Stellate Ganglion Injections

As part of administering a stellate ganglion block, an injection of anaesthesia medication is administered into the nerves where the ganglion is located. Upon receiving the injection, the body reduces the release of chemical messengers with activate pain sensitivity, thus reducing pain in the affected areas.

While the stellate ganglion injection is being administered, the patient will typically be sedated, and the doctor will use x-ray technology to guide a tiny needle to the stellate ganglion where the pain-numbing medication is then injected.

The pain relief resulting from this procedure is not immediate; however, several patients have reported immediate and noticeable pain relief right after receiving the stellate ganglion injection.  It is most common for the affects of the injection to last four to six hours before starting to wear off, with the duration of pain cessation increasing with each subsequent treatment.  The amount of pain relief varies with each patient with patients often requiring a series of stellate ganglion injections in order to sustain continued pain relief.

Stellate ganglion blocks are considered to be a very low risk procedure.  However, there might be slight discomfort, tenderness, slight swelling, and bruising at the injection site and immediately after the procedure.  Other, more serious, but temporary side effects and complications associated with stellate ganglion injections might include:

• Drooping eyelids
• Bloodshot eyes
• Hoarseness in voice
• Feeling or sensation of a lump in your throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Watery eyes
• Nasal congestion or “stuffiness”
• Tingling, warmth, or numbness in your upper extremities.

A stellate ganglion block injection could be effective in relieving pain resulting your neck, upper arms, chest or head resulting from stellate ganglion nerve issues; this is a decision you will need to make after consulting with your doctor.