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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?

Salvatore Mattera

Salvatore Mattera

@Salvatore Mattera

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

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