Neural Therapy

Neural therapy is the art of injecting procaine, a local anesthetic, into carefully selected areas of the body. These injections restore balance to the autonomic nervous system.

Depending on the individual patient, treatment may involve scars, trigger points, superficial skin injections called quaddles, areas surrounding peripheral nerves, or specific structures within the autonomic nervous system.

The goal is not simply to numb an area.

Local anesthetics temporarily alter nerve signaling, and neural therapy is based on the concept that this brief interruption may help change abnormal or persistent patterns of signaling within the nervous system.

A scar may look completely healed while the nerves, fascia, and other connective tissues beneath it remain altered.

Surgical scars, traumatic injuries, burns, and other areas of tissue damage can sometimes remain sensitive or become associated with symptoms elsewhere in the body.

For selected patients, Dr. Wecker may inject procaine into and around a scar as part of neural therapy. Some patients notice changes very quickly, while others require a series of treatments. Not every scar requires treatment, and not every patient’s symptoms are related to a scar.

Autonomic Nerve Blocks

The autonomic nervous system helps regulate many of the functions that occur without conscious control, including heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, sleep, stress responses, and other aspects of normal physiology.

In selected patients, neural therapy may include treatment directed toward specific autonomic nerve structures.

Stellate Ganglion Block

The stellate ganglion is a collection of sympathetic nerves located in the neck. A stellate ganglion block temporarily interrupts sympathetic nerve signaling and may help calm an autonomic nervous system that has become persistently activated.

Stellate ganglion blocks have been studied particularly in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may be considered in selected patients experiencing symptoms such as hyperarousal, anxiety, disturbed sleep, or insomnia associated with autonomic dysregulation.

Generally, patients describe feeling calmer and sleeping better following treatment. Response varies considerably, and stellate ganglion block is not a replacement for appropriate psychiatric, psychological, or medical care when those treatments are indicated.

Celiac Ganglion Block

The celiac plexus and associated ganglia are major autonomic nerve structures located in the upper abdomen. They carry nerve signals involving many of the abdominal organs and gastrointestinal tract.

In selected patients, treatment directed toward this region may be incorporated into neural therapy when symptoms appear to involve the abdominal autonomic nervous system, including certain types of chronic abdominal or visceral pain and gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Bilateral Inferior Hypogastric Ganglion (IHG) Blocks

The inferior hypogastric plexus is an important network of autonomic nerves within the pelvis. These nerves participate in signaling involving the pelvic organs and surrounding structures.

Bilateral inferior hypogastric ganglion blocks may be considered in selected patients with chronic pelvic or visceral pain and other symptoms such as sexual dysfunction in which pelvic autonomic nerve signaling may be contributing to the clinical picture.

Because autonomic nerves form interconnected networks, the goal is not simply to numb the location where a patient feels discomfort. Instead, treatment is directed toward the nerve pathways that may be participating in the persistence of the symptoms.

Depending on the individual patient, neural therapy may be considered as part of a treatment plan for:

• Chronic or persistent pain
• Pain associated with scars or previous surgery
• Myofascial pain and trigger points
• Symptoms following injuries
• Chronic pelvic or visceral pain
• Certain autonomic nervous system symptoms
• PTSD-related hyperarousal and associated symptoms
• Anxiety or sleep disturbance when autonomic
• dysregulation may be contributing
• Selected chronic conditions in which altered nerve signaling may play a role

Neural therapy is not appropriate for every condition or every patient. A medical evaluation is necessary to determine whether it may reasonably be incorporated into your care.

Treatment is individualized. There is no single “neural therapy protocol” that is appropriate for everyone.

Dr. Wecker first reviews your medical history and examines the areas that may be contributing to your symptoms. Treatment may involve only a few injections or a more extensive series of injections depending on what is found.

Because neural therapy uses local anesthetic, patients may temporarily experience numbness or other expected effects in the treated area. As with any injection procedure, bruising, bleeding, infection, temporary discomfort, allergic reactions, and other complications are possible. Procedures involving deeper structures or nerve blocks have additional risks that will be discussed before treatment.

A Different Way of Looking at Chronic Symptoms

One of the principles behind functional medicine is asking a different question.

Sometimes the answer is straightforward. Sometimes it requires detective work.

Dr. Wecker combines her background in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Functional Medicine with specialized training in neural therapy to evaluate each patient from a broader medical perspective.

Neural therapy can be used on its own when appropriate or incorporated into a larger treatment plan that may include hormone optimization, metabolic and mitochondrial health, nutrition, exercise, and other aspects of functional medicine.

If you have persistent symptoms after an injury or surgery, chronic pain, a troublesome scar, chronic pelvic or visceral pain, or symptoms that may involve autonomic nervous system dysregulation, neural therapy may be worth discussing.

Every patient is different. Treatment recommendations are made only after an individualized medical assessment.

Schedule a consultation with SoBe Functional Medicine to learn whether neural therapy may have a role in your care.