• 28 Oct, 2026
• UnityPain
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Stellate Ganglion Block | Unity Pain Clinic Modesto

When Pain and the Nervous System Collide

Living with certain types of chronic pain, hot flashes, or even symptoms tied to trauma can feel like your body is stuck in a constant state of alarm. When nothing seems to calm that alarm down, it can be exhausting and discouraging. You may have tried many treatments without finding real relief. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone — and there are still options worth exploring.

One option that doctors have used for decades is called a stellate ganglion block. It is a type of nerve block that targets a specific group of nerves in the neck. These nerves play a role in how the body responds to stress and pain. Understanding what this procedure is, how it works, and who might benefit can help you have a more informed conversation with your care team.

What Is the Stellate Ganglion?

The stellate ganglion is a collection of nerve tissue located on either side of the voice box, in the lower part of the neck. It is part of the sympathetic nervous system — the system that controls your body’s “fight or flight” response. This includes things like heart rate, blood pressure, and how your body reacts to stress or danger.

When the sympathetic nervous system stays turned on too long or too strongly, it can contribute to certain types of pain, hot flashes, and other uncomfortable symptoms. The stellate ganglion acts like a relay station for these signals. Blocking or quieting its activity may help calm some of those signals down.

It is important to know that the stellate ganglion and its role in various conditions is still being studied. Research is ongoing, and doctors continue to learn more about how and when this block works best.

What Happens During the Procedure?

A stellate ganglion block is an injection of a local anesthetic — a numbing medicine — near the stellate ganglion in the neck. The doctor uses imaging guidance, such as fluoroscopy (a type of live X-ray) or ultrasound, to place the needle safely and accurately. The goal is to temporarily interrupt the nerve signals traveling through that area.

The procedure itself is usually done in a clinical or procedure room setting and takes a relatively short amount of time. Patients are typically awake but may be given medication to help them feel relaxed. After the injection, you are monitored for a period before going home. Most people need a ride, as driving yourself afterward is not recommended.

Side effects can occur and may include temporary hoarseness, drooping of the eyelid on the injection side (called Horner’s syndrome), or warmth and flushing in the arm. These effects are usually temporary. As with any medical procedure, there are risks, which your doctor will explain in detail before you agree to move forward.

What Conditions May Be Helped?

Stellate ganglion blocks have been used to treat several different conditions. One of the most studied uses is for hot flashes, particularly in women who cannot take hormone therapy due to cancer history or other medical reasons. Research has shown that this block may reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes in some patients.

Doctors have also used stellate ganglion blocks for certain types of chronic pain conditions, including complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), pain in the head, neck, or upper extremities tied to the sympathetic nervous system, and some cases of nerve pain. There is also growing interest in its use for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, though this research is still in earlier stages.

It is very important to understand that this procedure does not work the same way for every person or every condition. A thorough evaluation by a qualified pain specialist is essential to determine whether this block is appropriate for your specific situation. No procedure can guarantee results.

Is It Safe?

When performed by an experienced, trained physician using proper imaging guidance, a stellate ganglion block is generally considered a low-risk procedure. However, like all interventional procedures, it does carry some risks. These can include infection, bleeding, unintended injection into a blood vessel, or temporary effects on nearby structures in the neck.

Serious complications are uncommon but possible. That is why this procedure should only be performed by a doctor with specialized training in interventional pain management or anesthesiology. Choosing the right care team and facility matters a great deal for both your safety and the quality of care you receive.

Before the procedure, your doctor will review your full medical history, current medications, and any allergies. Be sure to share everything openly so your provider can make the safest plan for you.

What to Expect After the Block

Some patients notice changes shortly after the injection, while others may not see any benefit or may need more than one procedure. Results can vary widely. If the block does help, the relief may last for weeks or longer, depending on the condition being treated and the individual patient.

Your doctor may recommend additional treatments alongside the block, such as physical therapy, medication management, or other supportive care. A stellate ganglion block is often one part of a broader pain management plan, not a standalone cure.

Keeping track of your symptoms after the procedure — what improved, what stayed the same, and for how long — can help your doctor fine-tune your care going forward. Open communication with your care team is one of the most important parts of managing complex pain conditions.

Finding the Right Support in Modesto

If you are curious about stellate ganglion blocks or other pain management options, speaking with a qualified pain specialist is the right first step. At Unity Pain Management in Modesto, CA, the team is committed to helping patients explore safe, evidence-informed options for pain relief. The clinic welcomes most insurance plans and also offers telehealth visits for those who prefer to start with a remote consultation.

You deserve a care team that listens, takes your pain seriously, and works with you to find what may help. Reaching out to ask questions is never a wrong move — it is the beginning of taking your health back into your hands.

References

• Lipov, Eugene, and Shira Kelzenberg. “Sympathetic nervous system modulation to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a review of clinical evidence and neurobiology.” Journal of Affective Disorders. 2012.
• Pachman, Darrell R., et al. “Pilot evaluation of minocycline for the prevention of paclitaxel-associated neuropathy.” Supportive Care in Cancer. 2017. (Cross-referenced with stellate ganglion and hot flash research via NIH PubMed records.)
• Teas, Jane, et al. “Stellate Ganglion Block for the Treatment of Hot Flashes.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH. Referenced via PubMed.
• Carroll, Ian, et al. “Sympathetic nerve blocks.” StatPearls, National Library of Medicine (NIH/NCBI). 2023.
• Mayo Clinic Staff. “Stellate ganglion block.” Mayo Clinic. mayoclinic.org.