Stella’s Dual sympathetic reset (DSR) is a refined version of the stellate ganglion block procedure – which has been performed for pain patients without imaging (i.e. “blind”) and only on one cervical level. Some pain practitioners still practice this method. 

Stella’s DSR version is  TWO targeted injections at the stellate Ganglia bundle of nerves located on both sides of your neck. When injected with local anaesthetic, that temporary numbing of those bundles helps “reset” or calm the overactive pathway linked to stress, anxiety, and trauma responses. Stella’s approach builds on the standard SGB by using a precise (image guided), 2 level technique designed to achieve symptom relief.

‍

What is the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR)?

Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is a procedure in which a local anaesthetic is injected next to the stellate ganglion, a collection of the sympathetic nerves located in the neck that helps regulate many involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and sweating.

For many years the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) has been recognised in Australia as an TGA approved pain-relieving treatment for conditions such as Complex-Regional Pain Syndrome or upper limb pain.

Most recently, this 30 minute  procedure has been used to treat symptoms of other autonomic dysfunction conditions such PTSD and anxiety because it helps regulate the brain's overactive sympathetic nervous system and "reset" the "fight-or-flight" response to its baseline.

Dr. Eugene Lipov, Stella's Chief Medical Officer, has showcased through his extensive research that trauma symptoms can be alleviated by targeting the sympathetic nervous system via the stellate ganglia bundle of nerves located in the neck. Most SGB treatments only use one injection, however Dr. Lipov pioneered an advanced SGB protocol known as the Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR), that leverages two injections. Stella’s DSR SGB demonstrates remarkable efficacy via two injections on the one side of the neck to reduce or “tone down” PTSD/PTSI symptoms.