News SGB PTSD Treatment Article

[Aj]

I can say the adrenaline issue is consistent part of my PTSD. It occurs in sudden bouts of anxiety, there is a constant strain from persistent stress on my body. The physical symptoms of anxiety are just overwhelming, to the point of being crippling (especially without medication). I truly believe the effect of the PTSD, the physical manifestation, can account for a number of chronic health conditions from stomach to muscular problems. I don't think I've felt properly relaxed in ten years, let alone slept the same. I feel I've sufficiently dealt with the trauma that caused the PTSD, but the link to the fight or flight in instances like relationship issues to body issues to overreactions to illnesses or allergies, I can see the relationship that Dr. Lipov presents as being a physiological issue.

My concern of course has been the safety of this specific procedure. But having spoken with my doctor, I am glad to find out its a frequently used procedure and risk is minimal. There's no denying that there is risk however, both physically and emotionally. Emotionally this procedure could simply not work, the Chicago Block (or modified SGB) may be just another flash in the pan. The worse consequence though, to me, is not being willing to risk it being the right thing for me. If I hadn't seen on this board first hand accounts of this procedure working or read about the successful studies or the enthusiasm of the military to use this for combat related PTSD, I would probably pass it up. But I figure I have GOT to try.

 

[IchBin]

I would recommend using the sedation for the procedure - it costs the same and you don't have to worry about a guy in your field of vision approaching your neck with a needle...;)

Lipov himself is a totally sweet guy, very confident and obviously compassionate for people who are suffering. You should ask to see his map of where people are from (he's pretty proud of it) and maybe add yourself - I did!

Myself I have noticed the cyclical nature of the disorder, where my symptoms would ebb and flow depending on life events. Some days I would feel pretty good, and think to myself, "I think everything will be alright, I might have a handle on this whole thing," and the very next day encounter a triggering situation and find myself thrown back into the fog, as if I had never made any progress at all. This kind of unpredictability, to say the least, is very hard to live with, and I think that the procedure has helped even these things out for me. It was always hard to express this to other people and my therapist, because while sometimes I would feel good in therapy, other times the flood would be drowning me, and I could see no way out. As for things trickling back in and everything coming back again, that question can only be answered with time, but for now I just don't see it. This stuff really does have biological implications for the brain, and, after all, that is where our symptoms come from. We all know there should be more studies and the evidence is preliminary, but for now, all I can say is that I feel much much better than I did before.

 

[Aj]

My problem of late is within the past 30 days I had to worry about my sister getting pneumonia, after she was out my dad had a heart attack, then two weeks later my girlfriend and I broke up and then three days later we broke up again (prob. for good). Now I'm a total mess, absolutely a mess in a bad place. I worry if this will impact the procedure or not. Or maybe this extreme of emotions I run when stuff like this happens (anxiety and panic) will actually be toned down after this is done. I'm still not ready to say, "No, it's not worth trying." I just wish it was under much better circumstances. :(

 

[raul_barco]

I've just returned from Chicago where I received the Stellate Ganglion Block from Dr. Lipov. I'm on Day 3 since the treatment and the results are remarkable. I felt different within 15 minutes of receiving the injection. The change in perception is astounding as well as the sense of calm. I've been in several situations already where I would normally be triggered or would find myself ruminating or paranoid in my hypervigilance. Nada. I'm sleeping deeper than I've slept in as long as I can remember and it feels like a gigantic rock has been taken off my back and the chattering head monkeys have gone quiet.

I had the opportunity to meet two other people fresh from the treatment. They both reported a similar "instant" response. And I met with a Vietnam vet who has been living without PTSD symptoms now for six months or so whose life has been completely changed.

I'm happy to talk more about my experience. I'm not sure exactly where the best place would be to start a thread but maybe Anthony can weigh in.

It's a brand new day. And I start weaning off the anti-d's today to see how things go without the meds. Others who've received the block have been able to go med free. It's likely that I'll require more treatments -- usually it takes at least 2. But even if I needed to get jabbed annually, the relief of symptoms is worth it. And vastly superior to the other things I've tried. It's the only one that took the symptoms completely away.

Hi. Do you know if SGB treatment can be applied by any anesthetist or this treatment has to be applied only by Eugene Lipov because the treatment has to be applied following an specific method? I have readen that the block consists in the selectively blocking the right stellate ganglion at C6 level. I live in Spain and it is impossible for me to travel to Chicago. Thank you very much for your contribution. Waiting impatiently for your answer, best regards.

 

[Kim A4]

I found this news story today: (I am not allowed to post links yet, but search for WGNTV dot com and search PTSD at this TV station's site ). There is a story dated June 19 about an SGB recipient called "Overcoming PTSD".

I also heard personally this week from another new recipient of the SGB I met online who feels completely "reborn". Smashing.

 

[anthony]

[DLMURL]http://www.wgntv.com/entertainment/viral/wgntv-overcoming-ptsd-exmarine-works-to-help-others-overcome-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-20110619,0,420421.story[/DLMURL]

I would say that is very lacking in any type of evidence, even evidence about the persons PTSD itself. He endured a singular accident as a race car driver that created a temporary paralysis, which he overcame with hard self rehabilitation.

I don't think media hype stories are effective analysis for SGB at this time, considering actual persons postings in this thread, some it has worked for, some it has not, and there are zero actual studies at this point that empirically outline this treatments results in PTSD. Right now... its all claims... no significant evidence.

I stick to my initial statements... I think people should try it, because without people trying it, then the results needed cannot be found to outline whether it has actual benefit for PTSD or whether its only working on people who have been diagnosed with PTSD, but more maybe don't really have PTSD, and instead got misdiagnosed... or are really at the lesser scale of what PTSD actually is, more around the ASD basis.

Time will tell... and American media in hyper marketing action is not something I would recommend to anyone... coming from the same country who's principles are profiteering from pharmaceuticals and diagnosing you with everything and anything to get you on the drugs marketed across TV. Not exactly unbiased stuff.

 

[Aj]

anthony: I agree with what you're saying. I hope when I get the procedure done I will contribute to the findings. I was first diagnosed with PTSD after a car accident in 2001 and have been repeatedly diagnosed since. That's a ten year span of PTSD with the initial stimuli not being as strong as it was when I was first diagnosed. I know I read of an almost identical situation and time frame for the SGB treatment (or Chicago Block) of another individual and it worked. So then the evidence has to take into account the length of time the person has been diagnosed, to what extent, etc. It's complicated and in its infancy but worth trying for sure.

 

[Aj]

Tomorrow is my SGB (Chicago block). I may wait a few days or I may post after I get home, I don't know. Either way I will definitely share the results with everyone. Here's (cautiously) hoping for the best!

 

[Kim A4]

I was merely happy to see anything at all about the SGB for PTSD in the news. I am hoping that as the word gets around, that the demand will grow and research/studies will accelerate. Since the procedure is so safe and simple, it still seems like a possible future first line of treatment in diagnosed PTSD victims.

One thing that I wonder about is whether there are either different types of PTSD which may respond to the Chicago block differently, or if it is possible that some people are misdiagnosed and may have other anxiety conditions that may not be connected to the Stellate Ganglion action, but mimic PTSD? I am unfamiliar, but does ALL anxiety come from excess of adrenaline in the same part of the brain? Are there other social anxiety disorders that function like PTSD but may be chemically different in process? I would think that at some point this procedure may be being administered on those without the same neurological disorder, thereby experiencing a possible lack of relief.
After 25 years of being treated and classified as "borderline personality disorder" (and never "feeling" it), finally a comprehensive criteria (hopefully in the DSM-V manual this year) for Complex PTSD has been put forth. I was misdiagnosed for 25 years, mostly because CPTSD is a "new" diagnosis and some of the criteria overlap. I feel validated in the eventual diagnosis, however, as the SGB cleared up all my lifelong symptoms previously unaided by other treatments.

 

[Kim A4]

PS All the best of luck to you Aj!

 

[Kim A4]

To Raul - you do not need to come to Chicago if you can find an open-minded pain doctor locally. That is how I got my SGB. If you would like to convo with me, I can tell you more. Kim

 

[ikop]

Ptsd is the mother of all anxieties , it is central disfunctional nervous system that can couse anthing , from social anxiety to agarofobia and panic attacks. that is the reason it so hard to treat ....