We’re pleased to announce that Pain Physicians of Wisconsin is now Pro Spine Pain.
We’re pleased to announce that Pain Physicians of Wisconsin is now Pro Spine Pain.
A ganglion impar block is a type of injection that eases pain. It’s used for a variety of health problems that cause pain in the lower pelvis and groin.
Your brain sends information to the body through pathways known as nerves. Nerves also receive information from the body and send it to the proper regions of the brain. A ganglion is a place in the body where many nerves intersect. Nerves that communicate some types of pain from the lower pelvis and groin pass through the ganglion impar on their way to the brain.
The ganglion impar sits just in front of your sacrum. The sacrum is the lowest part of the spine, sitting just above the tailbone (coccyx).
Generally, you will be watched for 30 to 60 minutes after the procedure. Make sure someone can drive you home. You should not plan to do anything strenuous or anything that calls for your full attention for the rest of the day.
Ask your healthcare provider about any activity restrictions after the procedure. You should be able to eat and drink normally. Ask if you should resume your normal medicines. Make sure to follow all your healthcare provider’s instructions for care.
It is common to have some pain at the injection site for a few days. Many people feel relief from their pain soon after the procedure. This relief might last a few hours, a few weeks, or longer depending on the medicine used.
At Pro Spine & Pain, our physicians may not immediately refer you for a ganglion impar injection at the first sign of pelvic pain. Instead, they will thoroughly discuss your symptoms, medical history, and more to make a proper diagnosis of your condition.
If you have any of the following conditions, you may be an eligible candidate for a ganglion injection:
Ganglion injections are often part of a comprehensive treatment plan. They’re normally given alongside other treatments, like physical therapy or pain medication, to ensure you feel as little pain as possible in your daily life.
Before having this minimally invasive injection, our physicians will brief you about the steps to this procedure at your appointment. They will likely ask you to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, and fast beforehand to reduce the risk of complications.
During the actual procedure, your physician will:
After the procedure, our surgeons will keep you in for observation for around 60 minutes until the local anesthetic wears off. They do this to ensure you experience no adverse reactions and the injection takes effect.
Due to temporary numbness, you shouldn’t drive after the surgery either; instead, have someone drive you home. The following day, you will be able to return to work and activities as normal. Many patients often feel immediate relief afterward. However, it can take up to 72 hours for the injection to take effect.
In general, the pain relief from a ganglion impar injection can last anywhere from a few days to several months. Some individuals may experience immediate relief that lasts for a few days to a few weeks, while others may experience a gradual reduction in pain over several weeks to months. In some cases, repeat injections may be necessary to maintain pain relief.
While these are both procedures used to manage pain, they differ in location and indications. A ganglion impar injection targets the ganglion impar, which is a small, unpaired ganglion located in front of the sacrococcygeal joint, near the coccyx (tailbone). The stellate ganglion block, on the other hand, targets the stellate ganglion, which is a collection of sympathetic nerves located in the neck, at the level of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae.
Some patients may experience temporary pain at the injection site or numbness or weakness in the affected area. Serious complications such as infection or nerve damage are rare.
