Sympathetic Nerve Ganglion Block
The sympathetic nervous system may be involved in specific pain syndromes. These include complex regional pain syndrome, CRPS (formerly called reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD). Local anesthetic injected around the sympathetic ganglia in the cervical or lumbar spine may diagnose sympathetic involvement in painful conditions of the head/neck/upper extremities and the lower extremities, respectively. These procedures require the use of X-ray in order to provide accurate needle placement. If diagnosis and treatment is initiated early with injections and combined with aggressive physical therapy, CRPS can result in symptom resolution and cure of the condition. For recalcitrant conditions, long-term block of the sympathetic nervous system can be obtained by radiofrequency ablation or spinal cord stimulation.
