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By Cara Beth Lewis

PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault, according to va.gov. So many people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder for so many different reasons. Thankfully, there are treatment options for this disorder that takes a toll on lives.

According to va.gov, SGB (Stellate Ganglion Block Treatment) may reduce symptoms of PTSD for at least a few weeks. A second injection may provide additional benefit in some individuals. It is possible that SGB may be helpful when used in combination with evidence-based PTSD treatment, such as prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

How does SGB work?

“Imaging (like an X-ray or ultrasound) is used to guide a needle near a bundle of nerves called the stellate ganglion, located near the base of the neck. A local anesthetic is injected next to the nerve tissue. In a recent VA clinical demonstration project led by VHA’s National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) and VA Long Beach Healthcare System (HCS), more than 185 treatments were given with no harmful effects. However, serious harmful effects are still possible with SGB.” (From va.gov.)

“The stellate ganglion, part of the sympathetic nervous system, is a cluster of nerve cell bodies located between the C6 and C7 vertebrae. Injection of local anesthetic to the stellate ganglion, a procedure known as stellate ganglion block (SGB), inhibits sympathetic nerve impulses to the head, neck, and upper extremities. SGB is an outpatient procedure, performed by anesthesiologists or interventional pain management physicians, that has been used to treat various disorders including complex regional pain syndrome, hot flashes, migraines, facial pain, and upper extremity pain.” (from ganglionblock.pdf)

PTSD is the third most common psychiatric diagnosis among veterans, which is why Veteran Affairs provides information and resources for those who are affected by the disorder that can often be debilitating. Although it is common in Veterans, PTSD affects people from all walks of life, not just those who have served in the military.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), PTSD is defined by 4 clusters of symptoms:

Intrusive re-experiencing of a traumatic event
Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli
Negative changes in mood and cognition
Persistent physiological arousal and reactivity

While PTSD can cause the symptoms listed above, it also can lead to a variety of other mental health impairments including depression, suicidal thoughts, increased chance of sucicide, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance misuse, and other mood disorders. PTSD can also lead to social impairments, strained relationships, difficulty maintaining employment, and more.

While there are treatment options available, they do not work for everyone. As a matter of fact, success rates for many treatments are low – which is why many are eager to try SGB treatment. While many have reported great success from SGB treatment, it is still not considered an established treatment at this time, due to inconclusive evidence. For more information about SGB research, click here: ganglionblock.pdf.

Jimmy Mize, a Bladen County man and firefighter at Fort Bragg Fire and Emergency Services, refers to SGB treatment as “a miracle.” He has been happy to share his story as much as possible because he believes that the shot can be very helpful to victims of PTSD.

After receiving the shot, Mize shared, “10/10 highly recommend! After 4 minutes I felt a HUGE release. I felt like the world was lifted off my shoulders and felt relaxed. I haven’t felt this good in 20 years.”

Read Jimmy Mize’s full story below, written before he received SGB treatment.

(Names have been removed, per Mize’s request.)

“I joined the fire department as a junior member on 9/11/2001 at the ripe old age of 14. One of my first calls was a vehicle accident where a 6 year old girl died in my arms. I didn’t know what to do. I was only 14. That day has haunted me for years. I remember every detail of that call, the weather, what I was wearing, the temperature, the smells, the sights, the sounds. I crawled through a little bit of antifreeze and to this day I can’t deal with that smell. This call along with a family history of depression laid the foundation for what I now know is PTSD.

As time went on there have been numerous other calls that have stacked on top of one another, creating a perfect recipe for hell.

When my son turned six I associated “6 years old” with death because my mom lost her brother when he was six also. I lost my mind after his 6th birthday. I had a few dreams about him dying and several bad dreams of calls that I had run in the past.

I have come very close to killing myself three times. I thought about hanging myself at work one night. I climbed up on top of a truck and tied the rope. I felt I was such a failure, that I would even fail at suicide. I decided to go the next day and find help. I spent a great long while in the doctor’s office that day. He diagnosed me with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I was put on medications by a psychiatrist and began seeing a therapist on a regular basis. All seemed well and I was on top of the world.

On August 1st, my Momma passed away and the world crashed around me. While trying to cope with this monumental loss, I injured my knee in September at work and lost a serious relationship. I felt like the world was now on top of me.

I sat around for several weeks unable to walk, much less work, looking at Momma’s belongings while sinking further and further. Every day was a battle fighting workmans comp and being in excruciating pain.

In recent weeks I have taken a pistol, put it to my head, and tapped the trigger 10 times. I’d start light and then tapped harder each time. I told myself that if it goes off, it’s meant to be. If it doesn’t then, it’s not. That’s how careless I was. My doctor doubled the dosage of my meds, and prescribed medication to help with sleep.

I have been watching [anonymous] Facebook page, who got a shot for PTSD. It has worked wonders for him. I contacted him, asked for details, and ended up with a lot of information. The injection is called stellate ganglion blocker (SGB). They go in your neck and put a long term anesthetic on the nerves that trigger your PTSD. I called the institute in Maryland and was sent an information packet with forms and a questionnaire to fill out. I filled it out and sent it in at 4:30 PM on a Thursday. They called me at 8:05 AM the next day and said the doctor wanted to see me ASAP based on my symptoms.

I took the first appointment they had available on December 30th (but if anyone cancels before then I get their slot). This procedure comes highly recommended and has a 92% success rate, which is high in the medical field. It costs $1,200.00 out of pocket and should last for several years. If It does what they say it does, and I get my life back, then it’s worth every penny. I have lost a marriage, friends, happiness, faith in the Lord and countless other things as a result of not doing anything. Everything was covered by a joke and a smile. I promise you, it was all fake. They say the happiest are always the saddest, and I can testify to that.

I want you to take a good look around and evaluate your mental health. If it is anything less than superb, say something, but more importantly take action. Don’t say “I will do it tomorrow” or “I will be ok”. Words without action are just words. I wanted to wait until after my procedure to speak out, but I felt like now is a good time. So if you have been wondering what my countdown is for, there you have it. I will be talking to [anonymous] and if you need help I will try to put you in contact with him so you can get the information from someone with first-hand experience. Once I have my turn, I will be more than glad to talk to you or anyone else who may be interested. If it works for me, I plan to be an ambassador for it.

I would not change one thing about my career in the fire service other than not speaking up. I would still jump in and help a million times over but I would talk this time.

My number is 910-876-2912. Call me, we WILL talk. I will not spread your business around and it will be safe with me. Don’t be afraid to look “weak”. A weak person will stay weak and I promise it takes a stronger person to speak out. This story only BARELY scratches the surface of all of my story. You will never get the full story out of me again.

Again, this is not a sympathy post. If you want to do something or help, please pray. I’m holding on just as hard as I can if not for anyone else, for my son. He needs me and I know it. I will fix myself and move forward. Even a baby step is a step forward. Take care of yourselves and one another. You never know what someone is going through. I love you all.”

After receiving SGB treatment, Mize stated, “The people I have talked to say I sound like I am back to my old self joking and playing. I feel like I have had a smile since I got the shot. I can tell I am a kinder person (holding more doors, smiling at people, saying hello to strangers). My stroke eye has disappeared and I have zero side effects. I still have the ‘high’ feeling because my body has been stuck in fight mode for so long that when it was reseted my body said ‘ooohhhhh new feeling!’ I feel weightless, I feel free, I feel relaxed and I feel amazing. It’s nothing short of amazing!! If you are thinking about getting the injection- stop thinking and do it! I have no idea of the logistics yet but one thing I am going to start doing when I get home is putting together an organization to help fund this injection for the next person– that’s the effect it had on me. I want to help everyone who needs it be able to get it, regardless of financial status. No one deserves to suffer!”

If you need help, Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
En Español: 1-888-628-9454.