Atypical Odontalgia: A Troublesome Problem Might Have A Simple Solution.

Atypical Odontalgia, often called atypical facial pain, phantom tooth pain or neuropathic tooth pain can be a nightmare for both patients and dentists. It is often considered to be a psychiatric problem due to somatization disorder or an idiopathic disorder but neither of these constitute an actual diagnosis. Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia is the diagnosis sometimes given but that is also a …

Sinus Arrest Treated by Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block.

A article from Headache (abstract below) details how a Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block used to treat pain of postherpetic neuralgia and coincidentally stopped bradycardia associated with sinus arrest. It was assumed that treating the pain was the reason the sinus arrest was corrected but it is possible it was a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system. While generally SPG Blocks …

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Stimulation: 50 Years of Safety and Efficacy

The concept of doing Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks is over 100 years old and was first described by Sluder in 1908 for Sluder’s Neuralgia.  Current thinking is what Sluder described was Cluster Headache, Autonomic Cephalgias or Temporomandibular disorders including trigeminal neuralgia. There is a long history of safety with these blocks and many means of delivering them. Dentists and ENT’s are …

Bilateral sphenopalatine ganglion block reduces blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension

I have been utilizing bilateral SPG Blocks to treat TMJ pain, MPD, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Tension Headaches, Migraine Headaches, Dluster Headaches and Fibromyalgia.  SPG Blocks can be used to reverse central sensitization and can serve as a replacement for a host of medications utilized for headaches, anxiety, depression, neuralgias not only saving reources but also reducing harmful side effects. This …

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks: Are these Autonomic Blocks the Answer to Reduced Sexual Desire. Self-Administration of SPG Blocks is Key!

I routinely utilize Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks or SPG Blocks to treat patients with chronic pain issues. These include TMJ disorders, headaches, migraines, myofascial pain and dysfunction, anxiety, panic attacks and other problems associated with Autonomic Sympathetic Overload.  While there are numerous methods of delivering SPG Blocks my preferred method is a cotton-tipped continual feed nasal catheter.  The results are similar …

Trigeminal Neuralgia: First Line Approach with SPG Blocks Can Be Safe and Effective

Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) has been called the Suicide Disease. The medical community typically considers  carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine as First Line Treatment.   I suggest that for many patients Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks are a far safer and offer a far more effective first line approach to addressing Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) without a multitude of medication side effects.  Side effects of Carbamazepine (Tegretol) and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) …

Miracles on Park Avenue: Dr Milton Reder

This is the obituary of Dr Milton Reder who the book “Miracles on Park Avenue” was written about. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but his work changed my life and the lives of many of my patients.  There are other articles about this remarkable giant in pain management. I read the book “Miracles on Park Avenue” after …

SPG Stimulation: Neuromodulation with Myomonitor has a 50 Year Safety Record

Neuromodulation of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion with Electric Stimulation is an important new therapy for autonomic disorders including autonomic cephalias and can also be used to treat depression, anxiety and PTSD in addition to many chronic pain problems.  Chronic intractable migraine is experienced by 2-4% of the global population. The Myomonitor, a ULF-TENS has been used safely for over 50 years …

Doctors Discuss SPG Blocks: Their First Personal Experience with Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks.

I recently taught a course in Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks in Seattle Washington to Neuromuscular Dentists. After the 90 minute lecture close to 100 doctors and their teams lined up to have SPG Blocks. This first Video is a dentist who has been in pain most of her life. She does not remember even a single day where she was out …

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block: a Safe and Easy Method for the Management of Orofacial pain. Lidocaine SPG Blocks

I have been teaching self administration of SPG Blocks for over 30 years as an effective, patient friendly method of controlling orofacial pain, migraines, cluster headaches, tension headaches, sinus headaches, anxiety and many other common problems. I just came across this article from over 20 years ago endorsing this great technique. The Sphenopalatine Ganglion is also known as the Nasal …