For millions of Americans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), daily life can feel like a battle—with few tools that offer real, lasting relief. But new research suggests hope may lie in an underused, science-backed treatment: Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB).
At Dr. Ryan Wood’s regenerative medicine clinic in Portland, Oregon, this innovative approach is offering a path forward—especially for patients who haven’t found relief through talk therapy or medication alone.
🧠 What Is Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)?
SGB is a quick, image-guided injection that targets a bundle of nerves in the neck linked to the body’s stress response. By calming this area, the treatment appears to help reset the nervous system—especially in patients with PTSD whose bodies are stuck in a chronic state of “fight-or-flight.”
Dr. Wood performs a more advanced version called bilateral two-level cervical sympathetic chain block (2LCSB), shown to be even more effective in recent clinical studies.
SGBs put the body’s autonomic system back in balance. You can learn more about the procedure in this article by Dr. Wood: What Is a Dual Sympathetic Reset Stellate Ganglion Block?
📊 New Study: 96% of Patients Saw Long-Lasting PTSD Symptom Relief
A recent study followed 75 patients with diagnosed PTSD for six months after receiving 2LCSB.
Here’s what they found:
- 96% of patients showed significant improvement
- On average, PTSD symptoms were reduced by 55%
- Some trauma types—such as sexual assault and childhood abuse—showed improvement rates over 70%
- Benefits were long-lasting, not just a temporary fix
Patients filled out a standardized PTSD checklist (PCL-5) at five different intervals—from right before the procedure to six months later. The results showed not just immediate relief, but sustained changes in well-being.
⏱️ How Fast Does It Work?
While results varied based on the type of trauma, many patients experienced noticeable symptom relief within the first week. That relief often continued to grow over the following months.
One of the most promising takeaways? Even patients who had suffered for years found meaningful improvement after the treatment.
🔍 Why Non-invasive, Fast-acting Treatment Matters
PTSD can arise from a wide range of experiences—combat, childhood trauma, sexual violence, first responder roles, and more. It affects millions but is frequently undertreated, especially when traditional therapies don’t work or feel too overwhelming to begin.
Stellate Ganglion Blocks, or SGBs, offer something rare: a non-invasive, fast-acting treatment that doesn’t require months of appointments to see results. For many, it can be the spark that makes other forms of healing (like therapy or medication) more effective.
❤️ A Message from Dr. Ryan Wood’s Clinic
We believe healing is possible—and we’re here to help you get there.
If you or someone you love is struggling with symptoms of PTSD, reach out to Dr. Ryan Wood’s clinic in Portland to learn whether SGB might be the right next step.
📞 Call us today to schedule a consultation.
Your nervous system deserves relief—and you deserve to feel like yourself again
NW Regen
We offer regenerative and interventional medicine – tailored to empower you with a more vibrant, active lifestyle.
