A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in Missouri City: A Targeted Nerve Block for Migraine and Facial Pain
A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure for stubborn head and face pain, led by Dr. Ho, a board-certified anesthesiologist. Missouri City residents can reach three nearby Houston locations, open 5 am to 9 pm daily.
When Migraine and Facial Pain Refuse to Quit
You know this cycle all too well. The migraine that wipes out an entire afternoon. The cluster headache that strikes at the same hour and buckles your knees. The facial nerve pain that flares from a gust of wind or a bite of cold food. You have likely tried triptans, preventive medication, or one of the nerve pain options the American Migraine Foundation lists, and the pain still finds its way back.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block, sometimes called SPG block, targets a nerve cluster resting deep behind the nose that contributes to a great deal of head and face discomfort. It is a procedure some patients pursue once standard headache and facial pain management has fallen short. At Catalyst Health & Wellness, Dr. Ho carries out the block in the office, following medical screening and with monitoring afterward. Missouri City patients can review the same procedure offered at our Houston location for more detail, and residents can confirm local health resources through the City of Missouri City. Used for head and face pain, it remains an off-label option meant to work alongside your neurologist or headache specialist, not replace that care.
Understanding the Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
The sphenopalatine ganglion is a compact nerve cluster tucked behind your nasal passage, inside a space known as the pterygopalatine fossa. It ranks as the largest group of nerve cells found in the head outside the brain, and it sits at a busy junction of sensory and autonomic fibers connected to head and face discomfort.
An SPG block delivers a local anesthetic directly to that ganglion to calm the signals moving through it. The most frequent approach is transnasal. Dr. Ho threads a slim, flexible catheter through the nostril and places the anesthetic at the back of the nasal cavity, right at the ganglion. No needle touches the face with this method, and the procedure itself lasts only a few minutes.
Physicians have targeted this nerve cluster for head and face discomfort for well over a century, dating back to Dr. Sluder’s original description in 1908. It stands as an established anesthetic nerve block. Used for headache and facial pain, it is treated as an off-label option, meaning it is not FDA-approved for these specific conditions. Dr. Ho will walk through what that means for your case during your visit.
What the research points to:
What Our Patients Say
How the Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Works
Picture 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 overactive, driving both the pain and the stuffy, watery-eyed, congested sensation that so often rides along with a bad flare.
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 settle a pain pattern that has become self-perpetuating. Because the anesthetic sits right 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. Interrupting that cycle may ease both parts at once for some patients. Everyone responds differently, and the block is meant to support your existing care and make the rest of your treatment plan easier to build on.
Head and Face Pain: We Evaluate for Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
We evaluate sphenopalatine ganglion block for people whose head or face pain has not responded well to first-line care. 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 are already exploring our other options for migraine or facial pain, Dr. Ho can talk through how a nerve block might fit alongside them. SPG block can also complement 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 the Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
Interest in the sphenopalatine ganglion for migraine and facial pain has grown steadily as clinicians look for options beyond daily medication. An instructional overview published in the American Journal of Interventional Radiology describes SPG blockade as a safe, effective option for treating and preventing migraine, alongside patient selection guidance and procedural steps for clinicians who perform the block.
A separate clinical review indexed on PubMed Central examined SPG block for acute migraine and noted that many standard treatments fall short for a meaningful share of patients, which is part of why interest in nerve-targeted options continues to expand.
Key research findings:
- The longest track record and strongest support sits with cluster headache
- Encouraging evidence exists in migraine and trigeminal neuralgia
- The procedure is minimally invasive, nonopioid, and repeatable
- Larger controlled trials are still needed across most uses
- Candidate selection and clinical monitoring shape the outcome
That is an honest picture of where the evidence stands today: encouraging, established for decades, and still being refined. Part of your consultation is Dr. Ho’s read on how that evidence applies to your specific pain.
Why Chooses Catalyst Health & Wellness for Sphenopalatine Ganglion 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 are cared for by a physician who performs blocks routinely and understands how to keep you comfortable and safe from start to finish.
02
Precise Transnasal Technique
The common SPG approach places anesthetic through the nostril rather than a needle into the face. Dr. Ho’s careful, patient technique focuses on 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 are glad to coordinate with your neurologist, headache specialist, or primary care physician so your care stays connected.
04
Extended Hours and Flexible Scheduling
Head and face pain does not keep office hours, and neither do we. All three Houston area locations stay open 5 am to 9 pm, seven days a week, so you can find a time that fits 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 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 SPG Care Near Missouri City
You have lived with head or face pain long enough to be tired of partial fixes. Our nearest location sits about 8 miles from Missouri City, and finding out whether an SPG block fits you is simple.
Call us at (713) 772-5315 for your free, no-obligation phone consultation. We will 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 area locations and hours from 5 am to 9 pm every day, Missouri City residents can find care that fits their 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 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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