What is a Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)?

A Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is an injection of local anesthetic into a cluster of nerves in your neck called the stellate ganglion. These nerves are part of your sympathetic nervous system, which controls many automatic bodily functions like blood flow, heart rate, and your body’s “fight or flight” response.

By temporarily blocking these nerves, an SGB aims to:

• Reduce pain signals ( acute pain, chronic pain and cancer pain)
• Improve blood flow ( in patients with poor blood circulation)
• Potentially “reset” your body’s response to stress due to various medical conditions ( eg PTSD, long Covid, increased sweating, Perimenopausal symptoms like hot flashes, loss of smell and taste)

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What are occipital nerves? 

Occipital nerves travel from your cervical spine, in the neck, to the back of the head and scalp. 

What is a greater occipital nerve block? 

• A greater occipital nerve block is an injection of local anaesthetic and sometimes an anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid) given to the occipital nerves. 
• It numbs the occipital nerves which can reduce their activity, giving pain relief from headaches, muscle spasm and tension that the nerves are associated with.

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What is a Superior Trunk Block?

A Superior Trunk Block is an injection of local anesthetic around the superior trunk of the brachial plexus. 

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves in your neck and shoulder that controls movement and sensation in your arm, hand, and parts of your shoulder. The superior trunk is a specific part of this network, formed by nerve roots from your neck (C5 and C6).

By injecting local anesthetic near these nerves, the block temporarily “numbs” the area, preventing pain signals from reaching your brain.

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Peripheral Nerve Percutaneous Neural Mapping / Neuro-modulation procedure

This is a minimally invasive treatment used to diagnose and manage nerve-related pain.

• Neural mapping / neuro-modulation involves applying a gentle electrical stimulation through the needle to confirm the nerve involved in your pain and, in some cases, to help reduce abnormal pain signals.
• Hydrodissection is the injection of fluid (saline, weak concentration of local anaesthetic agent or dextrose) around the nerve to free it from surrounding scar tissues that may be irritating or compressing it.
• A nerve block may be performed by injecting local anaesthetic (sometimes with a steroid) to reduce pain and inflammation.

Ultrasound imaging is used to guide a fine needle safely and accurately to the target nerve.

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What is a Trigger Point?

A trigger point is a small, tight band of muscle that can feel like a “knot.” It may cause local pain or pain that spreads to other areas. Trigger point injections can help relieve this pain.

• A trigger point is a small, tight band of muscle fibers that remain contracted instead of relaxing.
• They are often felt as “knots” under the skin, tender to touch.
• They can irritate nearby nerves and cause referred pain (pain felt in a different location). Eg Trapezius muscle trigger point pain can be experienced as headache, head and neck pain or shoulder pain.
• Common sites:
  • Neck (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid)
  • Shoulders
  • Lower back (erector spinae, quadratus lumborum)
  • Hips and thighs

Download detailed Patient Information Leaflet here