A stellate ganglion injection is a procedure involving the injection of local anesthetic to block sympathetic nerves on either side of the voice box in the neck. Stellate ganglion injections may alleviate symptoms such as pain, swelling, color, and sweating changes in the upper extremity, improving mobility. The injection is targeted to treat pain in the head, neck, chest, or arm.
Stellate ganglion injections can be performed for therapeutic (to relieve pain) and/or diagnostic (to determine the source of pain) purposes. Physicians may recommend a series of blocks 1-2 weeks apart, allowing patients to experience more long-term pain relief. The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting, lasts 30 minutes, and involves the following steps:
Intravenous medication is administered to relax the patient
The skin near the target area is cleansed
A thin needle is positioned using X-ray guidance
Local anesthetic is injected, then an anesthetic medication is injected
A stellate ganglion injection is effective in diagnosing and treating circulation problems or nerve injuries, including the following conditions:
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Causalgia
Complex regional pain syndrome type I or II
Herpes zoster infection
Phantom limb pain
The procedure is performed to achieve the following effects:
Diagnose the cause of pain in the face, head, arms, and chest
Manage pain in the head, neck, chest, or arm caused by nerve injuries or shingles
Reduce sweating in the face, head, arms, and hands
Treat reflex sympathetic dystrophy, sympathetically maintained pain, or complex regional pain syndrome