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vWhen Marlo A. returned home from deployment in 2006, it wasn't long before she realized she needed treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The trauma she'd been through started taking a heavy mental toll — which led to further problems.
"I had to go to the VA several times," she said. "I was hospitalized seven to eight times for suicidal thoughts and an eating disorder."
After years of dealing with this debilitating condition, she could have resigned herself to thinking that there was no possible way to get relief. But then Marlo came across an article from Aspen Orthopedic Pain and Spine that explained how a new treatment called a Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) could ease her troubled mind.
Desperately seeking a solution to her pain, Marlo decided to give this treatment a try. Though the SGB doesn't cure PTSD outright, its effects have been a game-changer.
"My life has been different ever since," she states. "I can take a step back and take a breath … There's a sense of peace and calmness."
If Marlo's situation resonates with you, here's what you need to know if you're seeking relief yourself.
Do you struggle with PTSD? You're not alone
The American Psychiatric Association states that PTSD "is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury."
Symptoms can be debilitating and interfere with everyday life. They include feelings of shame, fear, self-destructive behavior, intrusive thoughts, aggressive behavior, distressing dreams, trouble sleeping and more.
If you're part of the 3.5% of the U.S. adult population that suffers from PTSD, perhaps you've tried a variety of treatments but these symptoms keep cropping up, lessening your quality of life.
When the brain gets stuck in 'danger mode'
When your brain perceives that you're in danger, it activates the fight-or-flight response, which is also known as the acute stress response. Verywell Mind states that this danger might be something physical, such as a barking dog, or it may be psychological, like preparing to give a big presentation. Sometimes it can be triggered by something that isn't a true threat, but your brain thinks it is. (Phobias are a good example.)
While this can serve as a good defense mechanism to protect yourself in harmful situations, some people — including those with PTSD — may suffer from an overactive fight-or-flight response.
According to WebMD, "PTSD causes your brain to get stuck in danger mode. Even after you're no longer in danger, it stays on high alert. Your body continues to send out stress signals, which lead to PTSD symptoms. Studies show that the part of the brain that handles fear and emotion (the amygdala) is more active in people with PTSD."
If this has been your experience, it's time to finally break the cycle.
How a Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) can help you find peace
For decades, doctors and researchers have been working to find a good solution for people who suffer from PTSD. But developing an effective treatment that's safe and fast-acting (with few side effects) has proven difficult. One study published on PubMed Central reports that "success rates of PTSD treatments are generally variable, with remission rates that range from 30% to 40%." But now a new treatment called Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is showing promising results and might just offer the relief people are looking for.
SGB is a simple outpatient procedure involving an injection into the base of the neck, where the stellate ganglion — a collection of nerves — is located. Since this is connected to the amygdala (the part of the brain that handles fear), it can temporarily subdue the fight or flight response.
RTI International launched a randomized, controlled trial of SGB in 2014 and concluded in 2019 that the treatment "is indeed effective" after monitoring patient health outcomes for eight weeks after injections. The study also showed improvement in depression, distress, anxiety, pain and physical and mental functioning.
"SGB is a true breakthrough in PTSD treatment," states the nonprofit research institute. "It is a powerful new option for people suffering from PTSD—one that may be more readily accepted by military service members and veterans, for whom the stigma associated with mental healthcare is often a deterrent to seeking treatment. We hope that our study is the first step to healing for millions of veterans and others for whom PTSD symptoms have long been a barrier to a better life."
A different PubMed Central study concluded that SGB "is a minimally invasive procedure with an excellent safety profile that may provide sustained relief of PTSD symptoms. The procedure may also provide benefit for those who are resistant to psychotropic intervention."
So far, the outlook is positive that SGB can be a safe and effective alternative for PTSD and anxiety treatment. The best way to find out if it's right for you is to consult a medical professional.
Why it's important to seek treatment right away
If you or someone you know suffers from PTSD or severe anxiety, it's important to get medical help as early as possible. Apart from the toll this condition takes on a person's mental health, it can also cause serious physical harm to the brain. WebMD states that PTSD can cause the hippocampus (the area that controls your memory) to get smaller over time.
Early treatment improves your quality of life in both the short and long term, so don't put off getting the help you need! Schedule an appointment with Aspen Orthopedic Pain and Spine today and take back control of your life.
As for whether or not Marlo would recommend the treatment to someone who might be on the fence, she has a clear answer for that.
"Knowing what I know now, I would've done it years and years ago. I wouldn't wait ever again."
