How does the SGB work?

After SGB treatment, when your sense of smell (anosmia) and taste (dysgeusia) get better, it’s because the treatment restores the balance between two parts of your nervous system. This happens by blocking the overactive sympathetic part in your neck, which is responsible for head and neck functions. It’s possible that when this sympathetic part is too active, it disrupts important cranial nerves like the ones for smelling, facial movement, and taste perception, causing these issues.

Timing is crucial when using a treatment called SGB for long COVID-19 syndrome. If we wait too long, the body’s adjustment to the condition may make SGB less effective. It’s like dealing with a stubborn door. The longer you wait, the harder it is to keep it open. We’ve noticed that when SGB is delayed in people with other long-lasting post-viral conditions like Lyme disease or chronic fatigue syndrome, it doesn’t work as well compared to those with long COVID-19. They only see a small improvement, about 10-20%, with each injection.