EE03,

There IS one procedure that WILL kill the nerve permanently and for the life of me I can't remember the name of it. But 10 years ago or so the PM I had at the time mentioned this to me but also WARNED me I would have permanent numbness. At the time I was almost ready to go for it but as he said, patients that proceed with this sometimes wish they had the pain back because the permanent numbness drove them nuts! I just wish I could remember the name of the procedure.

The nerve blocks you and I and others have had are NOT the same thing. As you said, they are not permanent and wear off. I still get injections but not occipital ones; mainly FACET injections at the C2/C3 (at times) and/or SNI's on very rare occasions (think I have had maybe 3 in 10 years).

Anyway, long story short and going back to this permanent procedure, I opted out!! I also opted out of any RF's ONLY because I had already been told I would need a fusion (actually turned out to be two fusions).