Pain medicine, pain management, fibromyalgia, Arizona pain, back pain, pain treatment, discography, back pain, neck pain, migraine., headaches, sciatica, muscle pain, Arizona pain center, acupuncture, arthritis, Arizona, Scottsdale,
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Procedure

A sympathetic nerve block involves injecting a local numbing anesthetic (lidocaine, bupivacaine) and a corticosteroid into
the space where the sympathetic nerve ganglion are located.  A local skin anesthetic is given first to numb the area and
then another needle is inserted near the ganglion.  The entire procedure takes less than 15minutes and x-ray guidance is
used to ensure proper needle position.

Sometimes your physician will recommend intravenous sedation to make the procedure more comfortable.  Your physician
will monitor you after the procedure to see what effects the block has on your pain.


























Benefits

Sympathetic nerve blockade in the cervical and upper thoracic region are commonly used techniques for a variety of
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes (Elias 2003).  Two things may happen after receiving the block.  First, you may
experience complete pain relief.  If this happens, your pain is related to your sympathetic nervous system and continued
sympathetic nerve blocks will most likely be beneficial.  Second, the pain does not go away, but your physician determines
that the sympathetic block was physiologically successful.  If this happens, your physician may determine that your pain is
not originating from the sympathetic nervous system and the block is of diagnostic value.  

Regardless of the outcome, sympathetic nerve blockade is a minimally invasive treatment that has relieved pain for many
people with chronic pain.  The most important and greatest success achieved with the use of sympathetic ganglion blocks
is the rapid relief of symptoms that allows patients to experience enough relief and regain the ability to resume their
normal daily activities and physical therapy.



Risks

With a minimal amount of risks, sympathetic ganglion blocks are considered an appropriate and safe non-surgical
treatment for many patients who suffer from pain. Complications of the ganglion block include infection, bleeding,
pneumothorax (collapsed lung), nerve damage, and pharmacological complications related to the drugs utilized (Elias
2000).  

Since the goal of the procedure is to block sympathetic nerves, some expected but transient changes may result.  These
changes can include drooping of the eyelid and stuffy nose and usually resolve within hours.



Outcome

Sympathetic nerve blocks are effective in relieving some chronic pain conditions.  A difficult to treat condition, Complex
Regional Pain Syndrome 1 has been shown to have excellent analgesia and alleviation of clinical pain symptoms after
sympathetic blocks.

Pain that originates from the sympathetic nervous system is not easily treated by oral pain medications so sympathetic
blocks are an extremely effective and beneficial treatment option.

If you are suffering from chronic pain and are in need pain relief, call Arizona Pain Specialists today to see what they can
do for you.



Articles:

Cervical sympathetic and stellate ganglion blocks. Elias M.Pain Physician. 2000 Jul;3(3):294-304

Sympathetic nerve blocks in mandibular herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.
Gomes RT, de Nazareth Pedras RB, da Silva JF, de Aguiar MC.Headache. 2007 May;47(5):728-30

Stellate ganglion blockade provides relief from menopausal hot flashes: a case report series. Lipov E, Lipov S, Stark JT.
Womens Health (Larchmt). 2005 Oct;14(8):737-41
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Pain medicine, pain management, fibromyalgia, Arizona pain, back pain, pain treatment, discography, back pain, neck pain, migraine., headaches, sciatica, muscle pain, Arizona pain center, acupuncture, arthritis, Arizona, Scottsdale,
Sympathetic Blocks
by Nicole Berardoni M.D, Tory McJunkin M.D, and Paul Lynch M.D
A sympathetic nerve block is the injection of a local anesthetic into
a sympathetic ganglion to diagnose and/or treat pain disorders
that involve the sympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system is a linkage of nerves
throughout the entire body.  The nerves originate in the spinal
cord and branch out to influence many bodily functions, such as
blood pressure, urination, defecation, and sexual arousal.  

A ganglion is a bundle of nerves that come together.  The stellate
ganglion (upper body)  as well as the sympathetic chain (lower
body) supply the entire body’s sympathetic nervous system.  
When these nerves are irritated or injured, the blood supply to
your hands, feet, or other areas may be affected and can
produce pain or sensory changes.  Headaches, neck pain, and
facial pain can also be seen in patients who have sympathetic
nerve dysfunction.
Pain medicine, pain management, fibromyalgia, Arizona pain, back pain, pain treatment, discography, back pain, neck pain, migraine., headaches, sciatica, muscle pain, Arizona pain center, acupuncture, arthritis, Arizona, Scottsdale, phoenix
Book I  -  Pain Syndromes

Chapter 1     Low Back Pain
Chapter 2     Neck Pain
Chapter 3     Cancer Pain
Chapter 4     Headaches
Chapter 5     Spinal Stenosis
Chapter 6     Sciatica
Chapter 7     Arthritis
Chapter 8     Fibromyalgia
Chapter 9     Motor Vehicle Injuries
Chapter 10   Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome
Chapter 11   Vertebral Body
Fractures
Chapter 12   Hip and Leg Pain
Chapter 13   Diabetic Peripheral
Neuropathy

Book II  -  Interventional Procedures

Chapter 14   Epidural Steroid
Injection
Chapter 15   Facet Injections/Medial
Branch Blocks
Chapter 16   Radiofrequency Ablation
Chapter 17   Spinal Cord Stimulator
Implants
Chapter 18   IntraDiscal
Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
Chapter 19   
Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty   
Chapter 20   Discography
Chapter 21   Percutaneous
Discectomy
Chapter 22   Occipital Nerve Block
Chapter 23   Sympathetic Block
Chapter 24   Stellate Ganglion Block
Chapter 25   Intrathecal Pump
Implants
Chapter 26   Caudal Steroid Injection
Chapter 27   Adhesiolysis
Chapter 28   Cervical Steroid
Injection
Chapter 29   Sacroiliac Joint
Injections
Chapter 30   Celiac Plexus Block
Chapter 31   Head and Neck
Procedures
Chapter 32   Joint Injections
Chapter 33   Continuous Catheter
Nerve Blocks
Chapter 34   Peripheral Nerve
Stimulation/Field Stimulation
Chapter 35   Disc Denervation

Book III   Other Treatments

Chapter 36   Medication Management
Chapter 37   Acupuncture
Chapter 38   Prolotherapy
Chapter 39   Botox
Chapter 40   Massage
Chapter 41   Alternative and
Complementary Medicines
Chapter 42   Exercise and Nutrition
Counseling
Chapter 43   Prayer
Chapter 44   Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy
Chapter 45   Group Therapy
Chapter 46   Biofeedback
Chapter 47   Chiropractic
Manipulations
Chapter 48   Vitamin Supplements
Chapter 49   Customized
Pharmaceutical Formulations
Chapter 50   Hormone Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions