sciences examined SPG blocks alongside neurolytic and neuromodulation approaches across several primary headache disorders. It highlighted migraine, cluster headache, tension-type headache, trigeminal neuralgia, and persistent facial pain as the conditions most often studied, while noting that larger controlled trials are still needed to confirm long-term benefit.
A 2025 medical policy review from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island describes SPG block as a proposed treatment option for chronic migraine and select non-migraine headaches, and points to a placebo-controlled randomized trial showing meaningfully greater short-term relief with active treatment than with placebo, though longer-term benefit was harder to confirm.
Key research findings:
- Cluster headache has the longest track record of support
- Encouraging evidence also exists for migraine and trigeminal neuralgia
- The procedure is minimally invasive, nonopioid, and repeatable
- Larger controlled trials are still needed across most uses
- Careful patient selection and monitoring shape how well it works
That’s the honest state of the science: a technique used for well over a century, backed by promising results, and still being studied in more rigorous detail. Part of what your consultation covers is Dr. Ho’s read on that evidence and how it applies to your specific pain pattern.
Why Cypress Patients Choose Catalyst Health & Wellness
01
Led by Dr. Ho, Anesthesiology Expertise
As a board-certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Ho brings extensive training in nerve blocks and the precise technique these procedures demand. You're in the hands of a physician who performs blocks routinely and knows how to keep you safe and comfortable from start to finish.
02
Precise Transnasal Technique
The standard SPG method delivers anesthetic through the nostril rather than a needle near the face. Dr. Ho’s deliberate, unhurried technique focuses on precise placement and your comfort throughout an awake procedure that only takes a few minutes.
03
A Whole Person Approach
We treat people, not just symptoms. From your first phone call, we work to understand your full picture, and we are glad to coordinate with your neurologist, headache specialist, or primary care physician so your care stays connected.
04
Extended Hours and Flexible Scheduling
A drive in from Cypress shouldn’t be the hardest part of getting care. All three Houston locations stay open from 5 am to 9 pm, seven days a week, so you can find a visit that fits around traffic and your schedule.
05
Comprehensive Treatment Options
An SPG block can be one piece of a larger plan. Depending on your situation, we also offer:
Stellate Ganglion Block
a companion nerve block for trauma and anxiety symptoms
IV and IM Ketamine
options some patients pursue for chronic pain
TMS Therapy
an FDA cleared device for certain conditions We'll help you understand which options, if any, fit alongside your existing care.
06
A Comfortable, Screened Environment
Every corner of our space is built around your comfort. Our staff moves at your pace, screens thoroughly before any procedure, and never pushes you toward a decision.
Getting Started with Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Care from Cypress
You’ve dealt with head or face pain long enough to be done with half measures. Cypress, an unincorporated community inside Harris County, sits along the US 290 corridor just northwest of Houston, which puts our three clinics within easy reach. A sphenopalatine ganglion block is one more focused option worth learning about, and finding out whether it fits you is simple.
Call us at (713) 772-5315 for a free, no-obligation phone consultation. We’ll answer your questions, talk through your history and symptoms, and give you a straight answer on whether an SPG block makes sense. No pressure, no charge, and everything stays confidential.
With three convenient Houston locations and hours from 5 am to 9 pm every day, getting care that fits your schedule shouldn’t be the hard part. Dr. Ho and the team are ready for every step of the way.
Monday-Sunday, 5am-9pm
Free consultation
Rapid relief
Three Houston locations
Expert anesthesiology care
Commonly Asked Questions
Get Help NowDoes a sphenopalatine ganglion block hurt?
Most people find it easy to tolerate. Because the common approach goes through the nostril instead of a needle into the face, any discomfort is usually mild. You might feel the catheter and notice a bitter taste as the anesthetic settles in.
How is an SPG block different from a stellate ganglion block?
They target different nerves for different problems. Stellate ganglion block goes to a bundle of nerves in the neck and is used for trauma and anxiety symptoms. Sphenopalatine ganglion block sits behind the nose and is used for head and face pain. Dr. Ho performs both.
How long does relief last?
It varies quite a bit from person to person, and some people need more than one visit. There’s no set timeline we can promise. We’ll track how you respond and plan any follow up around your results.
How many treatments will I need?
That depends on your condition and how you respond. Some people are managed with occasional single blocks, while others do better with a short series. Dr. Ho will recommend an approach based on your results.
Is the sphenopalatine ganglion block FDA approved for headaches?
The block is an established anesthetic procedure. Used for headache and facial pain, it’s an off label option and isn’t FDA approved for those specific conditions. We’ll always be straight with you about that.
Can I drive myself home?
For many patients the transnasal block doesn’t require sedation, but we’ll tell you at your evaluation whether to arrange a ride based on your specific plan. When in doubt, bring someone along.
Can an SPG block be combined with my current headache treatment?
Yes. It’s meant to work alongside the care you already have, not replace it. We’re glad to coordinate with your neurologist or headache specialist so everyone’s on the same page.
Will insurance cover a sphenopalatine ganglion block?
Coverage varies by plan and diagnosis. We can help check your benefits and go over payment options during your consultation.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Sphenopalatine ganglion block is an established anesthetic nerve block procedure. Used for head and face pain conditions such as migraine, cluster headache, and facial nerve pain, it is an off-label application and is not FDA-approved for these conditions. All procedures at Catalyst Health & Wellness include in-office medical screening and monitoring under the oversight of Dr. Ho, a board-certified anesthesiologist. Individual results vary, and no specific outcome is promised.
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