Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 9, 2026
Author Spotlight: Minimally Invasive Relief for Occipital Neuralgia at the Nuchal Line
Published on: September 13, 2024
Causal Relation between Nerve Compression and Migraine Symptoms and the Therapeutic Role of Surgical Decompression
Mansher Singh1, Arturo J Rios Diaz1, Ryan Gobble1
1Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.; and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.
Background:
Nerve decompression has been recently described as a therapy for migraine headaches. Multiple studies have demonstrated significant symptomatic relief or complete resolution of migraine symptoms in patients with surgical decompression. However, there is no study describing a causal relation between migraine headaches and nerve compression and resolution of symptoms with tumor removal and nerve decompression.
Methods:
We were presented with a biological example of compression neuropathy causing migraine headaches due to greater occipital nerve compression by a lipoma from a remote head trauma. Included is a literature review of nerve decompression therapy for migraine.
Results:
Migraine symptoms were completely resolved on removal of the mass and nerve decompression. The patient has not required any migraine medications since the surgery.
Conclusions:
This case serves as a biological example to validate the true causal relationship between greater occipital nerve compression and migraine headaches.
