We all know how uncomfortable pain can be. Pain is associated with impaired quality of life due to negative influence on everyday activities. Fortunately, modern medicine offers us great opportunities in pain management and enables a more comfortable life without pain.
A stellate ganglion block may be the right choice if you have nerve pain in the head, neck, upper arm, or upper chest that does not respond to other treatment.
What is Stellate Ganglion?
The stellate ganglion is part of the sympathetic nervous system that is located in your neck, on either side of the voice box. The sympathetic system organizes, processes, and sends messages from the brain to the rest of the body in response to stress.
A stellate ganglion block (sympathetic block) is an injection of local anesthetic that delivers anesthetic medication to a group of nerves. It is commonly used for pain located in the head, neck, chest, or arm.
Dr. Elbaridi uses stellate ganglion block for:
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) types 1 and 2
- Chronic intractable pain that hasn’t responded to other treatment
- PTSD, major depression, anxiety and substance use disorder, used alongside your mental-health treatment
The uses for PTSD, depression, anxiety and substance use are off-label, with emerging evidence.
Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD
The stellate ganglion is part of the system that drives the body’s “fight or flight” response. For people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a stellate ganglion block is used for symptoms such as feeling constantly on edge, being easily startled and trouble sleeping.
Stellate ganglion block is used alongside your mental-health treatment, never in place of it, and it is not a standalone cure for PTSD. It is an off-label use with emerging evidence, and results vary from person to person. Dr. Elbaridi coordinates with your mental-health provider before and after the block.
How does the SGB procedure work?
The procedure is performed by injecting pain-relieving medicine into the region where the ganglion lies. The patient is usually sedated, and by using X-ray (fluoroscopy) guidance, a fine needle is placed near the stellate ganglion, and an anesthetic is injected.
Stellate ganglion block quiets the nerve information transmitted by the sympathetic nervous system for the period that the local anesthetic is effective (up to 6 hours). The block is useful in resetting the sympathetic nervous system, offering much-needed relief to people with neuropathic and/or vascular pain.
The procedure typically takes less than 5 minutes to perform. Stellate ganglion block is followed by a short-term recovery period before you are discharged home.
Horner’s syndrome and hoarseness are expected, temporary effects of the block.
The risks of the procedure, though infrequent, include:
- Seizure (if the medication is injected into a blood vessel)
- Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- Brachial plexus block (numbness of the arm that lasts for hours)
- Spinal or epidural block (temporary weakness or numbness from the neck down)
- Allergy to medication
- Nerve damage
- Bruising at the injection site
Read more: Stellate ganglion block for PTSD: what to know.
Opens our secure booking calendar — this page stays open.
Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.
Insurance and billing
Most insurance accepted, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, PPO and HMO plans. Coverage depends on medical necessity — we verify before your visit. We verify benefits and pre-authorize before your procedure, so there are no surprise bills afterward.