Stellate Ganglion Block for Chronic Pain

Overview
Stellate ganglion block is an injection that can temporarily relieve some types of chronic pain in the head, neck, upper arms, and upper chest. People with complex regional pain syndrome, postherpetic neuralgia, and phantom limb pain may benefit from a stellate ganglion block.

What does it involve?
Stellate ganglion block is an outpatient procedure.

The stellate ganglion is a collection of nerves in your neck, on either side of your larynx (voice box). A stellate ganglion block targets these nerves, preventing pain signals from these nerves from reaching your brain.

Before receiving a stellate ganglion block, you may receive sedating medication by intravenous (IV) infusion. Your neck will be numbed with local anesthetic. Then the doctor will inject anesthetic into the stellate ganglion.

After a stellate ganglion block, you can begin a program of physical therapy[LINK] to promote long-term pain relief.

Recovery
You can leave the office after receiving the stellate ganglion block. You should rest that day, and you can resume normal activity the following day.

Results
A successful stellate ganglion block may provide days or weeks of pain relief.

Constraints
A stellate ganglion block may not be successful at reducing pain.

You may require a series of stellate ganglion block injections before you experience pain relief.

Pain relief from a stellate ganglion block is temporary.

Stellate ganglion block may cause temporary side effects including hoarse voice, drooping eyelids, bloodshot eyes, stuffy nose, “lump” sensation in the throat, warmth or tingling in the arm or hand, and difficulty swallowing.