Abstract Background Peripheral nerve block (PNB) is usually performed in patients with migraine who are resistant to treatment with medications. Objective To compare the efficacy of PNB alone and PNB combined with prophylactic medications in migraine patients. Method The data on migraine patients who underwent PNB in our clinic between November 2019 and January 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Blocks of the greater occipital nerve (GON), lesser occipital nerve (LON) and supraorbital nerve (SON) were performed upon admission and in the second week. Results The study included 116 patients. While 21 out of 39 episodic migraine (EM) patients continued to use prophylactic medications, 18 were followed up with PNB alone. While 49 out of 77 chronic migraine (CM) patients continued to use prophylactic medications, 28 were followed up with PNB alone. Comparison of the admission and second-month data of the patients who only underwent PNB and those who continued the drug treatment together with PNB in both the EM and the CM group showed that the number of days with pain, number of analgesics taken and scores on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) were significantly reduced in both groups (p < 0.01). Comparison of the second-month data of the patients followed up with PNB alone and those followed up with PNB together with prophylactic medications showed that there was no significant difference between the EM and CM patients (p > 0.05). Conclusion Bilateral GON, LON and SON block with lidocaine injection seems to be an effective treatment on its own, without the need for prophylactic medications, in both EM and CM patients during a two-month follow-up.

Resumo Antecedentes O bloqueio de nervos periféricos (BNP) geralmente é realizado em pacientes com migrânea resistentes ao tratamento medicamentoso. Objetivo Comparar a eficácia do BNP isolado e do BNP combinado com medicamentos profiláticos em pacientes com enxaqueca. Método Os dados de pacientes com enxaqueca submetidos a BNP em nossa clínica entre novembro de 2019 e janeiro de 2022 foram revisados retrospectivamente. Bloqueios do nervo occipital maior (NOM), nervo occipital menor (NOM) e nervo supraorbital (NSO) foram realizados na admissão e na segunda semana. Resultados O estudo incluiu 116 pacientes. Enquanto 21 dos 39 pacientes com enxaqueca episódica (EE) continuaram a usar medicamentos profiláticos, 18 foram acompanhados apenas com BNP. Enquanto 49 dos 77 pacientes com enxaqueca crônica (EC) continuaram a usar medicamentos profiláticos, 28 foram acompanhados apenas com BNP. A comparação dos dados de admissão e do segundo mês dos pacientes que fizeram apenas BNP e daqueles que continuaram o tratamento medicamentoso junto com BNP, tanto no grupo EE quanto no grupo EC, mostrou que o número de dias com dor, o número de analgésicos tomados e os escores da Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) e da Avaliação da Incapacidade da Enxaqueca (AIE) foram significativamente reduzidos em ambos os grupos (p < 0,01). A comparação dos dados do segundo mês dos pacientes acompanhados apenas com BNP e aqueles acompanhados com BNP juntamente com medicações profiláticas mostrou que não houve diferença significativa entre os pacientes EE e EC (p > 0,05). Conclusão O bloqueio bilateral de NOM, NOM e NSO com injeção de lidocaína parece ser um tratamento eficaz por si só, sem a necessidade de medicamentos profiláticos, tanto em pacientes EE quanto com EC durante um seguimento de dois meses.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Peripheral nerve blockage treatments reduce central sensitization and are effective in patients with migraine. We wanted to evaluate the efficacy of peripheral nerve blockage in patients with fibromyalgia and migraine whose etiology may be responsible for central sensitization, and their associations are common. METHODS: The files of patients with chronic migraine who had peripheral nerve blockage treatment in our clinic and had fibromyalgia were scanned. The patients underwent bilateral great occipital nerve, lesser occipital nerve, and supraorbital nerve blockage at baseline and in the second week. The revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Migraine Disability Assessment Scale, Visual Analog Scale scores, the number of days in pain, and the number of analgesics taken in the last month were recorded. RESULTS: In the third month, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Migraine Disability Assessment Scale, and Visual Analog Scale scores were significantly lower from baseline. While Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores in the third month were significantly lower than in the first month, no significant difference was observed between Visual Analog Scale scores. In the third month, the number of days in pain and the number of analgesics taken in the last month was significantly lower than the baseline but higher than the first month. CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerve blockage has been found to be an effective treatment for the symptoms of both diseases in patients with migraine and fibromyalgia coexistence.