Stellate Ganglion Block Can Help with Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression, similar to other psychiatric conditions, result from specific brain function alterations. Oversimplifying the brain and nervous system function and structure can be divided into two main networks: the somatic nervous system responsible for managing conscious actions and the autonomous nervous system that controls unconscious ones. Stellate ganglion block for anxiety and depression treatment can reset the autonomous nervous system, decreasing or eliminating negative feelings, fears, heart racing, sweating, and other symptoms. Extraordinarily, stellate ganglion block has been used for depression and mood disorders treatment since 1947 with outstanding benefits.

Anxiety disorders can be the consequence of the overstimulation or misfiring of specific autonomous nervous system neurons. In general, the negative feelings and unpleasant body responses experienced during an anxiety episode or crisis are a consequence of the activation of three brain areas. To explain how stellate ganglion block injection can reduce or eliminate anxiety, readers must understand how anxiety originates.

• First, the brain areas activated during an anxiety episode are the same areas activated during the fight or flight response. The body’s automatic nervous system reaction to a threat, known as the “fight or flight” response, primes the body for survival. To clarify, the brain areas involved are the amygdala, hypothalamus, and insular cortex.

• Second, the amygdala, hypothalamus, and insular cortex receive the misfiring signal from the autonomous nervous system. Therefore, the autonomous nervous system malfunction leads to an overstimulation of the three brain areas mentioned.

• Third, stellate ganglion block injection temporarily halts or blocks the passage of abnormal signals from the peripheric autonomous nervous system to the brain.

• Finally, the autonomous neuron ganglion block injection induces the nervous system to reset itself, stopping the neuron’s misfiring or overstimulation. Consequently, the negative feelings, fears, heart racing, sweating, and other anxiety symptoms significantly decrease or disappear.

The stellate ganglion block is an outpatient procedure that injects bupivacaine, a numbing medicine, around a group of neuron cells. Pain doctors may use an ultrasound or fluoroscopy device and anatomical landmarks to identify the stellate ganglion location. Afterward, your doctor will apply a numbing cream and topical anesthetist. Finally, your doctor will inject the numbing medicine around the stellate ganglion. Although blocking injections are safe, patients stay under medical observation for 30 to 60 minutes.

Each person’s speed response may vary from another. Some patients reported symptom improvement in the first 30 minutes following the stellate ganglion block. Improvement in symptoms may come gradually, and it may take up to 14 days to see the therapy benefits. In addition, a bilateral ganglion block or a successive block may be necessary for certain patients to recover fully.

Anxiety and depression symptoms relief can last from one month to years after a Stellate Ganglion Block. Numerous peer-reviewed scientific research demonstrates that stellate ganglion block significantly reduces chronic anxiety symptoms over the long term. Besides, stellate ganglion block improves depression and mood disorders, particularly those resistant to conventional treatment.

Stellate ganglion block for anxiety and depression treatment takes less than 30 minutes. Indeed, the entire procedure should take about 15 minutes. However, after performing the stellate ganglion block injection, the patient remains under observation for 30 to 45 minutes.

At OmniSpine Pain Management, a pain doctor specialist performs the stellate ganglion block injection. Therefore, pain doctors will take every possible step to achieve a painless and comfortable injection. To emphasize, the entire procedure is painless under local anesthesia. Nevertheless, if patients are anxious or over-vigilant, pain doctors may administer sedatives, which could put them to sleep.

Our board-certified pain medicine specialists at OmniSpnine Pain Management provide the newest and most effective care to help you regain control of your life.

Please call OmniSpine Pain Management at 214-705-1200 to schedule your Stellate Ganglion Block for relieving anxiety and depression. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Frisco, TX, Sunnyvale, TX, and Mesquite, TX. We serve patients from Dallas TX, Frisco TX, Mesquite TX, Sunnyvale TX, Plano TX, Garland TX, Forney TX, Cedar Hill TX, Denton TX, Balch Springs TX, and surrounding areas.