From the Guidelines

Occipital neuralgia treatment involves injections, specifically greater occipital nerve block, which is suggested for short-term treatment.

Greater occipital nerve block is a treatment option for occipital neuralgia, with a "weak for" recommendation for short-term treatment 1.
The evidence for greater occipital nerve block in the prevention of chronic migraine is insufficient to recommend for or against its use 1.
Nonpharmacologic therapies, such as physical therapy and aerobic exercise, may also be beneficial in managing headache disorders, including occipital neuralgia, although the evidence is not specific to this condition 1.
Neuromodulation techniques, such as nerve stimulation, have insufficient evidence to recommend for or against their use in treating occipital neuralgia 1.

The choice of treatment for occipital neuralgia should be based on individual patient needs and preferences.
Clinicians should consider the potential benefits and risks of each treatment option, including the use of greater occipital nerve block and nonpharmacologic therapies.
Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of different treatments for occipital neuralgia, including comparative effectiveness studies and studies on underrepresented patient groups 1.

From the Research

The treatment for occipital neuralgia can be divided into several categories, including:

Medical treatment: Various treatment methods exist, from medical treatment to open surgical procedures 2
Local injection: Local injection with corticosteroid can improve symptoms, though generally only temporarily 2
Invasive procedures: More invasive procedures can be considered for cases that do not respond adequately to medical therapies or repeated injections 2
Radiofrequency lesioning: Radiofrequency lesioning of the greater occipital nerve can relieve symptoms, but there is a tendency for the pain to recur during follow-up 2
Peripheral nerve stimulation: Peripheral nerve stimulation of the greater or lesser occipital nerve has shown positive results in some cases 2, 3
Conservative management: Conservative management is consistently recommended as a first line intervention for occipital neuralgia, and may include physical therapy, exercise, manual therapy, posture and biomechanical training, TENS, patient education, and desensitization 4
Surgical options: Surgical options, such as neurolysis or neurectomy, may be considered for refractory cases, but there is insufficient evidence to recommend one method over the other 5
Other treatments: Other treatments, such as acupuncture, onabotulinum toxin A injection, and radiofrequency ablation, may also be effective in some cases 6

When considering treatment for occipital neuralgia, it is essential to:

Weigh the potential benefits and risks of each treatment option 2
Consider the individual patient's symptoms, medical history, and preferences 4
Be aware of the potential for complications, such as infection, hardware erosion, loss of effect, and lead migration, with invasive procedures 3
Recognize the need for further research to determine the effectiveness and safety of different therapies 5, 6