News SGB PTSD Treatment Article

[pdxwriter]

I'm sorry it's taken me a while to post this. It'll be a bit abbreviated but I'm available to answer questions here or privately. I think I'm posting to the right thread but I'm fine being moved by The Powers That Be.

On February 17, I flew to Chicago, IL, thanks to the Chicago Medical Innovations Foundation and received my first Stellate Ganglion Block, administered by Dr. Eugene Lipov. I learned about the treatment here on the Forum.

I think it saved my life.

Prior to the trip, my symptoms were worsening. I'd lived largely a-symptomatic for most of a decade but the death of my parents coinciding with the birth of my twins (both normal triggers for significant flareups for those of us with C-PTSD according to Judith Hermans' book Trauma and Recovery) introduced me to a range of symptoms the likes of which I'd never felt before.

Fifteen minutes after receiving my SGB I was completely symptom free, including even that baseline static of hypervigilance I'd accepted as an ongoing part of my life. Given that I've had PTSD since early childhood, the entire world suddenly looked different. For five days, I was completely symptom free. And when the symptoms crept back in, it was just that mild static...which left again after my second treatment on March 31. I've continued to be symptom free since and I'm now nearly weaned off my antidepressant medication.

I know that the SGB isn't effective for everyone but my understanding is that it is effective for 90% or more of us who suffer from PTSD. It's still to soon to know how long it will last but some involved with Dr. Lipov's treatments are still free and clear after two years and two treatments. The theory is that it re-boots the sympathetic nervous system. And it's an old procedure, used for pain, that is very safe now with the advent of flouroscopes. Truly: Fifteeen minutes and I had results. That's quite an accomplishment given how many other treatments I'd tried with minimal results garnered over long stretches of time and effort.

And after years of being treated like a psychiatric disorder there is now solid evidence that PTSD is a physiological condition -- what the Doc calls a complex cortical injury -- that can be treated beyond SSRIs, tranquilizers, EMDR and CBT in a far more effective (and cheaper) manner for many -- if not most -- of us. And getting the IV put in was more uncomfortable than the actual injection to the neck.

I remember telling my primary care physician, my therapist and my best friend that I wouldn't make it another year if we didn't get the symptoms under control. Now, I'm back and feeling fabulous. I'm working on my book again, enjoying my family and processing all that happened while I was lost in the fog. I've not been triggered, needed a tranquilizer or experienced anything close to the anxiety I was feeling even the morning before that first treatment.

I can't recommend enough that those of you suffering with PTSD or caring for someone who suffers from it look into whether or not the Stellate Ganglion Block is offered anywhere near you. Or look into making a trip to Chicago. The cost is extremely low and there's a foundation to help.

I'm Very Grateful to the Forum for pointing me towards Lipov and his work. Thank you all.

 

[The Albatross]

Wonderful news, and I'm so very happy for you!

 

[cherryblossom]

That all sounds really hopeful pdxwriter. Thanks for sharing your great news with us, and I hope the results last for a long time (maybe forever?);)

 

[Aj]

anthony: Is there a name of this anesthetic? I've undergone deep and local anesthesia personally, but I don't know what kind is used. Do they test your reaction before hand if you are concerned? So many questions, my apologies.

 

[becvan]

If you look it up here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anesthetic you will see there are a ton of diffferent types of anesthesia! I've never heard of them testing anyone first beforehand with it. In my experience, they just give it to you.

Ah I was disappointed to hear you have to be knocked out for it. I go under just fine.. it's the waking up part that causes issues with me. :( I only get anesthesia when it's life threatening due to the issues of getting me back awake again.

bec

 

[TLight]

Well, back from the pain doc.
He had never heard of it being used for PTSD, but willingly said he'd look it up.
He has a VA clinic right above his office so he said he'd talk with some of them also.

Issues he had were the following:
1. I'm a Medicare patient and it would not be authorized, unless he unethically billed it under something else, which he said he would not consider.
2. Even if I paid for it myself, he said that would violate his contract with Medicare.
3. He was very concerned about liability issues if something goes awry.
4. He suggested I contact UW Pain Clinic (which I had already but they were booked out until late August). He said they would likely be more comfortable performing the procedure, especially if it could be logged under some research.

So it appears at this point, I'll contact UW, but I think getting the procedure is likely going to be very tough since it has not been approved for PTSD. I tried the Fibromyalgia avenue, but it has never been shown to help that either.

So unless you have a chronic pain condition like the other poster, getting a pain doc to agree may be difficult if not impossible.

He also kept repeating that he couldn't understand how on earth it could help when the effects only last 5-6 hours in pain patients. Although he admitted he was entirely uneducated on the subject in relation to PTSD.

He was very compassionate but reluctant. But something tells me I peeked his interest enough to do some thorough investigating.
ps. He didn't charge me for the consultation.

Next step...approach University of Washington.

 

[anthony]

Yep, even the FDA can't touch this, because there is nothing newly introduced, it is merely a change in what is existing being used in a procedure that is know to correct other aspects already.

I have only read one or two places in the US doing this so far... not sure how many others are around, but its not going to launch in momentum until more and more are done, and those statistics are recorded, published, and empirically proven and substantiated by independent sources. This will take years IMO...

I would still say, anyone in the US, if you had the money to do it, book an appointment with the location wherever it is within the US, fly across to the appointment and give it a shot. You could only bolster whether this is a success or failure, which would certainly speed up the results.

To my knowledge, whilst it is experimental, it also isn't officially, as stated, it uses existing approved practices and medication by the FDA, its only the location and PTSD that is new to it.

Look forward to reading your adventures with this Tlight.

 

[anthony]

I have merged [DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/sgb-ptsd-treatment-article.11417/page-4#post-211365[/DLMURL] with this thread, as it is of more relevance here.

 

[Amy2]

I found a Doctor here in Jacksonville Fl , who said he would do the procedure , but did not think it would help me because I was not sweating profusely from my forehead and did not seem nerveous , well I had just taken 1mg of xanax and 50 mg of seroquel so I could make out of the house and to his office. Also I'm a smoker with a cough, you can not cough during the procedure, so they would have to put me out, which could cost up to 2000.00 . I would really like to have it done, but will have to wait on the money.

Can you please pass along the name of the doctor you found willing to perform this and their office contact information if you have that as well? Thank you very much, I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[anthony]

There is a dedicated area of this forum for members to share their mental health contacts: [DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/c/forums/recommend-a-trauma-physician.92/[/DLMURL]

 

[Aj]

I am mostly curious of the post-SGB effects. Are there any side effects? Physically, emotionally, etc? Or is this literally comparative to a correction that is neurologically and physiologically based?

I am really encouraged when I read accounts like pdxwriter, especially given my fear of a second injection. I'm still sort of new here so to read other people who suffer the same symptoms...that in and of itself is so relieving. I have a friend who when through a similar traumatic event but touts the fact that he overcame his effects shortly after whereas I am still suffering ten years later.

 

[anthony]

There is no longevity of testing yet AJ, so such information is not even available. Basically, you either make yourself available to be a guinea pig for the process, or you sit back and wait to see what the side effects are from longevity testing on others.