Have you tried this treatment? Stellate Ganglion Block study

I had a Stellate Ganglion Block. It is said to reset an overzealous autonomic nervous system. It was wonderful.
Definitely worth a try.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10498998/#:~:text=10.7759%2Fcureus.45161-,Stellate%20Ganglion%20Block%20Relieves%20Long%20COVID%2D19%20Symptoms%20in%2086,Patients%3A%20A%20Retrospective%20Cohort%20Study

Thanks. Can you elaborate on what symptoms did it help and how long did it help you

How do you know if you have over zealous ANS or sluggish? I’ m very slowly using a vagus nerve device….very low and slow for a month…

The stellate ganglion block is thought to modulate the vagus nerve. Sometimes an overactive response slows responses like digestion, sometimes it aggravates the digestive system.
People with long Covid, PTSD, hot flashes, digestive motility problems, anxiety might benefit. I think that almost anyone would benefit from the block because with these long lives we repeatedly stress the autonomic nervous system. Probably the only way to know is to have an injection. High cortisol levels could be a clue. I didn't have any diagnosis. The doctor just listened before giving me the shot.

I’ve had 7 Stellate Ganglion Block Injections and it did help a great deal with my body jitters. It did not bring my taste or smell back, but gave me more salty, sweet, bitter taste on my tongue. I lost my taste/smell with Covid in December of 2022. I still don’t have that back, but will be working on getting it back until my last breath! I will be calling our Northwestern Comprehensive Covid 19 Center today to see if I can get some good help. If anyone’s in the Chicagoland area and needs help, call 312-926-9900.

Could you share more? What symptoms did it help with? How long did the improvement last? Did you insurance cover the procedure (I have this uneasy feeling that insurance may declare it to be outside of standard of care and the procedure sounds pretty expensive).

hi paullab,
I had the block 15 or more years ago. It cost me $1,000. I didn't ask insurance to pay, though it would have. I wanted it to determine if it was safe for my best friend (mom).
Insurance will pay for "medically necessary" nerve blocks.
It is usually a series of injection 4-10, if the first block works for you. The effect can last four months, but commonly would be rescheduled within weeks of the first.
I'm sorry not to be more help. But I think it is so worthwhile that I hope you pursue it with a physician specialist. They will know how to bill to secure payment.
The treatment became common for PTSD and subsequently Long Covid.

I’m in the Uk and tried all sorts of things to try to lessen 5 years of Long Covid particularly my dysautonomia (high BP at rest, breathlessness, but postural hypotension dipping to 61/40 at tilt table test, with high HR after to try to get oxygenated blood to brain before fainting). I have chronic all over pain and lack of smell too but they are not as disabilitating….i don’t know whether I need vagus stimulating or depressing. It’s all rather confusing, ganglion blocks are not so readily used here and reading American Dr.Groysman’s webpages not sure I’d want someone who was not very experienced doing it!

wilsonanderson, injections in the neck are scary, but they are pretty safe. Are you thinking that in the UK they might not have as much experience. I always worry about teaching hospitals. Five years is such a long time to suffer with this. I hope you find an experienced practitioner and that it helps. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165572821003118

I had long Covid for about six months before my stellate ganglion block by a Pain specialist MD in Anchorage, Alaska. It was an easy procedure. Within two weeks my blood pressure and heart rate returned to normal. The dizziness, anxiety, nausea and brain fog improved slowly over the next month. The symptoms that did not improve were depression, fatigue, and post exertional malaise so I had another block two months later. I also had neuro feedback treatments for the depression after Antidepressants did not help. I did 20 minutes of light exercise(walking) daily and got plenty of rest and healthy food but still managed to lose 30 pounds without trying to. I had a strong group of Christian women praying with me and encouraging me. After 11 months of Covid I felt like my normal 66 year old self again. I hope you recover soon too.