A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in Memorial: A Targeted Nerve Block for Migraine and Facial Pain
A minimally invasive, nonopioid nerve block for lingering head and facial pain, performed by Dr. Ho, a board-certified anesthesiologist. Three Houston area locations, open 5 am to 9 pm daily.
When Facial and Head Pain Keeps Coming Back
You know the routine. A migraine that steals your afternoon. A cluster headache that drops you to the floor on schedule. Facial nerve pain that flares from something as small as wind or cold food. You have tried triptans, preventives, and nerve medication, yet the pain finds its way back. The American Migraine Foundation offers a deeper look at how this nerve hub factors into recurring headache and facial pain, and Memorial area residents can find neighborhood details on the City of Houston’s Super Neighborhood 16 – Memorial.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block, or SPG block, targets a nerve hub positioned deep behind the nose that plays a part in a great deal of head and facial pain. Some Memorial area patients pursue it once standard headache and facial pain care has not gone far enough. 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 is an off-label option, meant to work alongside the care you already receive from your neurologist or headache specialist, not to take its place. Individual responses differ.
What Is an SPG Block, Exactly?
The sphenopalatine ganglion is a compact bundle of nerve cells resting deep behind your nose, inside a space known as the pterygopalatine fossa. It ranks as the largest cluster of nerve cells found in the head outside the brain, sitting at a busy junction of sensory and autonomic nerves connected to head and facial pain.
An SPG block places a local anesthetic against that ganglion to quiet the signals moving through it. UCSF’s Pain Management Education program calls the transnasal route the simplest, least invasive method. Dr. Ho guides a thin, flexible catheter through the nostril and delivers the anesthetic to the rear of the nasal cavity, where the ganglion sits. No needle enters the face, and the procedure takes only a handful of minutes.
What the research points to:
What Our Patients Say
How This Nerve Block Calms
Think of the sphenopalatine ganglion as a control switch for much of the sensation and autonomic function across your face, sinuses, and forehead. In many headache and facial pain conditions, that switch stays stuck in the on position, driving both the pain itself and the stuffy nose, watery eye, or facial pressure that so often rides along with a bad flare.
Quieting an Overworked Nerve Hub
By coating the ganglion in local anesthetic, an SPG block briefly shuts down the signals traveling through it. For certain patients, calming that hub may help settle a pain cycle that has become self-reinforcing. Since the anesthetic lands directly at the ganglion, the effect stays concentrated on the pathways tied to head and facial pain instead of spreading through the whole body.
Interrupting the Pain and Reflex Loop
The sphenopalatine ganglion carries parasympathetic fibers, which explains why so many headaches arrive paired with a runny nose, a watery eye, or facial pressure on one side. Interrupting that loop may calm both pieces together for some patients. Because everyone reacts differently, the block is built to support your existing treatment plan and make the next steps easier to build on.
Head and Face Pain We Evaluate for SPG Block
We evaluate sphenopalatine ganglion block for Memorial patients whose head or facial pain resists first-line care. Whether it fits your case depends on your diagnosis, history, and 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 are already exploring our other options for chronic pain, Dr. Ho can walk you through how a nerve block might fit alongside them. SPG block also pairs well with stellate ganglion block, and area residents can find neighborhood details on the Memorial page hosted by the City of Houston.
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 Clinical Research Behind This Nerve Block
Interest in the sphenopalatine ganglion for head and facial pain traces back to 1908, and the methods used to reach it have kept advancing since. A recent narrative review published on PubMed Central examined SPG block alongside radiofrequency ablation and neurostimulation across several head and facial pain disorders. It reported the firmest support for cluster headache, alongside encouraging evidence in migraine and trigeminal neuralgia, and noted that larger controlled trials are still needed to settle these techniques further.
A separate clinical review indexed on PubMed describes SPG blockade as a safe and effective option for chronic headache disorders including cluster headache and migraine, while noting that image-guided technique and patient selection continue to shape outcomes.
Key research takeaways:
- The longest track record and firmest support sits with cluster headache
- Encouraging evidence also exists for migraine and trigeminal neuralgia
- The technique is minimally invasive, nonopioid, and repeatable
- Larger randomized trials remain necessary across most applications
- Patient selection and clinical monitoring shape how well it performs
That is an honest snapshot of where the evidence currently stands: long used, encouraging, and still under active study. Part of your consultation is Dr. Ho walking you through exactly how that research applies to your particular pattern of pain.
Why Memorial Patients Trust Catalyst Health & Wellness for Care
01
Led by Dr. Ho, Anesthesiology Expertise
As a board-certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Ho brings deep training in nerve block procedures and the exact technique they demand. You are treated by a physician who performs blocks routinely and knows how to keep you safe and comfortable throughout.
02
Precise Transnasal Technique
The common SPG approach delivers anesthetic through the nostril rather than a needle into the face. Dr. Ho’s deliberate, patient technique is focused on precise placement and your comfort during a brief, awake procedure.
03
A Whole Person Approach
We care for people, not only symptoms. Starting with your first phone call, we work to understand your complete picture, and we are glad to coordinate with your neurologist, headache specialist, or primary care physician so your treatment 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 an SPG Block in Memorial
You have had head or facial pain long enough to be done with partial fixes. A sphenopalatine ganglion block is another focused option worth learning about, and our Heights location sits closest to home for Memorial patients.
Call us at (713) 772-5315 for your free, no-obligation phone consultation. We will answer your questions, walk through your history and symptoms, and give you a candid read on whether an SPG block makes sense. No pressure, no charge, and everything stays private.
With three Houston area locations and hours running 5 am to 9 pm every day, reaching care when you actually need it stays simple. Dr. Ho and the clinical team are ready for every step you take.
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 facial pain conditions such as migraine, cluster headache, and facial nerve pain, it is an off-label option and carries no FDA approval 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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