News SGB PTSD Treatment Article

[Abstract]

Actually just thinking about this cdg, and am guessing a good part of having this would be to do with your chronic pain/facial tension problem that is bothering you so much. I guess it would make sense to give it a go since it is something that can potentially give some relief to both.I imagine even a short break may help you stabilise just a little. You have to weigh the risks of course.

I am afraid I know next to nothing about the procedure other than what I have read here and I don't know anyone that has had it so am no use in that regard.

 

[DMerish]

I think healing/improving involves a journey rather than a procedure.

I'm inclined to think pregnancy and labor involves a journey, one which includes "medical intervention" at times, i.e. spinal block or cesarean section to deliver the baby and/or save the mother's life.

My daughter's trauma was horrific (macabre / gruesome / messy). Considering its nature and being somewhat familiar with the long-range effects of PTSD personally from having a moderate case, it's my opinion that SBG may be very helpful for my daughter in order to live a more "normal" life and may save money over the long haul.

Last Thursday, I emailed two locations that provide the procedure. I'll post when/if my daughter goes that route.

 

[Hashi]

DM, were you offended or upset by what I said?

I'm not clear why you quoted the first part of what I wrote but not the second, where I said I thought that interventions can sometimes be useful.

I felt the way you quoted me seemed a bit pointed, but perhaps I'm imagining that so I wanted to check with you.

 

[anthony]

Merged.

 

[DMerish]

Hi Hashi,

I'm glad you've inquired ;) so we can clear it up.

I can sometimes I can be a bit abrupt in how I write and speak and/or maybe, like you say, you took what I said in a "pointed" way. Maybe we have some of both going on. I'm not sure. Anyways, here's the full paragraph . . .

I think healing/improving involves a journey rather than a procedure. I know that medications and other treatments can sometimes be appropriate in giving support along the way, but what I've read about SGB doesn't convince me this is one of those examples.

My mind analysis/thoughts -

• Your first sentence expressed your opinion that dealing with PTSD requires (i.e. "involves") a process (i.e. it's a "journey").
• The first half of your second sentence stated you have knowledge that medication and other treatments can help (I assumed "other treatments" meant the typical avenues for treatment: therapy, medication, meditation, etc).
• In my mind, the second half of your second sentence meant that you were not of the opinion that SGB should be included as a viable (i.e. good method) of treatment for PTSD symptoms.

The two reasons I only quoted your first sentence in my previous post were: (1) to shorten up the length of my post overall and (2) point out that a/the "journey" can include a "procedure". With (1) I've noticed I can be quite wordy; I'm trying to curb that. With (2) I like the word "journey" - like I said, I wanted to connect "journey" to include the possibility of a "procedure" and thought using pregnancy and labor might provide an apt analogy.

In contrast to therapy, which (to my thinking) involves actively working on one's self from the inside (i.e. talk therapy, CBT, meditation, holotropic breath work, etc.), my definition of "procedure" is something that is passive, which comes from outside one's self through someone else (i.e. massage, Rolfing, SGB).

Hashi, if my leaving out a section of your quoted post offended you I apologize. Doing that wasn't my intention. I can see now how leaving out part of your quote might cause someone to think that maybe I was offended or that I was trying to invalidate what you wrote. Neither were the case. I wasn't offended or upset by your post.

Communication (verbal and written) can be sooooo tricky sometimes!
Peace,

Drew :hug:

 

[amy_ Little]

My name is Amy and I am one of the first people who had SGB done. The earlier article is actually about me... I had 3 SGB with my last one being in 2008 and have not had any issues since then. Best thing I have ever done! I also feel so good about the results that I am currently helping Dr.Lipov with the Non-for profit Chicago Medical Innovations. Any questions feel free to ask!

 

[Powder]

I'm interested to hear any more comments about the procedure.

Mary Moore

According to the article above, the SGB, if successful, treats "fight-flight-freeze" response and high levels of epinephrine and adrenals in the body/brain.

The article claims that emotions and memories (Re-experiencing) will not be diminished by the procedure. Therefore, therapy and perhaps Rx therapy are still indicated.

I don't think anyone working on the SGB see it as a quick fix. They see it as a means to get some relief from what biological damage has occurred to the nervous system. This stops much of the PTSD response. But the emotional traumatic memory and cognitive processing of what has happened does not go away. This leaves 100% of that work still left to be done.

I see it as that medical science is getting better at restoring biologic functions after trauma. However, we still look to the healing arts for help healing our minds and spirits. That, I agree with Hashi, is not A journey, but THE journey, we are all on together.

Much love, Muse

 

[anthony]

To be honest, I think you don't hear much about it because the results were actually more miss than hit. It is one of those things you could try, but I honestly wouldn't get my hopes up about. If it worked for your specific case, then great. Otherwise, just keep on going with conventional methods.

 

[Justmehere]

I have had it done several times for a trauma related medical condition.

It's a very freaky procedure. If they miss the spot by the slightest amount, they can hit the wrong nerves and you can have a seizure or stop breathing - and if either happen, they would have to put a tube down your throat to keep you breathing until the medication wears off. You have to lie very still on your back and watch while they put the needle into your neck. Sometimes they get the right spot, sometimes not. It's quite painful.

I can see how in some cases there might be some benefit in the short term to some PTSD symptoms. My own PTSD symptoms actually got a bit better when I had the procedure for the trauma related medical condition. It was an interesting "side effect" in my case.

But then the PTSD symptoms came back after about a month, just as bad as before.

Even if my symptoms did not come back, I think therapy is much easier. (And I find therapy very hard.)

That's just my personal experience.

I still am glad they are researching options like these and figuring out how the nervous system works and looking for more and more treatment options and tools.

 

[billie]

Interesting. .....

 

[Powder]

Thanks @Justmehere for sharing your experience of SGB. The fact it lasts only one month is interesting and frustrating at the same time.

 

[anthony]

Those results have been stated a lot in this thread, and in other science documents about the procedure. The majority of results showed short-term relief only, from a high risk procedure. It is the exception that has had what they claim to be a cure, and even in those cases, symptoms could have been from their physical pain, and not PTSD as cited, which the procedure fixed the physical pain and thus relieved the mental symptoms from living with that pain.

There is just no credible science in all of this to date that shows it fixes anything with PTSD that justifies a cure, or even close to using that word. Take medication and it can remove symptoms, without the high risks associated with this procedure.

This is just another one of those procedures from someone who wants it to be more than it is... which simply isn't a viable treatment option for PTSD.