Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD: Cost, What to Expect, and Side Effects

At The Albany Clinic in Carbondale, a stellate ganglion block (SGB) costs $1,375, paid at the time of your procedure, and the fee includes the medications used. The visit itself is short: a guided injection on the right side of your neck, about 30 to 45 minutes of observation, and a ride home with an adult driver.

SGB is an injection of a long-acting local anesthetic next to a group of nerves in the neck that help control the body's "fight or flight" response. We offer it as an interventional option for people living with PTSD. Below, we cover pricing, insurance, each step of the visit, and the side effects to expect, so you can decide whether a stellate ganglion block at our Carbondale clinic belongs in your care plan.

If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. SGB does not replace emergency care.

How Much Does a Stellate Ganglion Block Cost at The Albany Clinic?

One SGB at our clinic currently costs $1,375. That price includes the medications used during the procedure, and payment is due in full at the time of service.

The procedure uses conscious sedation, ultrasound guidance, and monitoring by our team. Some patients choose a second block several weeks later to further reduce their symptoms, so it helps to know what one and two blocks would cost before you start:

We accept cash, major credit cards, and personal checks. If you pay by personal check, the check needs to reach the clinic a few business days before your procedure, so plan ahead. Our Costs & Financing page lists current pricing for all of our treatments.

SGB prices vary from clinic to clinic, partly because of what each one bundles into the fee. When you compare, ask whether the price includes medications, sedation, and imaging guidance, and whether it covers one side of the neck or both.

Does Insurance Cover a Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD?

Many insurance plans do not cover SGB for PTSD, although some may. We ask for payment at the time of service, then give you the information you need to submit a claim to your insurance company yourself.

Each insurer handles these claims a little differently. Here is how to approach it:

1. Call the customer service number on your insurance card and ask how to submit a claim for a procedure you have already paid for.
2. Ask whether they need their own claim form filled out with the information we provide, or whether the form or superbill from our office is enough.
3. Submit the claim and keep copies of everything you send.

Coverage can also depend on your plan and diagnosis, so ask your insurer directly rather than relying on general rules. Our guide to insurance-backed options for depression treatment in Illinois covers related coverage questions.

How Do You Prepare for Your SGB Appointment?

Preparation starts with a consultation and an evaluation. No SGB is scheduled until a qualified healthcare provider has evaluated you, and before your procedure day we give you written instructions tailored to your health and medication history.

Anyone can request a consultation. Primary care doctors and therapists can also send patients to us through our Refer a Patient page. SGB works alongside your ongoing mental health care, so you will keep working with your mental health provider. If you do not have one, we may refer you to a qualified provider.

Before the day of your block:

• Blood thinners: If you take a blood thinner, you will need to hold it before your SGB, following the recommendations of the physician who prescribes it. Do not stop it on your own.
• A driver: Arrange for an adult to drive you home. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery the day of the procedure.
• Time off: Plan to take the day off work. You may return to normal activities the following day.
• Paperwork and payment: Complete your forms from our Information & Documents page, and send a personal check early if you are paying that way.

What Happens During a Stellate Ganglion Block?

The injection itself takes only a few minutes. You lie on your back, receive medication through an IV to help you relax, and the physician uses real-time ultrasound to guide the needle to the nerves on the right side of your neck.

Here is how the procedure runs, step by step:

1. IV and relaxation. We start an IV with saline and give you medication to help you relax.
2. Skin prep and scan. We clean the skin on your right shoulder and neck, apply sterile ultrasound gel, and scan the right side of your neck to locate the injection site.
3. The injection. Using real-time ultrasound guidance, the physician guides the needle to the stellate ganglion and injects the medication slowly over 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Rest and check. You lie flat for 5 minutes, and then we assess the effects of your block.
5. Observation. You stay in the clinic for another 30 to 45 minutes before your driver takes you home.

Ultrasound lets the physician see the structures in your neck clearly while placing the needle. Our medical director, Dr. Mark Garwin, is an anesthesiologist with more than 30 years of clinical experience, and the skills and medications used for SGB are ones he uses daily in the operating room.

What Side Effects Should You Expect After SGB?

The most common effect is an expected one called Horner's syndrome: a droopy right eyelid, a smaller right pupil, and sometimes redness in the white of your right eye. It is a normal part of the block and wears off in 4 to 8 hours.

If your voice turns hoarse, take a few careful sips of water and make sure you are swallowing normally. SGB has few additional side effects.

Rarer complications are possible with any injection in the neck. A  StatPearls review of stellate ganglion blocks (NCBI Bookshelf, 2023) lists risks that include puncture of a nearby blood vessel or nerve, a collapsed lung (pneumothorax), injection into a blood vessel, and infection. The physician reviews your individual risks with you before the procedure, and ultrasound guidance helps the physician see the structures that need to be avoided.

How Well Does SGB Work for PTSD, and Will You Need More Than One Block?

Research on SGB for PTSD is promising but still developing, and responses vary from person to person. Some patients get enough relief from one block. Others return for a second block several weeks later.

In a 2020 randomized trial published in JAMA Psychiatry, 113 active-duty service members received either two right-sided SGBs two weeks apart or a sham procedure. After eight weeks, scores on a standard PTSD symptom scale (CAPS-5) dropped by an average of 12.6 points in the SGB group, compared with 6.1 points in the sham group. Six adverse events were reported in the trial, and none were serious.

A 2021 evidence brief from the Psychological Health Center of Excellence called the research base for SGB "emerging" and noted that more study is needed on long-term results. We share that research so you can weigh SGB with clear expectations.

When SGB helps, relief from a single block can last from several weeks to months, and occasionally longer. If symptoms return, many patients request another block.