The procedure, called stellate ganglion block, or SGB, involves injecting a local anesthetic into the stellate ganglion. This group of nerve cells and nerves in the neck helps regulate the body's “fight or flight” mechanism. As more and more patients tried the stellate ganglion block, the reports seemed promising.
Stellate ganglion block (SGB) may have short-term benefit for some individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it is not an established treatment at this time because the evidence is not conclusive. The long-term effects of SGB are unknown, and SGB has not been fully researched in Veterans with PTSD.
Psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of psychotherapy that has consistently been found to be the most effective treatment of PTSD both in the short term and the long term.
Research results have been impressive. Incumbent PTSD treatments can take from months to years to work with success rates of under 40%. Overall SGB success rates have averaged 70-75% over the first nine years of use.
The estimated cost of two stellate ganglion block injections is about $2,000. Your insurance may or may not cover it.
Many patients find this awkward and somewhat uncomfortable. The injection itself is done using a very small needle. Most people say the burning/stinging of the numbing medicine is the most uncomfortable part of the procedure, though everyone's response to pain is individual.
Results and relief have been seen within 30 minutes and can last from a few months to years.
Some short-term side effects of SGB may include:
Drooping of the eyelids. Nasal congestion. Hoarseness (breathy, raspy, strained voice) Difficulty with swallowing.
The SGB takes less than 15 minutes to perform, and benefits are seen in as little as 30 minutes. (Although the term PTSD is more commonly used, Dr. Mulvaney and Dr. Lynch feel that the term post traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is medically more accurate.
Many successful cases have been seen with this PTSD injection treatment. The SGB works to reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of PTSD to help the individual return to their mental states prior to their traumatic experience.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD, sometimes abbreviated to c-PTSD or CPTSD) is a condition where you experience some symptoms of PTSD along with some additional symptoms, such as: difficulty controlling your emotions. feeling very angry or distrustful towards the world.
Social interaction with someone who cares about you is the most effective way to calm your nervous system, so it's important to find someone you can connect with face to face. You don't have to talk about the trauma if you don't want to, but the caring support and companionship of others is vital to your recovery.
Virtual reality. A systematic review⁵ conducted in 2021 found that treating PTSD with virtual reality is highly effective, comparable with traditional medicine, and may be a great option for those who haven't responded to conventional methods.
A promising 'new' treatment option for patients with both PTSD and SUD may come from an 'old' group of drugs called psychedelics. Psychedelics include both natural (psilocybin, mescaline, DMT) and synthetic (LSD, MDMA) drugs.
Currently, the gold standard for PTSD treatment is trauma-focused psychotherapy, which can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive processing therapy and imaginal exposure.
How much does an SGB shot cost? The cost for one stellate ganglion block treatment is typically around $2,000 and includes two injections.
It feels like a little pinch and then a slight burning as the local anesthetic starts numbing the skin. After the skin is numb, the procedure needle feels like a bit of pressure at the injection site. If you experience any pain during the procedure, your doctor will inject more local anesthetic as needed.
Over the course of the last twenty years, SGB for PTSD has been the subject of significant clinical trials. Treatment in Australia is through the Stella Centre [1800 921 445] who reports the procedure as a safe and effective treatment modality, with some strategic advantages, and some limitations.
Stellate Ganglion Block doesn't work for everyone, but it has worked for all of the patients (approximately 35) that I have co-treated as of this writing. In the literature, across articles documenting case series outcomes, Stellate Ganglion Block has a success rate ranging from 70-75 percent on average6.
It is not uncommon for untreated PTSD to result in the use of or dependence on drugs and alcohol to cope with intense feelings of anxiety and depression. Addiction has its own negative long-term health outcomes and can lead to occupational, legal, physical, and relationship problems.
Your neck may feel tender after the injection, and one eye may be droopy. This could affect your sense of balance. Your voice may become hoarse and your swallowing may be impaired for a short time.
A successful stellate ganglion blockade demonstrates specific clinical signs which include: Miosis (pupil constriction) Anhidrosis (lack of sweating) Ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid)
Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD, Anxiety, Depression. Along with treating pain, Stellate ganglion block injections have shown to be an effective treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other disorders that result from PTSD, most often anxiety and depression.
For your safety, you will need a responsible adult to drive you home and to stay with you for 24 hours. For 24 hours: — Do not drive or use any machinery. — Do not make important decisions. — Do not drink alcohol.