Last year I attended SOMA in Tampa where Dr. Mulvaney and his medical team gave a talk on their use of the Stellate Ganglion Block for treatment of Combat PTSD.
It was an incredible presentation with two active duty operators (senior enlisted) who'd had the block sharing their experiences and outcomes.
To date, over 300 SOF operators/personnel have received the SG Block under Dr. Mulvaney direction.
Many of these are re-deploying OCONUS in their MOS duty descriptions.
Mulvaney has published on the procedure.
I've provided a link that describes it and refers to Dr. Mulvaney's work.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/arti...icleID=1209447
The procedure is provided at Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii, as well. To my immediate knowledge this is the only MTF doing so currently.
The VA is not offering this procedure for PTSD although it is a common procedure for pain management.
Dr. Mulvaney told me a candidate for the block can arrange for the procedure in the private sector. Locating a PHY who specializes in pain management and uses the SGB as a procedure, then interviewing with him/her, is the way to start.
TriCare DOES cover this procedure for PTSD treatment.
The process is to inverview with the attending PHY - complete the PCL worksheet - attach, for example, Dr. Mulvaney's published study on the procedure for PTSD with the attending PHY statement - have PHY forward to TriCAre for review / approval.
If it's good enough for SOF to be currently using and seeing excellent results in symptoms management - to the point of redeployment - it is a worthwhile procedure to look into if you are active SOF or Veteran.
SOCOM Care Coalition is aware of this procedure, as well. As is the Green Beret Foundation.