Auriculotemporal Nerve Block

Chronic temporal (*the side of our skull), auricular (*external ear), headaches, and TMJ (*upper jaw) pain are common complaints in patients with conditions which include, but are not limited to TMJ disorder(s), headache disorder(s), ATN (*auriculotemporal neuralgia), neuropathic conditions, failed surgery, and those who failed to qualify as surgical candidates. However, this chronic pain can be treated with excellent precision & efficacy through blocking the pain signals in the area. These pain signals travel across the sensory auriculotemporal nerve. Therefore our clinic offers a procedure known as Auriculotemporal Nerve Block: a short 10-15 minute procedure where we can effectively target these auriculotemporal nerves with our injectable anesthetic and steroid medications which can thereby substantially reduce the pain of those suffering from chronic temporal, auricular, and TMJ pain.
What To Expect From Your Procedure
You will arrive at our clinic 15 minutes prior to your appointment with or without a designated driver where we will educate you at length on the benefits & risks of the procedure. After this discussion we will then have you sign a consent form and you will subsequently be positioned in preparation for the procedure.

An antiseptic alcohol solution will then be used to clean the site of injection & surrounding skin to help decrease chances of infection. The procedure site will then be identified under ultrasound guidance. Once the site is appropriately identified an injection of a numbing medication called lidocaine will be administered to numb the site of injection & surrounding skin. Once the lidocaine has settled the auriculotemporal nerve will receive an injection cocktail consisting of an anesthetic (bupivacaine) and a steroid (kenalog). This cocktail disperses and bathes the nerves providing optimal pain relief with most of our patients reporting significant & immediate relief of their chronic temporal, auricular, headaches, and TMJ pain. You will then be observed for an additional 10-15 minutes following completion of the procedure to ensure your safety and then scheduled for post-procedural follow up by our staff.

What To Expect After Procedure
● Substantial reduction in pain of the affected area
● Pain relief ranging from days to months
● Acute short term mild swelling or pain around the injection site

Risks Associated With Auriculotemporal Nerve Block
● Misplacement of the needle
● Unexpected bleeding
● Drug allergies
● Infection
● Nerve damage
● Worsening pain

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