Has Anyone Had a Stellate Ganglion Block??? - Pain Management Message Board

theweaver2 · 10-03-2006, 03:51 PM

My new pain doc thinks I may have Reflex Sympatheic Dystrophy or CRPS. All I know is I have major pain on the right side of my body due to various things over past three years.

He wants to do a series of 6 injections in my neck around the C6-7 area. Sounds good to me as my major pain in in neck/shoulder/arm area.

I PRAY it will work for me to help stop this cycle I'm in.

Anyone who has had them and could share their story, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Barb

donaeis · 10-03-2006, 05:07 PM

It is rare for RSD to be cured, or even adequately treated using a series of stellate ganglion blocks. Anesthesiologists frequently will do these with somewhat reckless abandon in an office and without using fluoroscopy. This can result in major complications including seizures, stroke, popping a lung, or spinal cord/nerve injury. If one has to have these blocks, it is prudent to have them done safely using fluoroscopic guidance (x-ray).
They never cure but may help with the diagnosis, although even this is controversial. The stellate ganglion is a nerve bundle that supplies the head and arm (but not below) with nerves from a primitive nervous system that controls the size of the blood vessels, the blood pressure, etc. Each block usually lasts 1-3 days.

theweaver2 · 10-03-2006, 08:03 PM

dona -

thanks for your reply. I have an information sheet from the doctor's office but it doesn't say whether or not it is done under x-ray. A good question to ask my doctor. Thanks. If not a cure, perhaps it will be a way to reduce my pain for a while and help in a more definitive diagnosis.

I recall reading on some posts where people have gotten these shots frequently from their doctors, and some even w/o sedation. I hope my doc knows the "spot" to hit..

ty
Barb

feelbad · 10-04-2006, 08:13 AM

hi weave,from the description of a "series' of shots,this doesn't actually sound like a real stellate block.a stellate is actually one injection done at the front of the neck into the stellate ganglion itself.i had one a couple of years ago to determine whther or not the nasty pain i was having in my L arm and shoulder blades was for sure the actual central pain syndrome i had previously been Dxed with or RSD.i have RSD in my R knee.since i found absolutely no relief from that stellate,my previous Dx was left to stand.

a stellate is actually more of a diagnostic tool although some RSD patients do have regular injections there that appear to help at least take the edge off,when it works.this does require floroscopy to make sure the doc hits that ganglion directly.

what you explained really sounds more like ESIs(the steriod injections?)or trigger point injections?the trigger points are done exactly the way you described.i get those to try and keep the constant formation of muscle wads and tissue(trigger points) under control that stem from the nightmare of ongoing crap i have in my c spine.i will get from five to twenty,depending on how bad things are that day and whether or not both sides are screaming at me.these just help release the muscles.my injections start at the base of my skull and he will work down thru under my shoulder blades.i am actually going for another round next week(hopefully).you really do need to find out for sure just what type of injections he is planning.i am almost positive that an actual stellate injection is done only in that one area in front of the neck(the stellate ganglion).it just sounds more like trigger point inj than stellate,but hey,i could be wrong,wouldn't be the first time for that,lol.good luck anyways on whatever he ends up doing.hopefully they will offer you some relief.marcia

theweaver2 · 10-04-2006, 08:42 AM

Marcia... LOTS of good info. In fact, I have decided to postpone my injections until after my next appointment in two weeks. This is a new doctor and I really shouldn't LEAP into things until I can research them. I had a NASTY injection August 30 to what I thought as a nerve block. I do know this isn't trigger point injections. They did give me a sheet that had Stellate Ganglion Block at the top of it, so I do know it is what they consider to be that type of injection. Why there are six of them, I do not know and it will be a good question for him. I do know he said it was a diagnostic type of way to determine if my pain was RSD or not.

Right now, I think I will enjoy the fact my new pain med is working well. I have plans for a long weekend coming up at the end of the month. The last nerve block I had ruined a long weekend I had planned months in advance of the block. We ALL know how hard it it for us to plan a social even in advance. So, I think I will wait for this new series of injections.

I am also going to call my doctors office right now to see if this injection is done under flourescope. I sure hope so.

Barb