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Provider Referral

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On Insurance Coverage for Stellate Ganglion Block

Individual Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatments can be pricey to pay out-of-pocket. Even though SGB is a well-documented treatment that has been around for a century, many insurance companies have been reluctant to cover SGB injections, or cover them only to treat acute or chronic pain rather than PTSD. More recently, “long Covid” has joined the list of concerns that prompt some patients to seek SGB, though insurers also refuse to cover SGB for that purpose. 

Insurers may argue that there is a lack of published studies on SGB. Some studies have been done, and they are promising, but we understand insurers’ business model and that inherently it depends on not covering a great many treatments, regardless of how many thousands of patients those treatments may have helped already.

In any event, as long as you realize that the insurance coverage is shaky at best, you do have options.  If you are in the Seattle area, you can consult with Dr. Jason Attaman to find out whether SGB is right for you and where your insurance might factor in.

The True Cost of Stellate Ganglion Block Injections

You may be wondering how many shots a patient might need and how much they’d cost if paid for out-of-pocket.

Most people receive two shots within a few weeks of each other. The second injection boosts the effects of the first, but the first injection offers relief immediately. Though you may pursue follow-up SGB shots as often as you like, the effects of the 2-shot regimen are can last for years. 

The cost of two shots is roughly $2000 to $4000. As we mentioned, two shots represent a full course of treatment, which you are unlikely to need again for years. The upside is you’ll likely end panic attacks, flashbacks, and mood swings. You can be more present and focused in your life, as you were before PTSD hit.

Alternative Ways to Pay for SGB Treatment

While insurance companies don’t pay for SGBs, most Health Savings Plans and Flexible Spending Accounts will. In addition, Care Credit and other similar healthcare financing plans generally will defray the costs of SGBs.

Of course, many people also choose to use credit cards to spread out the payment, but of course credit cards have higher interest and don’t offer you the chance to use pre-tax dollars. 

In addition, if your PTSD is comorbid with another serious pain condition that insurance will cover, we can use the treatment to address your pain. If it happens to help PTSD as well, as a side benefit, then that is a bright spot.

End PTSD Today

Pain management doctors (like Dr. Attaman) continue the advocacy that may someday lead to widespread insurance coverage for SGB therapy that can help with PTSD and other conditions. In the meantime, all we can do is give you enough information to help you budget as needed, and give you the finest treatment if you turn to us for treatment.

If you’re in the Seattle area, you can contact Dr. Attaman’s office to schedule an appointment.

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Benign Hypermobility Syndrome

As a kid, your being “double-jointed” may have been fodder for a fun party trick. It may have even felt a bit like having a superpower. It may have even helped you be pretty good at dancing or gymnastics initially. 

  Of course, you didn’t get your first choice of superpower, and those double joints became a problem as you got older. You may have even experienced some related pain as a child.  You probably had benign hypermobility syndrome or hypermobility joint syndrome (HJS). 

  If you are in the Seattle area, you can consult with Dr. Jason Attaman to discuss treatment options.

  What is Hypermobility Joint Syndrome? 

  HJS is a muscle problem caused by issues in the connective tissues. It can lead to joint and muscle pain, especially after heavy exertion. The pain is often intense enough to mimic severe forms of arthritis. 

  You may also see swelling, dislocated joints, thin skin, and varicose veins. 

  You might not have even connected those “Hey, look what I can do!” feats and the pain you suffer today. Historically, doctors not trained in Integrated Pain Management have poorly diagnosed and acknowledged the extreme pain it can cause, even though as many as 40% of people have HJS to one degree or another. 

  Treating Hypermobility Joint Syndrome

  HJS is hereditary. There is no cure for it. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have treatment options. 

  Our pain management clinic helps HJS sufferers enjoy long-term pain relief so they can combat the worst effects of the syndrome. Some of the other therapies we have access to have offered success at supporting the connective tissues in your muscles. 

  We’ll take you seriously. Musculoskeletal pain is seldom “all in your head.” It’s almost always an underlying issue. 

  We can help you make the accurate diagnosis that might have eluded other providers in the past. If other doctors have told you that the musculoskeletal pain you’re suffering from is “all in your head,” come to us.

  Schedule an Appointment Today

  If you are struggling with painful joints and muscles, chronic fatigue, frequent headaches, or any other symptom of HJS, you can contact our office in Bellevue, WA, to discuss your needs and treatment options.

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Ehler-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos is a painful hereditary condition that encompasses 13 connective tissue disorders. You might also hear it referred to as a hypermobility spectrum disorder. This condition afflicts millions, but historically the medical profession as a whole has done a poor job of helping patients manage it. Many patients have even been dismissed and gaslit when they sought help. Many doctors have never even heard of it.

  Dr. Jason Attaman has helped hundreds of EDS patients. If you are in the Seattle area, you can consult with Dr. Jason Attaman to discuss treatment options.

  What are the symptoms of Ehler-Danlos Syndrome?

  Those afflicted by it suffer from overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin. 

  People with EDS may share certain tell-tale signs, like a thin nose, a thin upper lip, small earlobes, prominent eyes, and translucent skin. 

  Pain and EDS 

  Ehler-Danlos can lead to extreme pain. Joints can come out of position. Muscles can grow weak. Many suffer from general body pain, fatigue, and headaches. Most people with EDS bruise easily and heal slowly. Many are subjected to flare-ups caused by excessive movement, exercise, poor sleep, or other stressors. EDS can also worsen, thanks to external temperature variances, humidity, and pressure. 

  For many, this pain interferes with the activities of daily living. The sheer unpredictability of the pain can make it difficult to hold down a job, attend school, keep a clean house, or care for children. 

  Hope for EDS Sufferers 

  There is no known cure for Ehler-Danlos, but our clinic can help with pain management. 

  Our interventional pain management procedures can provide sufficient relief to restore quality of life. Other treatments we can access and provide show promising results, especially when paired with lifestyle adjustments like drinking sufficient water and consuming an increased quality of electrolytes. 

  If you’re looking for hope with your EDS, start here. Knowing you have a reliable way to eliminate the worst pain as you tackle your management regimen can help you build a lifestyle and routine that works for you.

  We’ll Take You Seriously

  Our clinic has made it our business to understand hypermobility disorders and to offer real solutions that help to improve quality of life. We offer hope for your pain. You can contact us to schedule an appointment today. 

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Stellate Ganglion Block in the US for Canadian Patients

Every healthcare system has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the drawbacks of the Canadian health system is that meeting with a qualified pain management specialist can mean a wait of six months or more. In Canada there simply aren’t enough pain management specialists. The Canadian government itself is aware of the problem. 

  In the meantime, some people’s pain is so intense and life-affecting they simply cannot wait. The same is true of the symptoms of PTSD, one of the primary conditions that a stellate ganglion block (SGB) may be used to remedy.

  Here at our clinic in Bellevue, WA, we see many Canadian patients who find the inconvenience of travel to be small compared to having to wait so long for a simple injection that can help put an end to the raging anxiety, irritability, depression, flashbacks, chronic pain, and other symptoms associated with PTSD. 

  If you are in the Seattle area for whatever length of time, you can consult with Dr. Jason Attaman to find out whether SGB is right for you.

  Stellate Ganglion Block Usually Requires 2 Doses

  An effective stellate ganglion block requires an initial shot and a follow-up shot about a week later. Though you should experience instant relief with the initial shot, the follow-up shot helps to boost those effects and can provide you with years of symptom relief. 

  If you’re coming down from the Vancouver metro area, for instance, it’s a relatively short road trip. We’re open on Saturdays, so you can make a weekend of it each time. 

  If you’re coming from farther away, we recommend booking both appointments in advance and planning to spend that time in the beautiful Seattle metro area. Take in the Chihuly exhibit, visit Pike Place Market, take in the troll, and dine at any number of excellent restaurants. The SGB procedure takes less than 30 minutes each time, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourself before and especially after the “business” part of your visit. 

  SGB Costs

  A full round of SGB treatments with two shots will cost $2000 to $4000. You should plan to pay those costs out-of-pocket. As of this writing, it is impossible or near-impossible to find any American insurance plan that would pay them for you, including short-term plans.

  Hotel Options

  In case you’re factoring our Bellevue office location into your lodging decisions, the nearest hotels aren’t within walking distance, but the Hilton Garden Inn, the Kasa Bellevue Seattle, and the Courtyard by Marriott are all a short drive away. In addition, the 116th Ave NE and NE 12th Street transit stops are right outside our door, and it’s easy to take a bus from any hotel option. Plus, parking in Bellevue, though still challenging at times, is somewhat easier than in Seattle and isn’t quite as expensive. 

  Long-Term Follow-Up 

  Most patients experience at least six months of relief from an SGB shot, so if a 2nd visit is needed after the 2-shot course of treatment, you won’t need to come back for quite a while. Many people experience years of relief. And there’s a group that combines SGB with psychotherapy, which often helps those people never need a shot again.

  Either way, you should understand that SGB is not usually a permanent procedure, though it is long-lasting one. You should work potential follow-up visits into your long-term planning. You might not need them, in which case you can plan something else, but just keep the possibility in the back of your mind.

  Get Help Today

  If crossing the 49th makes sense for you, the chances are that we can help. Our patients have found SGB remarkably effective for PTSD.  You can contact Dr. Attaman’s office in Bellevue today to schedule an appointment.

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Stellate Ganglion Block Side Effects

Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) therapy can be effective for people diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Of course, as with nearly any medical intervention, side effects are possible.  If you are in the Seattle area, you can consult with Dr. Jason Attaman to find out whether SGB is right for you.

  Stellate Ganglion Block Overview

  SGB is an injection that blocks signals from the stellate ganglion, the bundle of nerves that strongly influences a person’s flight-or-fight response. As PTSD stimulates these at the wrong times, a temporary block provides a “reset” that allows the stellate ganglion to begin functioning normally again. It reverts to sending distress signals only when genuine, immediate distress is more likely to be present. 

  SGB is a therapy best performed by physicians trained in Interventional Pain Management, those who have completed Pain Medicine Fellowships. Nevertheless, at least from the patient’s point of view, the therapy is a simple injection guided by ultrasound or fluoroscopy to provide accuracy into the correct nerve. 

  Side Effects of Stellate Ganglion Block for PTST

  No procedure is perfect, and each has its side effects. Most of these symptoms disappear within a few hours of the injection appointment.  Possible side effects of SGB include:

  Drooping eyelids

Bruising or soreness at the injection site

Bloodshot eyes

Watery eyes

Nasal stuffiness

A hoarse voice

Feeling a lump in the throat

Difficulty swallowing

Warmth or tingling in the arm or hand

  Most of our patients find these side effects a small price to pay for the lasting and immediate symptom relief that SGB can give them. Many of our patients have been able to start living life fully again due to SGB therapy. 

  Rare Complications of Stellate Ganglion Block

  Serious complications occur in some patients, though they sre rare. These potential complications include:

  Infection

Bleeding from a vascular puncture

Nerve damage

Thyroid injuries

Esophageal and tracheal punctures

A collapsed lung

  These serious complications often occur when an underqualified or inexperienced physician administers the procedure. For example, we’ve seen naturopaths and nurse practitioners offering this procedure. It is very dangerous for them to do so, unless they have the qualifications and experience of a medical doctor. 

  The easiest way to avoid complications is by working with an Interventional Pain Management Doctor like Dr. Jason Attaman (in Bellevue, WA), who specializes in pain management. Dr. Attaman has performed SGB procedures for over twelve years. 

  Get Help Today

  The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) conducted a study that verified the efficacy of SGB for PTSD relief. The procedure has been performed safely for nearly a century. 

  SGBs may be used with therapy to relieve symptoms such as panic attacks, flashbacks, and more. You may repeat the procedure as many times as you need. 

If you feel you may be a good candidate for an SGB, you can schedule an appointment by calling Dr. Attaman’s office today.

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Arthritis Treatment and Therapy

Is arthritis pain slowing you down? If so, we have solutions if over-the-counter medications aren’t providing enough relief to the pain of arthritis. We may also be able to help you avoid major surgery. We have multiple treatments and options for arthritis patient, each of which can provide months of relief. Our treatments are effective for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Call Dr. Jason Attman’s office in Bellevue, WA, or read on to find out more.

Corticosteroid injections for arthritis

Corticosteroid injections can be effective for rheumatoid arthritis  patients.

Corticosteroids are not the same as anabolic steroids, in that they don’t increase muscle size or strength. Instead, they reduce inflammation. Because inflammation causes pressure on your nerves, this treatment can be highly effective. We’ll deliver the injection directly into the inflamed joint or info the soft tissue close to the joint.

Prolotherapy for arthritis

Prolotherapy benefits adults with severe joint problems, making it an excellent therapy for OA.

Prolotherapy helps you build tougher tissue.  Prolotherapy delivers a medication solution to damaged tissues that induces low-grade inflammation that helps produce growth factor hormones. Those growth factor hormones can regrow some of the missing cartilage. Because a great deal of arthritis pain stems from the lack of cartilage in key joints, this therapy can provide long-lasting relief.

Many of our patients find their arthritis pain disappears once this treatment is complete.

Radiofrequency ablation for arthritis

RFA can be effective for osteoarthritis. RFA uses targeted radiofrequency waves to disable certain nerves temporarily. We insert a special needle into the appropriate location, using X-rays to guide us. Then we deliver a precise burst of radiofrequency heat waves to finish the procedure. The damaged nerve becomes incapable of sending pain signals to your brain.

We target joints that bear weight, like your knees and hips.

RFA is suitable for six to twelve months of powerful arthritis relief. Once your nerves start to regain their sensitivity, we’ll have to deliver the treatment again. You can receive RFA on an ongoing basis without experiencing significant side effects or diminished efficacy.

Schedule your appointment today

Which treatment is right for you? It depends on which type of arthritis you have, the severity of your arthritis, the other treatments you’ve tried, and your unique health profile.

Together we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to deliver long-lasting arthritis relief. You can schedule your first appointment with Dr. Attaman in Bellevue today. Schedule your appointment today.

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Migraine Treatment and Therapy

Migraine Treatment and Therapy

Do you suffer from chronic migraines? Has the debilitating pain kept you from being fully present with your family, friends, or even your own thoughts? Have the migraines affected your daily work?

That’s the bad news, but the good news is that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It’s possible to end or significantly lessen your pain for six to twelve months at a time with a treatment option called radiofrequency ablation. Radiofrequency ablation uses a precise burst of heat to put the occipital nerve to “sleep,” temporarily stopping your migraines. Because that is the primary nerve producing your migraine pain, you can’t feel the all-too-familiar sting of a migraine.

Dr. Jason Attaman (in Bellevue, WA) can help. You can contact our office to schedule an appointment, or read more on this page, or keep reading on to find out more.

Does radiofrequency ablation end all migraine symptoms?

Migraine sufferers know a migraine isn’t just about head pain: It’s also the nausea, light sensitivity, tightness in your neck and shoulders, fatigue, throbbing, drooping and watery eyes, and the anticipation or dread.

Will radiofrequency ablation end those symptoms?  Results vary, and every patient is different, but roughly 75% of patients experience a complete end to all pain and don’t notice any additional symptoms.

Most of the others find their pain goes from debilitating to bearable, but continue to notice some associated symptoms. Even so, most patients find that that reduction in pain is enough to allow them to continue their daily activities.

It is possible to combine radiofrequency ablation with medications to ensure you can address all of your symptoms during an attack.

Can radiofrequency ablation help all migraine patients?

The vast majority of migraine patients see significant results from radiofrequency ablation treatments.

In some patients with severe migraines, the occipital nerve isn’t the only active nerve. Those patients might benefit more from surgery, in which case we can refer you to some of the best surgeons here in the Puget Sound area.

What happens to your migraines when radiofrequency ablation treatments wear off?

Eventually nerves regenerate, so you’ll have to come in for follow-up treatments.  The good news is RFA is a minimally invasive treatment that may be performed unlimited times. Many of our patients just schedule their next appointment the day they come in for their RFA treatment, knowing it won’t last forever.

The benefits of RFA last longer than non-interventional, preventative, and rescue treatments.

What about non-interventional treatments for migraines?

We can also refer you to chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists who can relieve mild migraines.

At your appointment with us we’ll discuss your history of migraine headaches.

After we’ve got a clear picture of how migraines present themselves in your specific case, we will determine a treatment plan and whether a referral to a different or additional doctor might help your course of treatment.

Schedule an appointment today

Don’t let chronic migraines destroy your ability to enjoy your life. We can help you find relief from your migraines for months at a time.  Contact Dr. Jason Attaman’s office to make your first appointment today.

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Foot, Heel, and Ankle Pain Treatment

Foot, heel, and ankle pain can keep you from living life to the fullest, or just functioning as usual. It’s hard to stay productive on the job or to engage in healthy movement when standing or walking brings you extreme pain, and you don’t want it to become the “new normal.”

  We offer several treatment options to address foot, heel, and ankle pain. Our strategies are designed to provide long-lasting relief via minimally invasive therapies proven to deliver results.

  Call Dr. Jason Attman’s office in Bellevue, WA, or read on to find out more.

  Joint Injections

  Corticosteroid injections can reduce swelling, stiffness, and pain in the foot and ankle region.

  These steroids aren’t the same as anabolic steroids, which bodybuilders use to build muscle. Instead, corticosteroid steroids mimic your body’s natural inflammation-fighting hormones.

  This treatment is effective when inflammation creates or exacerbates your foot pain. We’d consider it for conditions like osteoarthritis in the ankles, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and posterior tibial tendonitis.

  Peripheral nerve blockers

  Nerve blocks can provide long-lasting relief for your foot, ankle, or heel pain. We target the specific nerve causing you pain and inject medicine into that area, which prevents the nerves from sending signals to the brain.

  Nerve blocks can provide relief for up to three months. Some patients return for additional treatments, while others combine nerve blocks with other therapies addressing the root cause of the pain.

  Other therapies

  If steroid injections and nerve blockers aren’t a good option in your case, there are other therapies we can try, including radiofrequency ablation and prolotherapy.

    Get help today

  When you make your initial appointment with us, we’ll thoroughly investigate your history of heel, foot, and ankle pain, as well as the current state of your health you’re your lifestyle. The initial consultation can help us identify the right therapy for you.

  You can get lasting relief from your heel, foot, or ankle pain. You can schedule your first appointment with Dr. Attaman in Bellevue today. Schedule your appointment today.

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Leg Pain Therapy

Suffering from leg pain?  We have a variety of therapies that can help you manage knee pain, tendonitis, sciatica, osteoarthritis, bursitis, and more.

  We customize each treatment plan to meet your unique needs. Despite the particulars, all of our treatments can reduce or eliminate pain so you can return to your normal activities, or at least continue them with no pain or minimal pain.

  Call Dr. Jason Attman’s office in Bellevue, WA, or read on to find out more.

  Injection therapy for leg pain

  Corticosteroid therapy is effective for many leg problems because it reduces inflammation and pain. These treatments are usually covered by insurance and provide both rapid results and fast recovery times.

  Some leg pain is an appropriate occasion for nerve blockers or other treatments where a pain reliever gets delivered directly to the affected nerve or joint.

  Percutaneous tenotomy for leg pain

  Percutaneous tenotomy is an ultrasound-guided procedure designed to deliver ultrasonic energy to unhealthy tissues and scar tissues that are blocking your ability to heal, removing the scar tissues in the process. The treatment leaves healthy tissues behind, and your body’s own healing process takes over from there.

  This process also breaks up calcium deposits in the tendon, which can provide additional pain relief.

  Other therapies

  If neither of these treatments is suitable for addressing your leg pain, we have many other options. When you schedule your appointment with Dr. Attaman, we’ll explore your history with leg pain, current health conditions, lifestyle factors, and more.

  All this information can help us determine which treatments will be most effective at significantly reducing, or even eliminating, your pain. As pain relief specialists, we’re committed to finding the best possible solution for your case.

Schedule an appointment today

  You don’t have to limp through life with leg pain. Get back to whatever amount of motion is right for you by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Attaman in Bellevue today. Schedule your appointment today.

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Your Rights & Protections

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills and Balance Billing in Washington State

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network. “Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay, and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of- pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Insurers are required to tell you, via their websites or on request, which providers, hospitals, and facilities are in their networks. Hospitals, surgical facilities, and providers must tell you which provider networks they participate in on their website or on request.

You are protected from balance billing for:

Emergency Services

If you have an emergency medical condition, mental health or substance use disorder condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes care you receive in a hospital and in facilities that provide crisis services to people experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder emergency. You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services, including services you may get after you’re in stable condition.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most these providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount.

You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

When can you be asked to waive your protections from balance billing:

Health care providers, including hospitals and air ambulance providers, can never require you to give up your protections from balance billing. If you have coverage through a self-funded group health plan, in some limited situations, a provider can ask you to consent to waive your balance billing protections, but you are never required to give your consent. Please contact your employer or health plan for more information.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Your health plan generally must:

Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits

Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may file a complaint with the federal government at https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or by calling 1-800-985-3059; and/or file a complaint with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner at their website or by calling 1-800-562- 6900.

Visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law. Visit the Office of the Insurance Commissioner Balance Billing Protection Act website for more information about your rights under Washington state law.

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Stellate Ganglion Block to Treat PTSD in Victims of Car Accidents or Other Traumatic Injuries

Your injury may have happened in a flash, but the pain has compounded and has made daily life much worse.  Perhaps the accident or incident keeps playing back in your head and you’re anxious all the time, or you’ve become petrified of driving or other activities, or you panic and snap at other people in an uncharacteristic way.  Even if you’ve physically recovered, secondary injuries or conditions may always remind you of the hard fist of misfortune, and may trigger PTSD.

The most common traumatic injury is a car accident, but motorcycle accidents, machinery accidents, workplace injuries, assaults, muggings, robberies, miscarriages, animal attacks, and other traumas can cause PTSD.  You haven’t felt like yourself for a while, you miss your pre-trauma daily life, and the PTSD reactions have gotten in the way of your healing and picking up where you left off.

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a completely medical procedure that can help break the vicious cycle by calming your reactions to PTSD triggers.   If you’re a victim of a traumatic injury, it’s very likely you’ve seen a psychologist or psychiatrist, and that that mode of therapy has helped to one degree.    SGB is complementary to therapy, in that it can work in tandem with a therapist’s efforts, or can pick up where they left off.

The stellate ganglion is a bundle of nerves that is located deep in the lower neck. It is located within the cervical sympathetic chain. Sympathetic nerves play a strong role in our fight-or-flight response. When you have PTSD, these nerves malfunction and are constantly sending distress signals to your brain and body. Injecting local anesthetic (numbing medicine) around these nerves is called a stellate ganglion block (SGB). SGB resets these nerves that are chronically in fight-or-flight response. This is similar to rebooting your computer; after the “SGB reboot,” your nerves function normally. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) injections need to be performed under either ultrasound and/or fluoroscopic guidance as there are major blood vessels and organs nearby. The SGB injection is not new and has been used for 100 years to treat painful conditions such as chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) of the upper extremity. More recently, SGB is being used to treat PTSD.

Contrary to popular belief, stellate ganglion block is not only a PTSD treatment option for veterans and law-enforcement officers. It’s effective for a wide range of PTSD sufferers, including victims of car accidents and other traumatic injuries.

I (Dr. Jason Attaman) have helped people in all kinds of situations overcome their PTSD.  Besides my medical experience, I am in a unique position to help because I understand a few things that may be true of your situation:

You feel you’ve exhausted your options, between therapy, antidepressants or other medications, and advice from others.  Those may have helped, but you’re not out of the woods yet, and your time and patience are stretched thin.

Simply “taking it easy” or avoiding certain activities in daily life isn’t the solution, or the entire solution.  Especially if you’ve physically recovered from your accident, you already feel you need to make up for lost time, and don’t want to drag the recovery out to the point that it’s not really a recovery.

You worry the treatment may be painful, and you are concerned that you might not be in control.

In my care, you’re always in control, and what you are comfortable with is exactly what we’ll do.  With stellate ganglion block I have helped many traumatic-injury victims calm their nerves, move past PTSD, and regain control of their lives.  It is fulfilling for me and doubly so for my patients.  You can contact my office in Bellevue, WA to discuss your needs and to schedule an appointment.

Learn More about Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD

Schedule an Appointment

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Stellate Ganglion Block to Treat PTSD in Domestic Abuse Victims

The abuse may be behind you, but the feelings of trauma and freefall follow you around.  As much as you’d like to move on with life, you’re constantly reminded of what happened and frequently go on “red alert.”  To make matters worse, every time you experience a PTSD trigger, you’re reminded not only of the original trauma, but of the last time your PTSD was set off.  It is a vicious cycle.

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a completely medical procedure that can help break the cycle by calming your reactions to PTSD triggers.  If you’re a victim of domestic abuse, it’s very likely you’ve seen a psychologist or psychiatrist, and that that mode of therapy has helped to one degree.  SGB is complementary to therapy, in that it can work in tandem with a therapist’s efforts, or can pick up where they left off.

The stellate ganglion is a bundle of nerves that is located deep in the lower neck. It is located within the cervical sympathetic chain. Sympathetic nerves play a strong role in our fight-or-flight response. When you have PTSD, these nerves malfunction and are constantly sending distress signals to your brain and body. Injecting local anesthetic (numbing medicine) around these nerves is called a stellate ganglion block (SGB). SGB resets these nerves that are chronically in fight-or-flight response. This is similar to rebooting your computer; after the “SGB reboot,” your nerves function normally. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) injections need to be performed under either ultrasound and/or fluoroscopic guidance as there are major blood vessels and organs nearby. The SGB injection is not new and has been used for 100 years to treat painful conditions such as chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) of the upper extremity. More recently, SGB is being used to treat PTSD.

Contrary to popular belief, stellate ganglion block is not only a PTSD treatment option for veterans and law-enforcement officers.  It’s effective for a wide range of PTSD sufferers, including victims of domestic abuse.

I (Dr. Jason Attaman) have helped people in all kinds of situations overcome their PTSD.  Besides my medical experience, I am in a unique position to help because I understand a few things that may be true of your situation:

You feel you’ve exhausted your options, between therapy, antidepressants or other medications, and advice from others.  Those may have helped, but you’re not out of the woods yet, and your time and patience are stretched thin.

If you’re a woman, you may be anxious around all or most men.  It’s not personal, and perhaps it wasn’t always that way, but ever since the abuse, it’s not a reaction you can control.

You worry the treatment may be painful, and you are concerned that you might not be in control.

In my care, you’re always in the driver’s seat, and what you are comfortable with is exactly what we’ll do.  With stellate ganglion block I have helped many domestic abuse victims calm their nerves, move past PTSD, and regain control of their lives.  It is fulfilling for me and doubly so for my patients.  You can contact my office in Bellevue, WA to discuss your needs and to schedule an appointment.

Learn More about Stellate Ganglion Block for PTSD

Schedule an Appointment

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Stellate Ganglion Block to Treat PTSD in Victims of Sexual Assault or Abuse

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Stellate Ganglion Block to Treat PTSD in Victims of Childhood Trauma or Abuse

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Stellate Ganglion Block to Treat PTSD in Grieving or Bereaved People

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Your Rights & Protections

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills and Balance Billing in Washington State

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network. “Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay, and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of- pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Insurers are required to tell you, via their websites or on request, which providers, hospitals, and facilities are in their networks. Hospitals, surgical facilities, and providers must tell you which provider networks they participate in on their website or on request.

You are protected from balance billing for:

Emergency Services

If you have an emergency medical condition, mental health or substance use disorder condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes care you receive in a hospital and in facilities that provide crisis services to people experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder emergency. You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services, including services you may get after you’re in stable condition.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most these providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount.

You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

When can you be asked to waive your protections from balance billing:

Health care providers, including hospitals and air ambulance providers, can never require you to give up your protections from balance billing. If you have coverage through a self-funded group health plan, in some limited situations, a provider can ask you to consent to waive your balance billing protections, but you are never required to give your consent. Please contact your employer or health plan for more information.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Your health plan generally must:

Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits

Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may file a complaint with the federal government at https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or by calling 1-800-985-3059; and/or file a complaint with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner at their website or by calling 1-800-562- 6900.

Visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law. Visit the Office of the Insurance Commissioner Balance Billing Protection Act website for more information about your rights under Washington state law.