A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in Houston: A Targeted Nerve Block for Migraine and Facial Pain
A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure for stubborn head and face pain, performed by Dr. Ho, board certified anesthesiologist. Three Houston locations, open 5am to 9pm, seven days a week.
When Head and Face Pain Won't Let Up
You know the pattern by now. The migraine that steals a whole day. The cluster headache that arrives like clockwork and drops you to your knees. The facial nerve pain that flares from something as small as a breeze or a bite of food. You’ve probably tried the triptans, the preventives, maybe a nerve pain medication or two, and still the pain keeps finding its way back.
Sphenopalatine ganglion block, or SPG block, works on a nerve hub sitting deep behind the nose that plays a role in a lot of head and face pain. It’s a procedure some patients pursue when standard headache and facial pain care hasn’t done enough. At Catalyst Health & Wellness, Dr. Ho performs it in office, with medical screening first and monitoring afterward. Used for head and face pain, it’s an off label option, and it’s meant to work alongside the care you already have with your neurologist or headache specialist, not to replace it. Responses vary from person to person.
What is a Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block?
The sphenopalatine ganglion is a small bundle of nerve cells tucked deep behind your nose, in a space called the pterygopalatine fossa. It’s the largest cluster of nerve cells in the head outside the brain itself, and it sits at a busy crossroads of sensory and autonomic nerves tied to head and face pain.
An SPG block applies a local anesthetic to that ganglion to quiet the signals passing through it. The most common approach is transnasal. Dr. Ho guides a slim, soft catheter through the nostril and delivers the anesthetic to the back of the nasal cavity, right where the ganglion sits. There’s no needle into the face with this approach, 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 in 1908. It’s an established anesthetic nerve block. Used for headache and facial pain, it’s considered an off label option, which means it isn’t FDA approved for these specific conditions. Dr. Ho will explain what that means for your situation during your consultation.
What the research points to:
What Our Patients Say
How Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Works
Picture the sphenopalatine ganglion as a relay switch for much of the sensation and autonomic activity in your face, sinuses, and the front of your head. In a lot of headache and facial pain conditions, that switch stays overactive, feeding both the pain and the stuffy, watery eyed, congested feeling that so often rides along with a bad attack.
Calming an Overactive Nerve Hub
By bathing the ganglion in local anesthetic, an SPG block temporarily interrupts the signals moving through it. For some people, quieting that hub may help settle a pain pattern that's become self sustaining. Because the anesthetic is placed right at the ganglion, the effect is focused on the pathways involved in head and face pain rather than spread across the whole body.
Easing the Pain and Autonomic Loop
The sphenopalatine ganglion carries parasympathetic fibers, which is why so many headaches come packaged with a runny nose, teary eye, or facial pressure on the affected side. Interrupting that loop may ease both parts at once for some patients. Everyone responds differently, and the block is designed to complement your existing care and make the rest of your treatment easier to build on.
Head and Face Pain We Consider Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block For
We consider sphenopalatine ganglion block for people whose head or face pain hasn’t responded well to first line treatment. Whether it fits you depends on your diagnosis, your history, and your goals.
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 looking into our other options for migraine or chronic pain, Dr. Ho can talk through how a nerve block might fit alongside them. SPG block can also complement stellate ganglion block for patients dealing with both trauma symptoms and head pain.
Your Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Journey at Catalyst Health & Wellness
We've built every step to be comfortable, clear, and shaped around your needs. Here's 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 goes back to 1908, and the techniques have kept evolving since. A systematic review in The Journal of Headache and Pain examined SPG block, radiofrequency ablation, and neurostimulation across a range of head and facial pain conditions. It found the strongest support for cluster headache, along with good evidence in trigeminal neuralgia and migraine, and noted that larger randomized controlled studies are still needed to firm these techniques up.
A clinical overview from StatPearls (NCBI) describes the SPG block as a targeted, minimally invasive, nonopioid option for selected headache and craniofacial pain syndromes, and stresses that careful candidate selection and monitoring matter to how well it works.
Key research findings:
- The longest track record and strongest support is in cluster headache
- Supportive evidence exists in migraine and trigeminal neuralgia
- The procedure is minimally invasive, nonopioid, and repeatable
- Larger randomized trials are still needed across most uses
- Candidate selection and clinical monitoring shape the results
That’s an honest picture of where the science sits: widely used for decades, promising, and still being studied. Part of what your consultation is for is Dr. Ho’s read on that research and whether it applies to your particular pain.
Why Choose Catalyst Health & Wellness for Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
01
Led by Dr. Ho, Anesthesiology Expertise
As a board certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Ho has extensive training in nerve blocks and the precise technique these procedures call for. You're cared for by a physician who performs blocks regularly and understands how to keep you comfortable and safe throughout.
02
Precise Transnasal Technique
The common SPG approach places anesthetic through the nostril rather than a needle into the face. Dr. Ho’s careful, unhurried technique is aimed at accurate placement and your comfort during an awake, few minute procedure.
03
A Whole Person Approach
We treat people, not just symptoms. From your first phone call, we focus on understanding your full picture, and we’re glad to coordinate with your neurologist, headache specialist, or primary care physician so your care stays connected.
04
Extended Hours and Flexible Scheduling
Head pain doesn’t keep office hours, and neither do we. All three Houston locations are open 5am to 9pm, seven days a week, so you can find a time that works around your life.
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 detail of our space is designed with your comfort in mind. Our team works at your pace, screens carefully before any procedure, and never rushes or pressures you.
Getting Started with Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in Houston
You’ve lived with head or face pain long enough to be tired of half measures. A sphenopalatine ganglion block is one more focused option worth understanding, and finding out whether it fits you is simple.
Call us at (713) 772-5315 for your free, no obligation phone consultation. We’ll answer your questions, talk through your history and symptoms, and give you an honest read on whether an SPG block makes sense. No pressure, no charge, and everything stays confidential.
With three convenient Houston locations and hours from 5am to 9pm every day, we make it easy to get care when you need it. Dr. Ho and the team are here for every step.
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. Used for head and face pain conditions such as migraine, cluster headache, and facial nerve pain, it is an off label option 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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