SGB Therapy for Anxiety & Post Covid

Stellate Ganglion Block is a nerve block commonly used for pain management, however in recent years it has been discovered to be an excellent treatment for PTSD and anxiety.  This is because SGB interacts with the sympathetic nervous system to calm the fight or flight response.  The calming results of this block can last for up to 6 month, and sometimes longer.

The stellate ganglion block has been used for nearly a century to treat a variety of medical conditions. Its safety profile is well established. Here at Treasure Coast Ketamine, we give SGBs to treat the following conditions:

• Anxiety - SGB can relieve acute anxiety symptoms for up to 6-12 months.
• Post Covid Syndrome - SGBs have been very effective in restoring the sense of taste and smell in people with Long Covid.

If you are experiencing prolonged trauma related symptoms and/or consistent anxiety symptoms with little relief from other modalities, this procedure may be beneficial.

If you are experiencing prolonged loss of taste and/or smell as a result of Covid 19, this procedure may be beneficial.

If you are allergic to local anesthetics, particularly ropivacaine, this procedure is not for you.

If you are taking prescription blood thinning medications, you may be advised to stop taking them for 4-7 days before the procedure.  

This SGB procedure only takes about 15-20 minutes from start to finish.  Using Ultrasound, our highly-experienced provider will inject a small amount of local anesthetic on the stellate ganglion nerve bundle which is located in the neck.  After the procedure, you will be monitored for any adverse side effects for about 30 minutes.  You may experience some temporary side effects such as a slight droop on the corresponding side of your face.  These symptoms indicate that the block was successful and will subside after a few hours.

80% of patients experience immediate relief from their PTSD and/or anxiety symptoms after 1 injection.  However, if needed, the protocol may require up to 2 additional injections spaced about 2 weeks apart.

$600 / single injection.

Currently, Health Insurance does not pay for this procedure for mental health purposes.