After 20 years in the Air Force, I’ve seen the invisible wounds of war up close and personal.
I’ve watched brothers and sisters in arms grapple with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It
hits hard: hypervigilance, crippling anxiety, flashbacks and insomnia that can turn nights into
hell. Traditional fixes—counseling therapy, SSRIs—help some folks, sure. But remission rates
are a dismal 30 to 40%. Too many warriors are still left in the fight, resulting in 17 to 22 veteran
suicides a day. That’s why I’m sounding the alarm on the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
procedure as a transformative breakthrough in the fight against trauma and suicide in the veteran
community. This isn’t some wishful theory; it’s a game-changer that’s been hiding in plain sight.
SGB started as a pain management tool, but it has proven its mettle against PTSD. It’s a quick
injection of local anesthetic right into the stellate ganglion, that nerve cluster in your neck
running the sympathetic nervous system—your body’s fight-or-flight engine. Trauma cranks the
system into overdrive, locking in the PTSD symptoms. SGB hits the reset button, dialing it back
without a single pill or endless couch sessions. And get this: relief is immediate. We’re talking
minutes to hours post-shot. Veterans report a sudden lift in emotional burden, reduced anxiety
and improved sleep. For someone on the edge—suicidal ideation knocking at the door—this can
be the difference between defeat or victory.
It’s a minimal intervention: one shot or a series of two, tailored to your specific needs.
Administered by a pain management physician or anesthesiologist, it is an ultrasound-guided, 15
to 30 minutes outpatient procedure.
Now, the metrics: an 80 to 85% success rate in slashing PTSD symptoms. When administered
alongside mental health therapy, the procedure rebuilds emotional control, mends relationships
and boosts resilience. For veterans and first responders, it tackles the guilt and constant
hyperarousal that no pill can touch. According to Army veteran Grant Rogers, “SGB has been a
life changer for me.”
The cost varies from about $800 to $2,000 depending on the provider. However, most health
insurers deem it “experimental” for PTSD and do not cover it. You must either go out-of-pocket
or seek financial assistance through veteran assistance nonprofit organizations. And the VA? A
bipartisan bill to mandate VA/DoD coverage—the TREAT PTSD Act (H.R. 1947)—has been
stuck in congressional mud for over five years, currently languishing in the House Veterans’
Affairs Committee.
Bottom line: SGB offers immediate relief, amazing success rates and a super simple procedure.
Pair it with therapy, and you’re not just surviving; you’re thriving. For more information about
SGB, visit the Bayou Veterans Advocacy website at BayouVets.org.
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Chad Carter is a retired Air Force judge advocate and a partner at the Monroe law firm of Parker
Alexander. He is also the Executive Director of Bayou Veterans Advocacy.