Lumbar Sympathetic and Stellate Ganglion Blocks Performed in Baltimore

The doctors of The Center for Interventional Pain Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, offer lumbar sympathetic and stellate ganglion blocks for patients with pain in their lower back, arms, legs or feet.

What are Lumbar Sympathetic and Stellate Ganglion Blocks?

The lumbar sympathetic block targets the sympathetic nerves in the lower back for pain typically located in the leg or foot.

A stellate ganglion block targets the sympathetic nerves in the neck for pain treatment in the arm, shoulder or face.

The sympathetic nerves, which are a chain of nerves running on the front of the spinal column, can transmit pain following an injury. Our pain medicine specialists use these blocks to help diagnose and alleviate certain pain conditions.

These procedures are typically performed as part of the treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and Herpes Zoster (shingles). 

How are Lumbar Sympathetic and Stellate Ganglion Blocks performed?

A lumbar sympathetic block injection is performed with the patient lying on their stomach. The needle is placed using fluoroscopic guidance (internal X-ray imaging) along with X-ray dye to confirm placement positions for the anesthetic.  This procedure can take 30 to 45 minutes depending on the complexity of the condition.

A stellate ganglion block injection is typically performed with the patient sitting up or lying on their back. The injection is then placed in the side of the neck where the pain is located. This procedure typically takes approximately 60seconds.

Our pain medicine specialists have specialized training to perform these procedures and will meet with you to answer any questions you may have.