An Option for Those With Few

              PTSD, in itself, is a monster, as stimuli cause a vast array mental and physical issues, one coming after another. It is in this, that PTSD can be seen as a mental version of cross organ sensitivity (COS), where one chronic pain condition hijacks neural tracks nearby and causes pain in previously unaffected organs, shown heavily in Frank Tu’s work between dysmenorrhea (painful periods) and the exacerbation of chronic pelvic pain conditions. While PTSD might not be the neurons being hijacked due to pain, it is similar in the aspect of hijacking due to mental or physical trauma, leading into the mental disorders. As if the mental aspects of PTSD were not crippling enough, it can also lead into physical pain as well. This is best shown in a study done in 2008, by Alexandra Liedl, showing that those suffering from PTSD usually report developing more severe pain, or pain showing in previously pain-free areas as time goes on. She also shows that compared to those that have gone through the same traumatic event, those with PTSD show higher rates of chronic pain, in both occurrence and severity. This developed pain can then help contribute into COS, leading PTSD to become both crippling mentally and physically.

 These has been little progress in actually curing those with PTSD and the subsequent physical COS and seemingly mental COS, as many of the current treatments are ineffective, with the leading prescriptions of Paxil and Zoloft each showing improvement rates of less than 50% in PTSD suffers (Kime). Other treatments, such as cognitive processing therapy and group counseling show the same, if not lower success rates.  A new breakthrough, recently developed by Dr. Eugene Lipov, has emerged as a stellate ganglion block or SGB. The success rates of this new treatment have also been promising, as “78.6 percent of responders had an average reduction of their PTSD checklist score off 22 points” (Kime). This treatment, acting as a nerve block, is thought to restart a person’s nervous system, helping PTSD suffers get away from their hypersensitivity to stimuli and their overactive fight or flight mechanism (Kime). In other words, the nerve block gives control of or relief from anxiety, sleeping disorders, depressions, paranoia, and/or attention deficits. It seems as if this restart stops the cascade that draws such a resemblance to a mental version of COS. This type of treatment, recurrent and targeted, is a close idea to possible treatment of COS by using OCPs for chronic pelvic pain conditions caused by dysmenorrhea. With treating the effects of COS, both in PTSD or chronic pain, it is that once the previous condition is controlled or cured, the developed issues also begin to become cured or controlled as well. In addition to treating the mental aspects of PTSD, there is also theories for similar nerve blocks stopping chronic pains of PTSD patients, as Lipov has previously used nerve blocks for pain relief for those of shingle virus and complex regional pain syndrome (Kime). If the nerve block is also effective in blocking chronic pain, it can also help PTSD patients in not only avoiding the mental COS cascade of anxiety, depression and other symptoms, but also the very real threat of chronic pain-related COS.

While it is extremely optimistic to say that this new nerve block will be a leading PTSD treatment and available to all within a year, it has shown great results for a small number of people who had limited options. It has also shown much more potential than any other options currently used for PTSD treatment as well. It has been called a “miracle cure" by some, and looks to be a light in the dark for those with no results from mainstream treatments.

Kime, P. “Neck Injections a Viable Treatment for PTSD, Researchers Say.” Military Times, November 19, 2014. Web. December 9, 2014. <http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2014/11/19/stellate-ganglion-block-ptsd-treatment/19230151/>

Epstein, A., Hellman, K., Melnyk, A., Pozolo, K., Sexton, D., Tu, F. (2012). A Noninvasive Bladder Sensory Test Supports a Role for Dysmenorrhea Increasing Bladder Noxious Mechanosensitivity. Clinical Pain: 29 (10), 883-890.

Knaevelsrud, C., Liedl, A., (2008). Chronic Pain and PTSD: the Perpetual Avoidance Model and its treatment implications. Scientific Article:18 (2), 69-79.