Treatment with a GON block

The preparation

The block consists of a corticosteroid combined with a local anesthetic.

Effect

A GON block works by numbing the nerve located around the base of the skull on both sides of the neck. This prevents nerve impulses from reaching the brain. The effect typically appears within 1-7 days and can last for up to 3 months.

Side effects

The GON block is generally well tolerated. You may feel sore, and due to the local anesthetic, you may experience numbness around the injection site for a few hours. In rare cases, and typically if you have received repeated blocks, hair loss and tissue indentation around the injection site may occur.

If GON blocks are given more frequently than every 3 months, the risk of the above side effects increases, and there is a risk of serious side effects such as osteoporosis, changes in fat distribution (moon face), as well as suppression of the immune system and adrenal glands.

Precautions

If you have diabetes, you should be extra aware that your blood sugar may be higher than usual, typically for the first few weeks after the block has been administered.

If you have an ongoing infection in your body, a GON block may worsen it.

The treatment

The practitioner determines whether the GON block should be administered on one or both sides.

The nerve is located by the practitioner measuring approximately halfway between the bony prominence behind the ear and the center of the neck. Often, you can feel the point yourself with a finger, exactly where you are tender. The area is disinfected, and the block is injected with a thin needle and distributed in 3-4 places to numb the entire area.

The treatment can feel uncomfortable, and you may break into a sweat.

A bump may appear where the block was administered. This is harmless and will disappear within a few hours as the fluid is absorbed into the tissue.

If you feel well, you are welcome to drive home after receiving a GON block. The first time the block is administered, you must wait 15 minutes before leaving.