Effective Relief through Stellate Ganglion Block
for PTSD and Long Covid Parosmia
At Treasure Valley Pain Center, we offer a groundbreaking solution for individuals battling PTSD and Long Covid related symptoms. Our Ultrasound guided Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatment has been shown to be an effective way to provide relief and restore a better quality of life. Discover how this innovative approach can help you regain control and overcome the challenges of these conditions.
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Treasure Valley Pain Center
How Treatment Works
Quick and Painless Procedure:
Administered by a certified pain specialist, the SGB injection takes approximately 10-15 minutes, followed by 20-30 minutes of monitoring. It’s a simple, effective procedure that provides real relief.
Precision and Safety:
The injection is performed under ultrasound image guidance, ensuring accurate placement and enhancing safety while minimizing discomfort.
Restoration of Balance:
The injected local anesthetic helps reset the heightened nervous system, resulting in reduced irritability, improved sleep, decreased anxiety, and other benefits, including restoring long covid dysautonomia (night sweats, fast heart rate, dysfunctional smell and taste etc).
Immediate and Lasting Effects:
Many patients experience a sense of calm and safety immediately after the procedure. The benefits continue to unfold over the days and weeks following the injection.
Potential for Repeated Treatment:
In some cases, a second injection after 4-8 weeks can provide additional and lasting benefits.
Benefits of
SGB Treatment
The advantages of SGB treatment are significant and far-reaching:
- Versatile Treatment: SGB is effective for various conditions. SGB is known to benefit people with PTSD, migraine, hot flashes, Reynaud’s, depression, anxiety, long covid dysautonomia symptoms such as smell and taste dysfunction, IBS and numerous other conditions linked to autonomic nervous system dysfunction/heightened sympathetic response.
- High Success Rate: SGB boasts a remarkable success rate, with 75% of PTSD patients experiencing positive results compared to other methods and 87% of Long Covid patients reporting symptom improvement, particularly in smell and taste.
- Breaking the Cycle: SGB effectively breaks the cycle of triggers and reduces symptoms associated with “Arousal/Reactivity,” offering a 96% improvement.
- Reset fight or flight response: The treatment does a great job of resetting the body and brain to a state from before the trauma. Results can appear soon after administering treatment, relaxing body and mind.
Many people who go through treatment notice improvement right away. They can think better, experience decreased aggression, maintain relationships, and sleep well.
- Balancing Neuroimmune System: SGB has been scientifically shown to help restore communication between the immune and nervous systems, aiding in regulating immune reactions and inflammation.
We strive to provide Evidence-Based Care, and evidence clearly supports this treatment. Here are some key takeaways from our thorough literature reviews:
- Research has confirmed the “leadership” of the autonomic nervous system, especially the excessive sympathetic system in immune reactions and inflammation.
- The autonomic nervous system provides communication between the immune system and the nervous system.
A bilateral SGB on consecutive days has research support to help reset the neuroimmune system, helping the communication between the nervous system and immune system. This can help with chronic infections (such as cold sores) and long covid symptoms.
- Some people are more likely to experience overreaction of the SNS after a viral infection if they have preexisting stressors on the SNS (such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes or stress).
- The interdependence between the nervous system and inflammation creates a positive feedback loop (the SNS gets “stuck” on overdrive) that may contribute to dysautonomia symptoms (known as long covid symptoms).
- The dysregulated neuro-inflammatory state observed in Long Covid represents a subtler form of dysautonomia that appears to be responsive to SGB.
- The body adapts to the sympathetic/parasympathetic imbalance and produces long standing dysautonomia. Injection of local anesthetic around the stellate sympathetic ganglia allows the SNS to “reboot” and reorganize the autonomic nervous system back to homeostasis (autoregulate).
- Clinical data show that SGB is capable of helping regulate the sympathetic-triggered neurogenic inflammation processes, and it has been postulated that after viral injection, the hyperinflammatory immune response is the consequence of SNS overactivation, and that SGB is a logical possibility to counteract it.
- SGB recalibrates the hyperactive neuroendocrine-immune response to allow homeostasis.
- Case reports detail rapid reduction of symptoms including smell/taste, fatigue, concentration, depression, and anxiety.
- SGB has been shown to improve symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis) and fibromyalgia (both tender points and pain at rest) because sympathetic
Frequently Asked Questions
- Cost and Insurance
Currently, SGB is self-pay, with insurance typically covering it for certain pain conditions. Our cost is $550 per injection, ensuring accessibility and affordability. We offer discounted rates for repeat injections
- Candidacy
SGB is suitable for those with PTSD, emotional trauma, long-term COVID-related parosmia, and symptoms of dysautonomia like fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraines.
- Are there any side effects?
While the SGB has many positive effects, some people experience short-term side effects after the procedure. These post-injection side effects are mild, pass within a short time, and are actually expected as a sign of a successful SGB. When performed by a trained pain specialist, there are no long-term side effects of the SGB. Normal short-term side effects include:
– Redness/slight swelling at injection sight
– Warmth or tingly sensations
– Feeling of a throat lump, raspy voice, or difficulty swallowing
– Red eyes or nasal congestion - Duration of Effects?
Relief duration varies, with effects lasting weeks to months. Immediate relief can occur, and behavioral changes can help maintain results.
- Timing
Consultations are scheduled within 1-2 weeks, ensuring prompt treatment.
- Complex PTSD
SGB can improve symptoms of complex PTSD.
Discover a Path to Relief with SGB