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Stellate Ganglion Block

PAIN TREATMENT

Stellate Ganglion Block: Pain Management

Stellate ganglion sounds more like a space creature than something in your body, but it’s a bundle of nerves. It’s a star-shaped nerve bundle on either side of your box and connects your brain to cervical sympathetic nerves.[] A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an injection that eliminates or reduces pain in your neck, head, upper chest and upper arms.[2]

How Stellate Ganglion Injections Work

The cluster of nerves called the stellate ganglia is in the neck, just above the ribs. It is part of the cervical sympathetic chain, which makes up the sympathetic nervous system that controls your “fight or flight” response.[3] The nerves send signals to the brain from the head, neck, arms and upper chest and control functions like heart rate and blood pressure.[1]

When the nerves are overstimulated, they can cause chronic pain, blood flow problems and other issues. A stellate ganglion block is an interventional treatment where an anesthetic is injected into the ganglion in the neck using an ultrasound-guided needle. [4] The injected numbing medication blocks the nerves from sending pain signals, providing relief and allowing your body to reset. The SGB has been used since the 1930s and has changed very little since the beginning.[5]

Conditions Treated with SGBs

Stellate ganglion blocks are used to diagnose sympathetically mediated pain (SMP), a chronic neuropathic condition in which the sympathetic nervous system mistakenly sends pain signals to the brain without a known cause.[1] Sympathetic nerve blocks also effectively manage pain and discomfort caused by several specific conditions that affect the head, neck and upper chest area.

According to Piraccini, Munakomi and Chang, in their article regarding stellate ganglion blocks, they state an SGB may treat the following conditions:

  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) of the head and upper limbs
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Upper extremity embolism
  • Postherpetic neuralgia
  • Chronic post-surgical pain
  • Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
  • Raynaud disease
  • Scleroderma
  • Orofacial pain
  • Phantom limb
  • Atypical chest pain
  • A cluster or a vascular headache
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Meniere syndrome
  • Intractable angina
  • Refractory cardiac arrhythmias

Benefits of Cervical Sympathetic Blocks

Stellate ganglion blocks offer a range of benefits to help you feel better. This minimally invasive procedure is quick and convenient, done right in the office in just minutes with little to no recovery time. It can help you avoid surgery and rely less on medication. Many people feel relief immediately, while others notice improvement within a few days.

For mental health concerns like PTSD and anxiety, cervical sympathetic nerve blocks can ease pain as well as boost your mood, improve sleep, and enhance your overall quality of life. You can return to the activities you enjoy most with less pain and discomfort. You can combine this treatment with physical therapy, counseling, or other complementary therapies for even better results.

SGB Specialists & Pain Management Clinics

When pain disrupts your life, and you find yourself unable to do the activities you once loved, it’s time to partner with a pain physician. Pain management clinics offer advanced interventional pain solutions such as stellate ganglion blocks.

Whether your pain is related to nerve damage, cluster headaches, Raynaud’s or something else, an SGB may be worth considering. Your pain specialist will evaluate your condition and medical history to provide a comprehensive pain management solution that fits your lifestyle and goals. By combining nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedures with complementary treatments such as physical therapy, talk therapy or yoga, you can regain control of your life.

Don’t settle for living with chronic or debilitating pain. A stellate block may be your first step toward relief, better functionality and a brighter tomorrow. Contact a pain specialist today to discuss your options for pain relief.

Resources:

  1. Stellate Ganglion Block. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published 2020. Accessed November 16, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17507-stellate-ganglion-block
  2. Benisek A. Stellate Ganglion Block. WebMD [Internet]. Published March 17, 2022. Accessed November 19, 2024. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/stellate-ganglion-block
  3. Li YL. Stellate Ganglia and Cardiac Sympathetic Overactivation in Heart Failure. Int J Mol Sci [Internet]. 2022 Nov 1;23(21):13311. doi: 10.3390/ijms232113311. PMID: 36362099; PMCID: PMC9653702. Accessed November 19, 2024. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9653702/
  4. Deng JJ, Zhang CL, Liu DW, Huang T, Xu J, Liu QY, Zhang YN. Treatment of stellate ganglion block in diseases: Its role and application prospect. World J Clin Cases [Internet]. 2023 Apr 6;11(10):2160-2167. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i10.2160. PMID: 37122525; PMCID: PMC10131013. Accessed November 19, 2024. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10131013/
  5. Gofeld M, Moriggl B. Stellate Ganglion Block -ASTA Pain Medicine Update. ASRA Pain Medicine [Internet]. Published August 06, 2019. Accessed November 19, 2024. Available from: https://www.asra.com/news-publications/asra-updates/blog-landing/legacy-b-blog-posts/2019/08/06/stellate-ganglion-block
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