Minimally invasive pain management treatments are a great way to ease your symptoms without the extended turnaround time of a surgery. As such, many consider stellate ganglion blocks a good first step on their way to relief and recovery. This treatment is the process of injecting localized anesthetic with the purpose of targeting areas of intense or chronic pain. When administered regularly, they can help reduce your discomfort long-term and help you maintain your lifestyle. However, there’s still a lot to know before you commit to this treatment. This blog details what to expect during a stellate ganglion block procedure.
IV and Anesthetic Administration
Upon arriving for your treatment, one of the first things the professional will do is ensure you’re comfortable. This includes getting you situated on the treatment table and providing enough pillows to support your back and shoulders. They’ll also inject an IV line to ensure you stay hydrated and calm throughout the entire procedure. It’s vital that you’re calm by the time the treatment begins for maximum comfort and effect. Then, your specialist will start administering the anesthetic through an area on your neck.
Some Discomfort in the Neck
While this injection can help with chronic pain, it’s important to understand that you’ll still experience some discomfort during the shot itself. This is because the neck is a sensitive area, and your specialist may need to feel around before finding the perfect spot for the shot. Administering the anesthetic can take anywhere between five and ten minutes. Make sure that you stay still and relaxed until the specialist removes the needle.
Repositioning Depending on Your Symptoms
Another crucial thing to expect during a stellate ganglion block procedure is movement following your injection. This form of treatment can help with pain in several locations throughout the body. However, you may need to change your position to best spread the medication to the source of that pain. Those with pain in their heads will be asked to remain lying down. However, those who experience pain in a lower part of the body, such as the arm or leg, might need to sit up to help the medicine flow downward.
Same-Day Recovery and Dismissal
Fortunately, you can also expect a quick turnaround from your stellate ganglion block procedure. Because this process is as simple as a single injection, it only takes around 30 to 40 minutes. Your specialist may ask you to wait in the recovery area for a while, but overall, treatment wraps up quickly, and you can soon go home with detailed discharge instructions.
Don’t live with pain and discomfort when these treatments can help ease your symptoms. At Pain and Spine Specialists, we pride ourselves on offering top chronic pain treatments in Frederick, Maryland. No matter your condition, we will work with you to create an effective treatment plan. We offer a variety of procedures, including those that treat stellate ganglion blocks, always administered by a qualified professional.