A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in West University Place: A Targeted Nerve Block for Migraine and Facial Pain
A minimally invasive, nonopioid procedure for stubborn head and facial pain, performed by Dr. Ho, a board-certified anesthesiologist. Convenient Houston area locations, open 5 am to 9 pm, seven days a week.
When Head and Facial Pain Refuses to Quit
You already know the routine. The migraine that wrecks an entire afternoon. The cluster headache that shows up right on schedule and brings you to your knees. The facial nerve pain that flares from nothing more than a cool breeze or a sip of coffee. You’ve read through groups near West University Place like the American Migraine Foundation, tried the triptans and preventives, and the pain still finds its way home.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block, or SPG block, targets a nerve cluster tucked behind the nose that plays a central role in a lot of head and facial pain. Patients near West University Place often pursue it once standard headache and facial pain management hasn’t gotten them far enough. At Catalyst Health & Wellness, Dr. Ho performs the procedure in the office, with medical screening beforehand and monitoring afterward. Used for head and facial pain, it’s an off-label option meant to work alongside the care you already receive from your neurologist or headache specialist, not to replace it. Responses differ from patient to patient.
What Is an SPG Block, Exactly?
The sphenopalatine ganglion is a compact bundle of nerve tissue resting deep behind the nose, inside a space called the pterygopalatine fossa. It ranks as the largest nerve cell cluster in the head outside the brain, sitting at a busy junction of sensory and autonomic fibers connected to head and facial pain.
Doctors have targeted this ganglion for head and facial pain for well over a hundred years, going back to Dr. Sluder’s original description in 1908. It’s a long-standing anesthetic nerve block. Used for headache and facial pain, it’s considered an off-label option, meaning it isn’t FDA-approved for these specific conditions. Dr. Ho walks you through what that means for your situation during your consultation.
What the research points to:
What Our Patients Say
How Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Works
Think of the sphenopalatine ganglion as a switchboard for much of the sensation and autonomic activity across your face, sinuses, and the front of your head. In many headache and facial pain conditions, that switchboard stays stuck in the on position, driving both the pain itself and the stuffy, watery-eyed, congested feeling that so 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 switchboard may help settle a pain pattern that has become self-sustaining. Since the anesthetic sits right at the ganglion, the effect stays focused on the pathways tied to head and facial 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 designed 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 facial pain hasn’t responded well to first-line care. Whether it’s right 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 walk through how a nerve block might fit in. For a deeper look at how the procedure works, our full sphenopalatine ganglion block guide covers the technique, the science, and what to expect step by step.
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 Research Behind Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
Interest in the sphenopalatine ganglion for head and facial pain stretches back to 1908, and the techniques involved have kept advancing since. A 2025 review published through the National Center for Biotechnology Information examined SPG block across a range of headache and facial pain disorders. It reported the strongest backing for cluster headache, along with encouraging evidence in migraine and trigeminal neuralgia, and noted that larger controlled trials are still needed to firm up these findings.
A closer look at the clinical evidence shows a technique that has been refined for well over a century, is generally well tolerated, and continues to draw research interest across multiple types of head and facial pain, even as larger trials work to settle some open questions.
Key findings from the research:
- Cluster headache has the deepest research history
- 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 candidate selection and monitoring shape the outcome
That’s a fair snapshot of where the evidence currently stands: widely used for decades, encouraging, and still being refined. Part of your consultation is Dr. Ho’s perspective on that research and how 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 brings deep training in nerve blocks and the exact technique these procedures demand. You're in the hands of a physician who performs blocks routinely and knows how to keep you comfortable and safe throughout.
02
Precise Transnasal Technique
The standard SPG technique places anesthetic through the nostril instead of a needle into the face. Dr. Ho’s careful, deliberate approach aims for precise placement and your comfort during an awake procedure that takes only 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’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 West University Place
You’ve lived with head or facial pain long enough to be done with half measures. A sphenopalatine ganglion block is one more focused option worth understanding, and many residents look for the best sphenopalatine ganglion block clinic near West University Place before making a decision.
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 SPG block makes sense. No pressure, no charge, and everything stays confidential.
With multiple Houston area locations near West University Place and hours from 5 am to 9 pm every day, we make it simple 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 a long-standing 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 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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