Stellate Ganglion Block

“Stellate Ganglion Block is a safe, well tolerated procedure that we use for our patients,” says West Michigan Pain specialist Roman Zolotoy, DO. “It’s been around for about half a decade for Complex Regional Pain, which is a disproportionate amount of pain and injury after a traumatic event. Unfortunately, some patients can develop Complex Regional Pain Syndrome without any significant trauma, so we use SGB to block that painful cycle that results in the extremity that is involved.”

West Michigan Pain specialists administer the block by targeting the sympathetic nerves found near the bottom part of the neck on either side of the neck. The procedure takes just minutes. WMP specialists take every precaution to safely locate the targeted area.

“Even though there are a lot of nerves and vasculature in that area, the way we position the patients and use our imaging guidance, it  is a very safe procedure,” says Dr. Zolotoy.

The procedure can be performed using ultrasound or fluoroscopy, x-ray guidance.

“We hope each Stellate Ganglion Block offers months of relief, but every patient is different,” says Dr. Zolotoy. “In the beginning, we may need to repeat the procedure monthly. What we are hoping for is at least 50% improvement in their discomfort which will allow them to move their joints better and allow them to participate in physical therapy to a greater extent.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, SGB is indicated for the following conditions:

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

Learn more about the procedure and what it entails from WMP’s Roman Zolotoy, DO, in this video.