The supraorbital nerve emerges at the rim of the eye socket, just above the eyebrow, and supplies the forehead. When headache sits in the forehead, particularly above one eyebrow, that nerve is often where it is coming from. A block places an injection near it.
It acts quickly. Relief can begin within minutes, and it can last weeks. How long it lasts is useful in itself: it is what the decision to repeat is based on.
What it treats
Headache concentrated in the forehead. Typically above one eyebrow, sometimes with tenderness at a single point on the brow bone that reproduces the pain when pressed.
Some migraines. Where the pain pattern points to this nerve rather than elsewhere. The response to the block is part of how that is established.
Which category you are in is worked out at the consultation from your headache history, where the pain sits, and an examination of the area. It is not decided from a description over the phone.
What a session is like
You sit or lie back. The skin above the eyebrow is cleaned, the notch where the nerve emerges is found by feel, and the injection is placed just above it. It is over in under a minute.
- Session length
- About 15 minutes, and about 30 for a first visit with the assessment.
- Sensation
- A sharp sting for a moment. The forehead is a sensitive area.
- Onset
- Relief can begin within minutes.
- How long it lasts
- Days to several weeks. It varies a great deal between people.
- Cadence
- Repeated based on how long relief lasts, rather than on a fixed interval.
- Downtime
- None. Numbness across the forehead for a few hours is expected. A small bruise above the eyebrow for a day or two is common.
Before, during and after
This is the protocol we follow. Open any of these to read it before booking, or again the week of your appointment.
Common questions
How quickly does it work?
Relief can begin within minutes. The forehead usually goes numb for a few hours, and the headache can briefly return as that numbness wears off. Where a longer-acting component is included, its effect builds over a few days, so the first day is not the whole picture.
How long does it last?
It varies, from days to several weeks. The duration is not incidental information. It is used to decide when, or whether, to repeat the block, so noting the date it wore off is one of the more useful things you can do afterwards.
How often can it be repeated?
Based on how long relief lasted rather than on a fixed calendar. If a block holds for six weeks the interval follows that. If it holds for a few days, that is worth knowing too, and it usually changes the plan rather than simply repeating the same thing sooner.
Does it hurt?
Briefly. The needle is fine and the injection is over in under a minute, though the forehead is a sensitive area and most people feel a sharp sting at the moment it goes in. A small bruise above the eyebrow for a day or two is common, and it is the one place a bruise is harder to hide, which is worth factoring into timing.
Will my eyelid be affected?
The numbness sits across the forehead and the upper eyelid area on that side, so the skin there can feel odd for a few hours. That is expected. An eyelid that droops, or any change in vision, is not, and should be reported straight away.
What is in the injection?
What goes into the block is decided at the visit, from your history and what the block is for. It is set out in the care instructions and gone through with you before anything is done, including the points that matter if you have diabetes.
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not establish a physician-patient relationship, and it cannot account for your individual history, medications or skin. Suitability for treatment is decided at consultation following examination.