Specialized Care
Long-COVID Symptom Relief
Long-COVID symptom relief at a pain clinic focuses on the nerve pain, muscle aches, and related symptoms that can linger after infection. For selected patients whose symptoms may involve nervous system dysfunction, a stellate ganglion block is an emerging option, evaluated honestly and considered one patient at a time.
Request an AppointmentWhat is a Stellate
Ganglion Block?
Long COVID refers to symptoms that continue or appear after a COVID-19 infection, and some of them, researchers believe, may involve dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an injection placed near the stellate ganglion, a group of sympathetic nerves in the neck that help regulate automatic functions like heart rate, blood flow, sweating, and stress responses. Local anesthetic temporarily blocks that sympathetic activity.
SGB isn't new. It has been used in pain medicine for years for nerve-related conditions of the head, neck, chest, arm, and hand. What's new is the research into whether calming the stellate ganglion may help selected Long COVID symptoms.
Early studies and case reports have described improvement in symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, smell and taste changes, and sleep disruption, but the evidence is still limited, its use for Long COVID is emerging and off-label, and outcomes are not guaranteed.
That's why everything starts with a detailed evaluation: Dr. Nair reviews your symptoms and history honestly before deciding whether SGB is even worth considering for you.
SGB has been used in pain medicine for years. Its application to Long COVID is the emerging part, and it's discussed as such.
The injection itself is short; the full visit includes preparation, imaging guidance, monitoring, and recovery.
Some patients report changes within hours or days; others improve gradually, and some don't experience meaningful relief.
Not every Long COVID symptom comes from nervous system dysfunction. A detailed review determines whether SGB fits your picture.
Who long-COVID symptom relief helps
When Long COVID traces to the nervous system, an emerging option may help calm it.
Long COVID can affect many body systems, and not every symptom comes from nervous system dysfunction. A detailed evaluation is important before deciding whether a stellate ganglion block is worth considering. It may be discussed for persistent symptoms such as these:
Fatigue
Ongoing tiredness or low energy that affects daily function, especially when it does not improve with rest.
Brain Fog
Difficulty focusing, remembering details, processing information, or staying mentally clear.
Shortness of Breath
Breathing difficulty or air hunger that persists after COVID-19, once other urgent causes have been evaluated.
Chest Discomfort
Chest pain or tightness should always be medically evaluated. Seek urgent care if it is severe, sudden, or comes with warning signs.
Smell, Taste & Dizziness
Persistent changes in smell or taste, and dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing.
Muscle or Body Pain
Ongoing muscle pain, joint discomfort, or nerve-like pain as part of a broader Long COVID pattern.
Common questions about long-COVID symptom relief
Stellate Ganglion Block is an injection placed near a group of sympathetic nerves in the neck. It temporarily blocks sympathetic nerve activity and is commonly used in pain management for certain nerve-related pain conditions.
What is Stellate Ganglion Block?
Stellate Ganglion Block is an injection placed near a group of sympathetic nerves in the neck. It temporarily blocks sympathetic nerve activity and is commonly used in pain management for certain nerve-related pain conditions.
Ready when you are.
Still Not Feeling
Like Yourself?
If Long COVID symptoms have lingered past every explanation, an honest evaluation can tell you whether a stellate ganglion block is worth considering.
Prefer to talk? Call (502) 995-4004, answered 24/7.
Medically reviewed by Ajith Nair, M.D., Founder & Medical Director at Kentuckiana Pain Specialists. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.
Last medically reviewed July 2026Updated