WellStone Offers Relief through Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
For veterans and first responders living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), daily life can feel like a battle that never ends. Hyperarousal, sleepless nights, and the weight of constant vigilance can make it difficult to find peace. At WellStone, we are proud to offer a treatment that is replacing internal chaos with calm: the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB).
While the procedure typically costs $800, WellStone has provided SGB to veterans and first responders at no cost since 2021. The initiative began with the Cullman County VFW and gained momentum with support from local businesses and government leaders. Funding secured by Alabama Senator Garlan Gudger allowed the project to expand with the goal of collecting data to measure SGB’s effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms.
The results have been consistent and encouraging: over four years, participants reported an average 60% reduction in PTSD symptoms.
How Does SGB Work?
The SGB is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that targets the stellate ganglion nerve bundle in the neck. By helping reset the brain’s fight-or-flight response, it can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD, especially hypervigilance — an exaggerated state of sensitivity.
The injection takes about an hour and is performed under general anesthesia. Most participants report minimal side effects, and many report immediate relief.
Richard James Werschin, a Service-Connected Disabled Veteran and U.S. Army Retiree, described his experience this way:
“The fog of constant hyperarousal began to lift. For the first time in years, I could sleep more soundly, think more clearly, and engage with life more fully. After the second shot, it instantly felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders — something I had been carrying for years.”
The Path to Treatment
The SGB program, while based in Cullman, is available at no cost to veterans and first responders across the entire state of Alabama. If you are interested in participating, please follow the steps below:
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Call WellStone Cullman’s Access to Care line at 256-255-1020 to schedule an SGB Project appointment. Every call and visit is strictly confidential.
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Visit the WellStone office in Cullman to complete a PTSD scale and psychological assessment with a veteran therapist.
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Once you’ve qualified for the program, have WellStone schedule the SGB procedure.
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Receive the injection at Nesbitt Pain Associates on the campus of Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham. (While these appointments require travel, many veterans say the results are well worth it.)
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Attend follow-up appointments at WellStone’s Cullman office where your care team will monitor progress, collect data, and ensure the treatment is working effectively.
A Community Effort
This program was made possible thanks to Senator Garlan Gudger, Representative Randall Shedd, and the Cullman County VFW, along with the dedication of WellStone’s veteran coordinators and social workers, who make the entire process seamless and simple.
Besides the SGB injection, WellStone provides veterans with counseling, crisis services, peer support, and more. We are committed to serving those who have so bravely served us.
If you or someone you know is interested in this program, call 256-255-1020 today. Relief and healing are possible.