A stellate ganglion block involves an injection of anesthetic medication over a specific branch of nerves in your neck called the stellate ganglion. The anesthetic medication bathes the nerves and numbs them. The stellate ganglion is connected to brain regions thought to be overly activated in PTSD, thus numbing the nerves is thought to decrease the activity in these brain regions. A stellate ganglion block is an outpatient procedure, performed by specially trained physicians under x-ray guidance, that has been used to treat various pain disorders including complex regional pain syndrome, facial pain, and upper extremity pain. Treatment of PTSD with stellate ganglion blocks is a newer, innovative application that shows great promise in providing relief of PTSD-related symptoms.
