Help for Long COVID Logo

Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)’s Reviews

U

Patients Say

1. Why Patients Try SGB

  • A single-injection «reset» of the sympathetic nervous system; theorized to calm dysautonomia, neuro-inflammation, and microvascular spasm associated with post-viral illness.

  • Out-patient, image-guided procedure (local anesthetic at C6/C7); effects—if they occur—are usually felt within minutes to days.

2. Reported Outcomes

 

What Patients Describe Frequency & Timing Illustrative Notes
Rapid, broad relief ~60 % of 41-pt cohort had complete symptom resolution; 77 % saw fatigue drop, 80 % brain-fog lift (within days).

A teacher regained full stamina & smell/taste, returning to work in 3 mo.

 
Partial gains only Smell/taste less responsive (≈ 56 %); some see brain-fog improve while PEM persists.

One Stanford-treated pt felt cognition up, but other symptoms worsened.

 
Minimal or no change Up to 40 % in older post-viral cases (long-standing ME/CFS, Lyme) report ≤ 20 % relief.

Two bilateral blocks left one pt unchanged after six weeks.

 
Occasional worsening Rare; typically transient hoarseness, dizziness, or a temporary symptom flare.

Small series reports resolved within hours to days.

 

Rule of thumb from experienced pain clinics: Expect ~50 % of appropriately selected patients to achieve ≥ 50 % overall improvement.


3. Factors That Seem to Shape Results

 

  • Disease duration: Newer Long COVID cases respond better than decade-long ME/CFS.

  • Symptom profile: Dysautonomia-dominant (POTS, adrenaline surges) >> structural damage (e.g., olfactory nerve loss).

  • Repeat vs. single block: Some require a second-side block 1–2 weeks later; data on long-term boosters are sparse.

4. Risks, Costs & Practicalities

Consideration Details
Safety Generally low risk; transient Horner’s syndrome confirms successful block. Serious complications (hematoma, pneumothorax) are rare in experienced hands.
Cost & coverage $1,000–$2,500 per side; usually out-of-pocket because not FDA-approved for post-viral syndromes.
Access Limited to pain or anesthesia specialists comfortable treating “functional” illnesses; some patients travel out of state.
Evidence gap No large, sham-controlled RCTs—blinding is hard once an eye droops. Published studies are cohorts ≤ 50 pts and case reports.

 

5. Online Sentiment

 

  • Elation: “Most helpful intervention—first normal day in two years.”

  • Mixed: “Helped fatigue, but PEM worse.”

  • Disappointment: “Two blocks, zero change.”

  • Cautious Optimism: Researchers highlight SGB as a test-bed for autonomic reset, but push for rigorous trials.

Key Takeaways

 

  1. Potentially transformative for a subset—especially recent Long COVID with strong autonomic symptoms.

  2. Results vary wildly; the same procedure can cure one patient and leave another unchanged.

  3. Most adverse effects are mild and short-lived, yet financial and access barriers are significant.

  4. Evidence remains preliminary; absence of placebo-controlled data means placebo effects can’t be ruled out.

  5. Best next step: discuss with a pain-management specialist who understands post-viral dysautonomia, clarifies realistic odds, and offers structured follow-up.

Bottom line: Stellate ganglion block is an intriguing but still experimental option—occasionally life-changing, often helpful, sometimes ineffective. Enter with guarded optimism, clear monitoring plans, and eyes open to the cost-benefit trade-off.

 

Was this summary accurate?

100% of people think this is accurate ( 1 / 1)

Tell us how Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treated you

Patient reviews are the engine that keeps this page helpful. Whether you improved tremendously, got worse, or landed somewhere in between, your story helps someone with similar conditions make a more intelligent decision. Add your review.

Salvatore Mattera

Salvatore Mattera

@Salvatore Mattera

Helped my sense of taste a little, but didn't do anything else

Chronic Illnesses: Long COVID
Symptoms Treated: Sense Of Taste - Better long time Dysautonomia - No change Chronic Fatigue - No change Heat Intolerance - No change Nausea - No change
Side Effects Experienced: Chest Pain Heart Palpitations

I had the stellate ganglion block performed at the Stanford Pain Management Clinic. It led to a slight improvement in my sense of taste, but other than that, it didn't do anything. I only had one side blocked, but I know the block was performed properly because I experienced Horner's Syndrome. In the days that followed, my Long COVID heart symptoms (chest pain, palpitations), which had mostly gone away, returned with a vengeance. Thankfully, they were short-lived and went away again after a few days. Initially, I had planned to try a second block, but after that experience, I didn't bother.

Details

  • Source Stanford Pain Management Clinic
  • Last used 6-12 mo ago
  • Times used 1 time
  • Insurance covered Yes

Share with friends:

Think this information is wrong?