What is Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) & are you a good candidate?
Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is starting to make waves in the trauma community and for good reason. Over 8 million Americans are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and while therapists are learning more and more modalities to treat trauma, it may be that SGB is the perfect therapy companion.
SGB, an outpatient procedure that has been used since 1925 for chronic pain, works by injecting an FDA approved local anesthetic into a group of nerves in the neck known as the stellate ganglion and has been shown to be effective in reducing the hyperarousal symptoms associated with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The team at Stella have gathered data from 327 patients treated from 2016 to 2019 with astounding results. 83% of patients demonstrated a clinically significant improvement on their PCL, a screening measure for PTSD symptoms. What's even more astounding is that they are showing an average decrease of 29 points when the National Center for PTSD recognizes a decrease of 10+ as clinically significant.
While this treatment is not enough to treat PTSD alone, it is a great companion to treating trauma's biological injury whereas therapists can work with clients on the behaviors and thoughts that maintain the impacts of trauma.
In my work with clients who have received SGB, the stabilization and coping that is needed to do trauma resolution work is achieved more easily and quickly thus the total time in therapy is reduced. Further, these individuals are experiencing immediate relief as SGB is an outpatient procedure with results at the time of the procedure. Individuals following SGB report improved sleep, less irritability, increased connection to loved ones and peers, decreased anxiety and depression, and less jumpiness.
If you feel like you may be a good candidate for SGB and are interested in learning more, talk to your therapist or reach out to a practicing physician. Need assistance with where to start? Visit Stella's website to learn more about SGB, schedule a consultation, or find a Stella Preferred Provider.
Robyn Sonnier, LPC, NCC, CCTP-II, CMCC
Co-Owner of Clarté Counseling, LLC
