A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in Lazybrook: A Targeted Nerve Block for Migraine and Facial Pain
A gentle, medication-free nerve procedure for stubborn head and face pain, led by Dr. Ho, a board-certified anesthesiologist. Open seven days a week, 5 am to 9 pm, near Lazybrook.
When Head and Face Pain Keep Coming Back
You’ve felt this rhythm before. The migraine that wipes out an entire afternoon. The cluster headache that shows up right on schedule and brings you to the floor. The facial nerve pain that flares from something as ordinary as wind or a bite of toast. You’ve likely worked through triptans, preventive medication, maybe a nerve pain prescription or two, and the pain still circles back.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block, often called an SPG block, targets a nerve cluster tucked deep behind the nose that plays a part in a lot of head and face pain. It’s a procedure Lazybrook patients turn to when routine headache and facial pain care hasn’t gotten the job done. At Catalyst Health & Wellness, Dr. Ho performs the block in clinic, with medical screening beforehand and monitoring afterward. Used for head and face pain, it’s an off-label option, meant to run alongside the care you already receive from your neurologist or headache specialist, not to take its place. Every patient responds differently..
What Is an SPG Block, Exactly?
The sphenopalatine ganglion is a small nerve bundle sitting deep behind your nose, inside a space called the pterygopalatine fossa. According to the American Migraine Foundation, it’s the largest nerve cluster in the head outside the brain, sitting at a busy junction of sensory and autonomic pathways tied to head and face pain.
An SPG block delivers a local anesthetic to that ganglion to quiet the signals moving through it. The usual approach is transnasal. Dr. Ho guides a slim, soft catheter through the nostril and places the anesthetic at the back of the nasal cavity, right at the ganglion. There’s no needle near the face with this method, and the procedure itself takes only a handful of minutes.
What the research points to:
What Our Patients Say
How an SPG Block Eases Pain
Think of the sphenopalatine ganglion as a control point for much of the feeling and involuntary activity in your face, sinuses, and the front of your skull. In many headache and facial pain conditions, that control point stays switched on, driving both the pain itself and the stuffy, watery-eyed, congested feeling that often tags along with a bad flare.
Quieting an Overworked Nerve Hub
By bathing the ganglion in local anesthetic, an SPG block briefly interrupts the signals traveling through it. For some patients, calming that center may help settle a pain pattern that's turned self-perpetuating. Because the anesthetic sits directly at the ganglion, the effect stays focused on the pathways tied to head and face pain rather than spreading through the whole body.
Interrupting the Pain and Reflex Loop
The sphenopalatine ganglion carries parasympathetic fibers, which explains why so many headaches arrive with a runny nose, watery eye, or facial pressure on the affected side. Quieting that reflex may ease both sides of the attack at once for some patients. Everyone reacts differently, and the block is meant to complement your existing care and make the rest of your treatment plan easier to build on.
Head and Face Pain We Evaluate for SPG Block
We evaluate sphenopalatine ganglion block for people whose head or face pain hasn’t improved with first-line treatment. Whether it’s a fit for 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 exploring our other options for migraine or chronic pain, Dr. Ho can talk through how a nerve block might fit alongside them. Our full sphenopalatine ganglion block program, including additional research and FAQs, is detailed on our main Houston page.
Your Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Journey at Catalyst Health & Wellness
Every step is clear, comfortable, and built 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 stretches back to 1908, and the technique has kept evolving since. A review published through the National Center for Biotechnology Information looked at how blocking the SPG affects acute migraine and related headache disorders, tracing the parasympathetic and trigeminal pathways involved in both the pain and the autonomic symptoms that often ride along with it. It points to encouraging support across migraine and cluster headache, while noting that more controlled research is still needed to settle the full picture.
A clinical resource from Barrow Neurological Institute describes the SPG block as a targeted procedure that delivers anesthetic to this nerve cluster to ease headache pain, and notes that outcomes depend heavily on accurate placement and careful patient selection.
What the evidence points to:
- The longest history and clearest support sits with cluster headache
- Encouraging evidence also exists in migraine and trigeminal neuralgia
- The procedure is minimally invasive, medication light, and repeatable
- Larger controlled trials are still needed across most uses
- Careful candidate selection and monitoring shape the outcome
That’s a fair snapshot of where the evidence stands: long used, encouraging, and still under active study. Part of your consultation is Dr. Ho walking you through that research and whether it applies to your particular pattern of pain.
Why Choose Catalyst Health & Wellness for SPG Block
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 require. You're cared for by a physician who performs blocks routinely and knows how to keep you comfortable and safe from start to finish.
02
Precise Transnasal Technique
The common SPG approach delivers anesthetic through the nostril rather than a needle into the face. Dr. Ho’s patient-unhurried technique is aimed at accurate placement and your comfort during a brief, awake procedure.
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’re glad to coordinate with your neurologist, headache specialist, or primary care physician so your care stays connected.
04
Extended Hours and Flexible Scheduling
Pain doesn’t wait for convenient timing, so we keep hours from 5am to 9pm, seven days a week, making the drive west on I-10 easier to work into a busy 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 in Lazybrook
You’ve lived with head or face pain long enough to be done with half measures. A sphenopalatine ganglion block, just under two miles from Heights (104 W. 12th Street, 77008), is simple to explore and understand.
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 a straight read on whether an SPG block makes sense. No pressure, no charge, and everything stays confidential.
Lazybrook sits within the City of Houston’s Super Neighborhood 14 planning area, and our nearest clinics keep hours from 5 am to 9 pm every day, so care fits your schedule. 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 a well-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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