What Is the Stellate Ganglion Block and What Does It Do?
The Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is a precisely administered nerve block that targets the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates the body’s fight-or-flight response. For individuals suffering from PTSD, severe anxiety, and chronic stress, an overactive sympathetic system can lead to racing thoughts, insomnia, and constant hyperarousal, making it nearly impossible to feel calm or safe. SGB is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that temporarily disrupts these overactive nerve signals, allowing the nervous system to reset and restore balance. Many patients experience a rapid and lasting reduction in anxiety and PTSD symptoms within minutes to hours.
At Scottsdale Ketamine Therapy Clinic, we specialize in dual sympathetic blocks, an advanced technique that enhances relief by targeting a second nerve bundle for longer-lasting results.
The Stellate Ganglion Block Procedure
The SGB procedure is precise and minimally invasive, performed under ultrasound guidance by our highly trained physicians. Since this is a medical procedure involving the autonomic nervous system, it must be conducted by experienced professionals to ensure safety and efficacy.
Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Procedure:
- Patient Evaluation: A thorough medical assessment determines whether the patient is a suitable candidate for SGB.
- Preparation: The patient must fast prior to the procedure. An IV is placed, and vital signs are monitored throughout.
- Ultrasound Guidance: A sterile ultrasound gel is applied to the neck area, allowing the physician to visualize the stellate ganglion and surrounding structures.
- Anesthetic Injection: A local anesthetic is injected to numb the area, followed by a carefully guided placement of a small needle to deliver the anesthetic directly to the stellate ganglion.
Nerve Block Activation: Within 3-10 minutes, the sympathetic response begins to subside, and patients often experience an immediate sense of calmness and relief. - Post-Procedure Monitoring: Patients are observed for a brief period before being discharged. Most individuals resume their daily activities within hours.
Benefits of the Stellate Ganglion Block
SGB is an effective alternative for individuals who have not responded to traditional medications or psychotherapy for anxiety and PTSD.
Key Benefits of Stellate Ganglion Block Therapy:
- Rapid Symptom Relief – Many patients experience near-immediate improvements in their anxiety, stress levels, and PTSD symptoms.
- Non-Surgical & Minimally Invasive – The procedure takes under 30 minutes and requires no incisions or sedation.
- Lasting Effects – Results can last from 3 to 9 months, with some individuals benefiting from long-term symptom reduction.
- Enhanced Sleep & Emotional Regulation – Patients often report better sleep, improved mood, and a greater sense of well-being following treatment.
- Complementary to Ketamine Therapy – When combined with ketamine infusions, SGB provides comprehensive nervous system and cognitive reset, improving treatment outcomes.
For those struggling with chronic anxiety, PTSD, or hyperarousal, SGB provides an evidence-based solution that targets the root cause of distress, rather than just masking symptoms.
Uses of the Stellate Ganglion Block
SGB is not just for PTSD—it has shown remarkable results in treating a wide range of conditions related to an overactive sympathetic nervous system.
Who Can Benefit from SGB?
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Particularly effective for individuals who experience flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and persistent hypervigilance.
- Chronic Anxiety & Panic Disorders – Reduces excessive fight-or-flight responses, promoting emotional regulation.
- Treatment-Resistant Depression – Helps individuals with chronic depressive symptoms linked to nervous system dysregulation.
- Post-Concussion Syndrome – Assists in reducing neurological overstimulation following a traumatic brain injury.
- Long COVID & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – May help reset dysregulated autonomic function, improving energy levels and reducing brain fog.
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (CRPS Type 1) – Aids in calming nerve dysfunction and pain hypersensitivity.
For individuals who feel trapped in a constant state of stress, SGB can be a life-altering therapy, providing relief where other treatments have failed.
How Our Clinic Can Help with Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) Therapy
At Gilbert Chandler Ketamine Therapy Clinic and Scottsdale Ketamine Therapy Clinic, we provide Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) therapy as a highly specialized treatment for individuals suffering from chronic anxiety, PTSD, and dysregulated nervous system responses. This procedure requires advanced medical expertise, and our team—led by board-certified anesthesiologists—is uniquely qualified to perform it safely and effectively.
By using ultrasound guidance to precisely administer a local anesthetic to the stellate ganglion nerve bundle, we can temporarily “turn off” this overactive response, allowing the nervous system to reset.
Many patients experience rapid relief within minutes to days following the procedure, reporting a profound sense of calm and emotional balance. When combined with ketamine therapy, which works on restructuring thought patterns, SGB provides a powerful dual approach—addressing both physiological and psychological components of anxiety and trauma. For those seeking long-term relief, SGB can be repeated every 3 to 9 months, depending on individual response.
By integrating cutting-edge interventions with medical precision, our clinic offers a life-changing pathway to healing for those struggling with treatment-resistant anxiety, PTSD, and chronic nervous system dysregulation.
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