SGB Treatment: Stellate Ganglion Block

When Your Body Refuses to “Turn Off”

Trauma, whether from combat, an accident, or childhood neglect, changes the way your brain talks to your body. It leaves your sympathetic nervous system (your “fight or flight” response) stuck in the ON position.

This leads to the physical symptoms of trauma that are so hard to live with:

• Constant anxiety or a feeling of “doom.”
• Being easily startled or “jumpy.”
• Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares.
• Irritability and a “short fuse.”

The Science of the “Physical Reset”

The Stellate Ganglion is a bundle of nerves in your neck that acts like a two-way highway between your brain’s fear center and the rest of your body.

By precisely injecting a long-acting numbing medicine around this nerve bundle, we essentially “reboot” that highway. This interruption allows the “fight or flight” center of your brain to calm down, often providing relief from physical anxiety symptoms in as little as 30 minutes.

Who SGB Can Help

SGB is best known for post-traumatic stress, but the same overactive alarm system drives several conditions. Published research supports SGB for:

• PTSD: from combat, sexual trauma, childhood abuse, first responder work, accidents and other civilian trauma.
• Anxiety: in a study of 285 patients, SGB cut anxiety scores roughly in half.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): patients saw about a 50% improvement in TBI symptoms, independent of any PTSD.
• Chronic pain: SGB has long been used for certain nerve-related pain conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome.

The ROSM Standard: Pioneering Compassion

At ROSM, we don’t just “offer” SGB; we are home to the experts who helped put it on the map.

• The Mulvaney Legacy: Dr. Sean Mulvaney, a former Navy SEAL officer and Army physician, pioneered SGB for PTSD during his military career. He has performed more than 5,300 ultrasound-guided SGBs and published 23 peer-reviewed studies on the procedure, more original SGB research than any other scientist in the world, including a randomized clinical trial in JAMA Psychiatry. His work has been featured on CBS 60 Minutes and in the Wall Street Journal.
• Two Levels, Both Sides: Most clinics block a single level of the nerve chain. Dr. Mulvaney’s protocol treats two levels (C6 and C4), which his research found may provide greater benefit, and can treat both sides of the neck on separate days for patients who need it.
• Ultrasound Precision: Because these nerves sit near vital structures in the neck, precision is non-negotiable. We use high-definition ultrasound to watch the needle in real-time, ensuring the medicine lands exactly where it needs to go for maximum safety and effect.
• A Holistic Path: We believe SGB is a powerful tool, but it works best when combined with therapy and a strong support system. We are here to provide the physical reset so you can do the emotional work of healing.

The Journey: What to Expect

• Step 1, The Procedure: The injection takes less than 15 minutes. It is performed in our office while you are comfortably positioned.
• Step 2, The Sensation: You may feel a brief “fullness” in your neck. Shortly after, you may notice a temporary drooping of your eyelid or a warm sensation in your arm, which is a normal sign that the block is working! Some patients also have a slightly hoarse voice for a few hours.
• Step 3, The Relief: Many patients feel a “wave of calm” within 30 minutes of the procedure.
• Step 4, The Next Steps: While the numbing medicine wears off in a few hours, the “reset” effect on the nervous system can last for months or longer.

Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?

You don’t have to just “live with” the pain or wait for it to get worse. Let’s see if a physical reset can be the first step in your recovery.

Details about Dr. Mulvaney’s SGB protocol and research, and select photos on this page, are courtesy of his SGB Treatment Center and drseanmulvaney.com.