Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD
At any given time, approximately 8 million United States adults are living with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD; however, that number represents only a small fraction of the adults who’ve witnessed or been exposed to a trauma in the past year. Worldwide, nearly 45 million people struggle with PTSD, and unfortunately, many conventional treatment options provide little respite from this debilitating condition. Fortunately for PTSD sufferers, a less conventional treatment — the stellate ganglion block — has shown promising results in the treatment of conditions that result in dysfunction of the sympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system.
The ganglion is a grouping of nerves that is linked to the trigeminal nerve – the main culprit involved in migraines and common headaches. If you apply numbing medications or local anesthetic to the SPG, it can help reduce pain related to headache or facial pain. A traditional ganglion block involves application of an anesthetic solution either on a cotton swab or with a targeted injection through the face. More recently, these procedures have become less invasive, opting for an intranasal (up the nose) approach.
To learn more about stellate ganglion blocks or to schedule a consultation to determine your candidacy for treatment, contact us at (407) 391-5539.
A Correctable Emotional Injury
Because post-traumatic stress disorder typically results from extreme emotional stress, the condition has a profound effect on the sympathetic nervous system, or SNS. The SNS controls several bodily functions including blood pressure, heart rate, the eyes’ response to light, and skin temperature. The system also functions to regulate stress response, relaxation, sexual function, ability to focus, and pain perception; but in individuals with PTSD, the SNS does not function at its normal level. When the SNS experiences overwhelm — as is the case in PTSD sufferers — the system becomes programmed to function at an abnormally high set point. When this occurs, the body remains in a constant state of overwhelm, continually tapping into the nervous system’s “fight or flight” mode. As such, PTSD sufferers often react in extremes — either over-reacting to situations or simply not reacting at all. However, because SNS overwhelm is actually considered a “stress injury” rather than a disease or disorder, it can be corrected.
Stellate Ganglion Block in Orlando, FL
If you or a loved one suffer from PTSD or emotional trauma, a stellate ganglion block may be the treatment option you’ve been searching for. At Nona Medical Arts, we understand that emotional stress can severely impact your daily life, which is why we offer our patients state-of-the-art, compassionate care.