Stellate Ganglion Blocks

The Center for Pain Management uses stellate ganglion blocks as a pain management treatment options to relieve chronic neck  pain and acute neck pain. A stellate ganglion block is performed under fluoroscopy to determine if there is damage to the sympathetic nerve chain and if it is the source of the patient’s arm pain. The block is primarily diagnostic in nature, but it may provide pain relief beyond the duration of the anesthetic.

How it works: A local skin anesthetic is given near the base of the neck on the affected side. A needle is inserted by the anesthesiologist near the transverse process of the cervical spine (usually at the cervical-6 level). A sterile tubing is attached to the needle and anesthetic medication is slowly injected through the tubing.

The patient may note increased warmth and redness of the painful arm during and after the injection. The patient can expect hoarseness of their voice, redness of the eye, drooping of the eyelid and pupillary constriction for four to eight hours after the injection. The patient’s pain relief may be immediately noticeable. However, the duration of relief is variable. The patient must assess the level of pain relief over the first few hours after the injection and report this to the physician.