Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain

Persistent idiopathic facial pain is a facial pain disorder without any identifiable cause. A patient has persistent facial pain without any objective sign on clinical examination or investigations. There are associated psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. This condition is poorly...

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Main Authors: Poonam Patel, Madhuri Annarao Lokapur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Pain
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.indianjpain.org/article.asp?issn=0970-5333;year=2016;volume=30;issue=3;spage=207;epage=208;aulast=Patel
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author Poonam Patel
Madhuri Annarao Lokapur
author_facet Poonam Patel
Madhuri Annarao Lokapur
author_sort Poonam Patel
collection DOAJ
description Persistent idiopathic facial pain is a facial pain disorder without any identifiable cause. A patient has persistent facial pain without any objective sign on clinical examination or investigations. There are associated psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. This condition is poorly responsive to therapy with anticonvulsants or analgesics. Stellate ganglion block interrupts the sympathetic supply to head, neck, and upper extremities. This block can be used to alleviate pain of sympathetic origin in head and neck region as well as upper extremities. We report a case of a middle-aged female with persistent idiopathic facial pain on the right side of face with no response to analgesics and anticonvulsants. Her pain was provoked by exposure to cold weather or wind. Assuming a sympathetic component to her pain, we did a right-sided stellate ganglion block for her with local anesthetic and steroid. The patient had significant pain relief (>80%) after the block. This indicates that the sympathetic nervous system plays a major role in initiation and perpetuation of this pain condition. Stellate ganglion block can be done early in such patients both as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality.
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spelling doaj.art-3dc2985a49b842ea9a1d051cdc58cb6f2022-12-21T21:47:37ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Pain0970-53332016-01-0130320720810.4103/0970-5333.198065Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial painPoonam PatelMadhuri Annarao LokapurPersistent idiopathic facial pain is a facial pain disorder without any identifiable cause. A patient has persistent facial pain without any objective sign on clinical examination or investigations. There are associated psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. This condition is poorly responsive to therapy with anticonvulsants or analgesics. Stellate ganglion block interrupts the sympathetic supply to head, neck, and upper extremities. This block can be used to alleviate pain of sympathetic origin in head and neck region as well as upper extremities. We report a case of a middle-aged female with persistent idiopathic facial pain on the right side of face with no response to analgesics and anticonvulsants. Her pain was provoked by exposure to cold weather or wind. Assuming a sympathetic component to her pain, we did a right-sided stellate ganglion block for her with local anesthetic and steroid. The patient had significant pain relief (>80%) after the block. This indicates that the sympathetic nervous system plays a major role in initiation and perpetuation of this pain condition. Stellate ganglion block can be done early in such patients both as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality.http://www.indianjpain.org/article.asp?issn=0970-5333;year=2016;volume=30;issue=3;spage=207;epage=208;aulast=PatelAtypical facial painpersistent idiopathic facial painstellate ganglion block
spellingShingle Poonam Patel
Madhuri Annarao Lokapur
Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain
Indian Journal of Pain
Atypical facial pain
persistent idiopathic facial pain
stellate ganglion block
title Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain
title_full Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain
title_fullStr Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain
title_full_unstemmed Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain
title_short Stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain
title_sort stellate ganglion block for persistent idiopathic facial pain
topic Atypical facial pain
persistent idiopathic facial pain
stellate ganglion block
url http://www.indianjpain.org/article.asp?issn=0970-5333;year=2016;volume=30;issue=3;spage=207;epage=208;aulast=Patel
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