Our Approach to Migraine Relief and Occipital Neuralgia Treatment

Understanding Your Migraines
Migraines are intense, often one-sided headaches that can last from 4 to 72 hours. Symptoms include throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound. Chronic migraines—15 or more headache days per month—can severely impact daily life and may not respond well to standard medications over time.

Occipital neuralgia, on the other hand, is caused by irritated or compressed nerves in the back of the head and neck. It leads to sharp, stabbing pain, sometimes with numbness or tenderness in the scalp. Though similar to migraines, it requires a different treatment approach.


Our Approach to Care
Patients who suffer from chronic head and facial pain usually experience a complex set of symptoms. Our underlying philosophy is that headaches and their management are very complex. While surgery may be a great answer for many, it may not be for others. 

We are proud to be on the cutting edge of migraine and occipital neuralgia treatment with advanced procedures that provide lasting relief. Our treatment options for migraines and occipital neuralgia fall into four main categories: medication, lifestyle changes, non-invasive techniques such as Botox® injections, and nerve decompression surgery.

How
We Can
Help

See What’s Possible Beyond Temporary Relief

Our cutting-edge procedures have helped transform the lives of thousands of patients. Hear their stories: 

How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story
How To Treat Headaches From Occipital Neuralgia: Greg's Story
Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story
Surgical Solution for Occipital Neuralgia | Scott's Story
Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident
Jose's Story: Occipital Neuralgia Following Car Accident
Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia
Michael's Story - Occipital Neuralgia

How To Get Rid of Your Migraines

Am I a Candidate for Occipital Neuralgia Treatment?

You may be a candidate for occipital neuralgia treatment if you:
  • Continue to struggle with chronic headaches despite medication or other conservative therapies
  • Experience pain that begins in the neck and radiates to the back of the head or scalp
  • Have been formally diagnosed with occipital neuralgia
  • Have completed a recent brain MRI (within the last 2 years)
  • Have tried an occipital nerve block and experienced relief, even temporarily
  • Want to explore advanced options like Botox® injections or nerve decompression surgery for longer-lasting relief
Want to explore your options for migraine and occipital neuralgia treatment?

About The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction

The Institute is a premier destination for patients seeking lasting relief from migraines and occipital neuralgia. Our surgeons specialize in advanced treatments that help patients reduce or even eliminate chronic pain that once disrupted their lives. People who believed they were out of options now travel from across the country and around the world to our centers in New York City and Red Bank, New Jersey, to find hope and healing.

What sets us apart is our focus on results and quality of life. We use advanced diagnostic testing to uncover the true cause of your headaches, then create a tailored treatment plan that matches your unique condition. With a track record of helping patients achieve significant, long-term relief, The Institute continues to set the standard for advanced headache care.

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Multiple Offices Conveniently Located Across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Atlantic City
1128 Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
Bluffton
139 Garau Street
Bluffton, Ohio 45817
Brick
74 Brick Boulevard
Building 4, Suite 205
Brick, New Jersey 08723
Bridgewater-Greymark
1200 US Route 22 East
Suite 19
Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807
The Greymark Building
Cape May Court House
106 Court House South Dennis Road
Building 200, Suite 200
Cape May Court House, New Jersey 08210
East Brunswick
192 Summer Hill Road
Suite 201
East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816
East Windsor
300B Princeton-Hightstown Road
Suite 101
East Windsor, New Jersey 08512
Edison
80 James Street
2nd Floor
Edison, New Jersey 08820
Egg Harbor Township
4096 English Creek Ave
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey 08234
Flemington
194 NJ-31
Pavilion 2, Suite 102
Flemington, New Jersey 08822
Florham Park
83 Hanover Road
Suite 260
Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
Forked River
730 Lacey Road
Lacey Township, New Jersey 08731
Fort Lauderdale
2320 N.E. 9th Street
Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304
Freehold
3499 Route 9 North
Suite 1A
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
Juniper Business Plaza
Gahanna
1080 Beecher Crossing N
Suite A
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
Hackensack
20 Prospect Ave
Suite 903, 9th Floor
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Hackettstown
57 Route 46E
Suite 201
Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840
Hammonton
219 N. White Horse Pike
Suite 104
Hammonton, New Jersey 08037
Hopewell
1 Capital Way
Suite 390
Pennington, New Jersey 08534
Capital Health Hopewell
Houston
9230 Katy Fwy
Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77055
Lehigh Valley
1401 Fairmont Street
Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052
Linwood
222 New Road
Building 6, Suite 603
Linwood, New Jersey 08221
Livingston
22 Old Short Hills Road
Suite 202
Livingston, New Jersey 07039
Los Angeles
200 Medical Plaza
Suite 460
Los Angeles, California 90095
Manahawkin
517 NJ-72
Suite K
Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
Marlton
11 Eves Drive
Suite 170
Marlton, New Jersey 08053
Maywood
113 W. Essex Street
Suite 204
Maywood, New Jersey 07607
McKinney
4510 Medical Center Drive
Suite 202
McKinney, Texas 75069
Located on Medical City McKinney Campus
Montclair
Mountainside Medical Center (Inside Harries Pavilion) 1 Bay Avenue
Suite 4
Glen Ridge, New Jersey 07028
Mountainside Medical Center – Inside Harries Pavilion
Montgomery
700 W Germantown Pike
Suite 200
East Norriton, Pennsylvania 19403
Neptune City
19 Davis Avenue
7th Floor
Neptune City, New Jersey 07753
HMH Jersey Shore University Medical Center
New Orleans
1717 St. Charles Avenue
Rear Entrance
New Orleans , Louisiana 70130
New York City
635 Madison Ave
14th Floor
New York City, New York 10022
North Bergen
7650 River Road
Suite 240
North Bergen, New Jersey 07047
Paramus
305 Route 17 South
Suite 3-100A
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
Phoenixville
826 Main Street
Suite 203
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460
Plano
3801 W. 15th Street
Suite 150B
Plano, Texas 75075
Red Bank
331 Newman Springs Road
Building 2 - First Floor, Suite 200
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701
Richardson
3201 E. President George Bush Hwy
Suite 101
Richardson, Texas 75082
Ridgewood
1124 East Ridgewood Ave
Suite 201
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Rockland County
257 Lafayette Ave
Suite 200
Suffern, New York 10901
Rockwall
1407 Ridge Road
Suite 101
Rockwall, Texas 75087
Roseville
1 Medical Plaza
Roseville, California 95661
San Antonio
9635 Huebner Road
San Antonio, Texas 78240
San Antonio
540 Madison Oaks
Suite 600
San Antonio, Texas 78258
San Francisco
45 Castro Street
Suite 121
San Francisco, California 94114
Somerset
35 Clyde Road
Suite 104
Somerset, New Jersey 08873
Miami
6200 Sunset Drive
Suite 402
South Miami, Florida 33143
Springfield
100 West Main Street
Springfield, Ohio 45502
Tinton Falls
1 Executive Drive
Suite 4
Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07701
Toledo
129 Clinton Street
Maumee, Ohio 43537
Union
950 West Chestnut St
Suite 102
Union, New Jersey 07083
Wayne
2055 Hamburg Turnpike
Wayne, New Jersey 07470
Westwood
260 Old Hook Road
Suite 304
Westwood, New Jersey 07675
Please use the east entrance upon arrival.
Woodlands
18354 I-45
Suite 300
Shenandoah, Texas 77384

Frequently
Asked
Questions

What is occipital neuralgia?

In occipital neuralgia, the occipital nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp are injured or inflamed, which is what causes the painful headache symptoms. In addition to pain, these headache sufferers can feel tenderness or diminished sensation around the nerve area.

What is the difference between occipital neuralgia and migraine headaches?

While occipital neuralgia causes a jabbing pain in the area of the occipital nerve, migraines are characterized by recurrent headaches lasting 4-72 hours. Occipital neuralgia causes similar problems to migraine headaches, but may respond very differently to certain forms of treatment. Neurologists and other headache specialists sometimes have difficulty diagnosing the headache condition as one or the other, and there may be overlap in the classification. The bottom line is that there are 28 million migraine sufferers in the United States, one-third of whom find little or no benefit from traditional medical therapies.

What are the differences in treatment for the two conditions?
Both occipital neuralgia and migraine headaches are initially treated with medication in an attempt to reduce symptoms and prevent their reoccurrence. Unfortunately, many medical approaches stop working over time. In addition, often these medications have side effects that can disrupt patient’s lives in unpleasant ways. Botox® injections can be helpful in treating both types of headaches, depending on each patient’s specific condition, and are particularly helpful for occipital neuralgia.
What surgical options are available for these types of headaches?
If patients benefit from Botox® therapy, Nerve Decompression Surgery is offered as a permanent way of reducing or eliminating headaches. This treatment is available at only a limited number of locations in the United States, with The Institute of Advanced Reconstruction being one of them. We have been performing this surgery since 2005 with tremendous success, especially in patients with occipital neuralgia.
Can you describe Nerve Decompression Surgery?
This surgery involves a minimally invasive approach to the nerves in the head and neck region that cause or contribute to headache symptoms. The nerve sites are relieved when the surgeon removes muscle, tissue lining, and blood vessels from the areas in which the nerves travel. Multiple trigger point sites can safely be addressed in one procedure. The number of locations on which to operate depends on each patient’s symptoms, and in which locations Botox® therapy has been effective.
Is Nerve Decompression Surgery successful in reducing symptoms?
Some of our patients have essentially been “cured” of their condition. This means they no longer need medical therapy and rarely, if ever, have a headache. Though each case varies, if you suffer from occipital neuralgia, there is a good chance your symptoms would be helped by either Botox® or surgery.
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