Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD

Regenesis offers comprehensive therapy options for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using state-of-the-art modalities

At Regenesis Stem Cell Center, Dr. Charles Lee offers comprehensive therapy options for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using state-of-the-art modalities. Symptoms for PTSD can range from intrusive memories or flashbacks to extreme physical or emotional reactions. These symptoms of nervous system dysfunction can be brought on by prolonged or intense emotional stress from combat exposure, childhood abuse, physical assault, or an accident. At Regenesis, our patients seek care for PTSD when they want relief from their symptoms, often after standard medical and therapeutic options have not been successful. Sufferers may self-medicate and feel hopeless and burdensome without options. As someone that has experienced PTSD, Dr. Lee has taken a personal interest in developing a comprehensive approach to helping fellow sufferers.

Seek Help If You Think You May Suffer from PTSD

If you have been experiencing symptoms of PTSD for more than a month, or if you feel like you cannot get your life back under control after a traumatic event, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional as soon as possible. The earlier you seek care, the better your chances of treating your symptoms of PTSD before they get worse. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, seek help immediately. Talk with your doctor or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to reach a trained counselor.

PTSD Procedures at Regenesis Stem Cell Center

At Regenesis, our safe, effective therapy for PTSD is often performed in consultation with your doctor and mental health professional’s input. Sometimes, medication and counseling for PTSD are unsuccessful in managing your symptoms. You may still be experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, or anxiety that cause an elevated heart rate, sweating, or high blood pressure, even though you are in therapy or using your prescribed medications. If you have sought help for your PTSD symptoms but have been unable to resolve your symptoms with medication and therapy, PTSD therapy at Regenesis might be able to help.

The procedure we use to treat PTSD at Regenesis is known as a stellate ganglion block (SGB). The stellate ganglion is a junction box of autonomic nerves located at the base of the neck at the C6 vertebrae. You can think of the autonomic nervous system as an "automatic" nervous system because it is not under our voluntary control.

It is the primitive nervous system. When activated, it prepares us for fight or flight by stimulating blood vessel contraction and adrenalin release, thus increasing blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, and muscle tone and dilating our pupils. The stellate ganglion is the command center from which these nerve impulses from the brain reach the body. When that junction box is blocked, it is essentially a reset button for the autonomic nervous system that reaches up into the primitive malfunctioning control center in the brain, known as the amygdala. It is not a simple cure, but it can work to effectively relieve your symptoms and help you return to everyday life. We usually perform stellate ganglion blocks at Regenesis in a series of injections. Frequently, we are beginning SGBs earlier in the course of the disorder in lieu of multiple psychological medications with much success, especially when jobs require mental acuity.

Our protocol is quite extensive. We have available a residential PTSD center offering healthy, medically supervised dining, exercise, hiking, and psychiatrist, psychologist, and counseling services. The facility also has private or group hyperbaric oxygen therapy with or without concurrent counseling.

Advantages of Procedures at Regenesis for PTSD

The therapy for PTSD that we use at Regenesis has been demonstrated as effective in many studies, including multicenter randomized controlled trials, to improve PTSD symptoms. The stellate ganglion block (SGB) has been used since 2008 to treat PTSD, and physicians have been using a similar method for pain management since the 1940s, so it is not a new procedure. It is non-surgical and pill-free, with low risks and almost no side effects. If your current medical and therapeutic treatments for PTSD have not been able to relieve your symptoms, or the standard medical approach is unacceptable, especially for your mental acuity, you should consult with Dr. Lee about therapy at Regenesis Stem Cell Center for PTSD.

What to Expect from a Stellate Ganglion Block at Regenesis

In conjunction with your regular physician, a mental health provider is recommended. Dr. Lee will consult with you about your symptoms and the process for a stellate ganglion block before scheduling your appointments. If you choose the block as part of your comprehensive therapy plan for PTSD, we will perform the procedure in the comfort of the Regenesis Stem Cell Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It does not require surgery or anesthesia; there is no recovery period, so you will not need to visit a hospital. We will use a local anesthetic for your comfort, but you will remain awake for the procedure. Dr. Lee performs the ultrasound image-guided injection in our specialized procedure room with optional light IV sedation, which takes about 20 minutes. Although you may need to consider continuing some medications following the procedure, a stellate ganglion block can often be used as an alternative to harsh psychiatric medications. The injections sometimes last years or even provide permanent symptom relief.

Begin Your Procedure for PTSD at Regenesis Stem Cell Center

If you have symptoms of PTSD that are not controlled or require a different approach, Regenesis Stem Cell Center’s protocol could provide prolonged, perhaps permanent, relief and help you get your life back. Contact Regenesis Stem Cell Center today for a consultation. Please reach us through our contact form or call us at (256) 715-8193.