Concierge pain medicine · UK
Ganglion block — the right target, the right imaging, in the right suite.
Image-guided injections around the stellate, coeliac, hypogastric, impar, sphenopalatine and sympathetic ganglia — for pain, dysautonomia, and precise diagnosis when medication alone is not enough.
Why patients choose us
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A consultant pain physician, in the right suite
A named FFPMRCA-accredited pain specialist, ultrasound or fluoroscopy on hand, and the ganglion target chosen for your problem — not the one the clinic happens to book that week.
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The right ganglion, honestly explained
Stellate, coeliac, hypogastric, impar, sphenopalatine, lumbar sympathetic — each targets a different pain. We match the block to the diagnosis before you commit.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private ganglion block costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Imaging (ultrasound, fluoroscopy or CT) and any light sedation are included. Send the details and we quote firm figures.
In short
A stellate ganglion block in our network: £800–£1,600, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stellate ganglion block (ultrasound-guided) | £800–£1,600 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Coeliac plexus block (fluoroscopy/CT) | £1,200–£2,400 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Superior hypogastric plexus block | £1,100–£2,200 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Ganglion impar block | £900–£1,800 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block | £600–£1,400 | 15–30 min | Same visit |
| Lumbar or thoracic sympathetic block | £1,000–£2,000 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Consultant pain review only | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which consultant does the case, by the imaging modality chosen, and by whether steroid or a neurolytic agent is added. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right ganglion, the right imaging, the right operator.
Ganglion blocks work brilliantly when the target matches the pain and the operator uses proper imaging — and disappoint when either is wrong. We fix both before you commit.
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Not sure which ganglion?
Different pains, different targets. A consultant pain physician chooses the one your diagnosis actually needs.
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Been offered a landmark technique?
Modern practice is ultrasound, fluoroscopy or CT-guided. Landmark-only ganglion blocks are outdated.
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Want to know if it worked?
A structured two-week pain diary tells us. If it helped, we plan a repeat or an RF ablation for longer relief.
The journey
From enquiry to review — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the two-week response window.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Where the pain is, how long, what has already been tried, and any prior scans or nerve studies.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which ganglion target fits your pain, whether ultrasound, fluoroscopy or CT is right, and an indicative price.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. Blood-thinning medication is reviewed and you are told exactly how to prepare — fasting is only needed if sedation is planned.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Arrival, consent and a chat with the pain physician. A cannula for optional light IV sedation, monitoring on, and imaging set up.
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On the day
The block itself
15 to 45 minutes on the imaging table. Skin numbed, needle placed under image guidance, contrast checks the spread, then local anaesthetic — with steroid or neurolytic where appropriate.
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On the day
Home the same day
A short recovery on the ward, written aftercare, and home within a few hours. You will need someone to collect you if any sedation was used.
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After
Response and review
A pain diary for two weeks tells us if the block worked. If it did, we plan repeats or radiofrequency ablation for longer relief.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Response window: 2 weeks of pain-diary tracking.
When it helps
When a ganglion block is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than a pain-clinic booking.
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CRPS (upper or lower limb)
Complex regional pain syndrome — stellate for the arm, lumbar sympathetic for the leg. Diagnostic first, then repeated if it works.
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Pancreatic and upper GI cancer pain
Coeliac plexus neurolysis eases severe upper abdominal cancer pain and often reduces opioid burden for three to six months.
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Pelvic cancer pain
Superior hypogastric plexus block for cervical, endometrial, prostate or colorectal pain when opioids alone are not enough.
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Coccydynia and perineal pain
Ganglion impar block for coccygeal, rectal or perineal pain — including post-radiation and post-surgical pain.
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Cluster headache and facial pain
Sphenopalatine ganglion block, trans-nasal or fluoroscopy-guided, for cluster headache and some atypical facial pain.
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Refractory phantom limb pain
Stellate or lumbar sympathetic blocks for post-amputation pain that has not settled with medication.
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Hyperhidrosis and Raynaud’s
Sympathetic blocks for excessive sweating (facial, palmar, axillary) and vasospastic disorders — diagnostic before any surgical sympathectomy.
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Red flag: new severe headache or focal weakness
A sudden thunderclap headache, new focal weakness, fever with neck stiffness or loss of consciousness is not a pain-clinic booking — same-day A&E.
Block types
One name, many targets.
What each ganglion block actually involves — and which fits which problem.
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Stellate ganglion block
Cervicothoracic sympathetic block at C7–T1. Ultrasound-guided for safety. Used for upper-limb CRPS, phantom limb pain, hyperhidrosis, Raynaud’s and — off-label — PTSD and menopausal hot flushes.
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Coeliac plexus block
Pre-vertebral block at T12–L1. Fluoroscopy or endoscopic ultrasound. Local anaesthetic with steroid for benign pancreatitis; neurolytic alcohol or phenol for cancer pain.
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Superior hypogastric plexus block
At the L5/S1 junction under fluoroscopy or CT. Targets sympathetic pelvic pain from cancer or chronic non-malignant pelvic pain.
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Ganglion impar block
At the sacrococcygeal joint by a transcoccygeal or transacrococcygeal ligament approach. For coccygodynia, perineal and rectal pain.
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Sphenopalatine ganglion block
Trans-nasal cotton-tip applicator (SphenoCath, TxDevice) or fluoroscopy-guided. Cluster headache, some migraine, atypical facial pain, and post-dural puncture headache.
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Lumbar sympathetic block
L2–L4 paravertebral sympathetic chain. Lower-limb CRPS, plantar hyperhidrosis, peripheral vascular disease and phantom limb pain.
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Thoracic sympathetic block
T2–T4 under fluoroscopy or CT. Facial and palmar hyperhidrosis and upper-limb sympathetic pain — diagnostic before any surgical sympathectomy.
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Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Where a diagnostic block clearly worked, RFA offers longer, months-to-years relief — most commonly for stellate, sphenopalatine and lumbar sympathetic targets.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of pain physicians, we picked them.
FFPMRCA-accredited consultants across central London, the home counties and the major UK cities. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every pain physician in our network.
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Consultant pain physicians (FFPMRCA), not general practitioners with a pain interest
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Ultrasound, fluoroscopy and CT-guided procedures — the imaging chosen to fit the target
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Diagnostic block first, RF ablation or neurolytic only when a diagnostic block has clearly worked
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Neurolytic coeliac plexus done in a unit set up for cancer pain, with the oncology team looped in
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Image-guided ganglion blocks are safe day-case procedures. The things worth knowing are the expected physiological signs (Horner’s, diarrhoea, warmth), the rare complications, and how the response is tracked.
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Ultrasound is safer for the stellate
Modern practice is ultrasound-guided rather than the old landmark technique at the C6 anterior tubercle. It sees the vessels and reduces the risk of vascular injection.
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Horner’s syndrome is expected after a stellate block
A drooping eyelid, small pupil and warm, dry face on the treated side means the block worked. It wears off in a few hours — it is a sign, not a complication.
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Diarrhoea after coeliac plexus is expected
Sympathetic blockade of the gut speeds transit for a few days. Loose stools and a temporary blood-pressure dip on standing are known effects, not failures.
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Bleeding and infection are rare
Serious bleeding or infection is under 0.5% with imaging guidance and proper preparation of any blood-thinning medication.
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Vascular or intrathecal injection is uncommon
Image guidance with contrast test injection is designed to detect and avoid injection into a vessel or the CSF. It is why every ganglion block should be image-guided.
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Dysphonia after a stellate block
Temporary hoarseness from recurrent laryngeal nerve involvement can occur, and settles as the local anaesthetic wears off.
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Not every block gives complete relief
A diagnostic block can be partial. If it helps meaningfully we plan a repeat or an RF ablation; if it does no good we reconsider the diagnosis rather than repeat blindly.
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Neurolytic blocks are permanent
Alcohol or phenol destroys the ganglion — reserved for cancer pain, and only after a diagnostic block has clearly worked.
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Red flags
New severe headache, breathlessness, chest pain, high fever, spreading redness at the injection site or new focal weakness are not normal — call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your procedure note
Your procedure note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever ganglion was targeted, the note the pain physician sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Procedure language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Target ganglion and indication
Which ganglion was blocked, on which side, and the pain problem it was aimed at.
- 02 Technique
Imaging, approach and drug
Ultrasound, fluoroscopy or CT; the approach used; and the drug — local anaesthetic alone, with steroid, or a neurolytic agent.
- 03 Findings
Contrast spread and physiological signs
How the contrast spread on imaging, and any expected signs — Horner’s syndrome after stellate, warmth in the limb after sympathetic, diarrhoea after coeliac.
- 04 Impression
Pain diary, review and next step
Read this first: how to keep a two-week pain diary, when the review is, and whether a repeat block or RF ablation is planned if the response is good.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for ganglion blocks varies by insurer and by indication — usually funded for cancer pain, CRPS, cluster headache and other recognised diagnoses. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about ganglion blocks.
Quick answers on which ganglion, cost, how it feels, and how we know if it worked.
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What is a ganglion block?
A precise, image-guided injection around a cluster of nerve cells (a ganglion) that carries pain or sympathetic signals. It is used to diagnose where pain is coming from and, if it helps, to treat it — sometimes with a longer-lasting radiofrequency ablation or neurolytic follow-up.
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Which ganglion should be blocked for my pain?
It depends on the diagnosis. Stellate for the upper limb, coeliac for upper abdominal cancer or pancreatitis pain, superior hypogastric for pelvic pain, impar for coccygeal and perineal pain, sphenopalatine for cluster headache and some facial pain, lumbar sympathetic for the lower limb. A consultant pain physician chooses the right target.
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How is a ganglion block different from a dorsal root ganglion block?
A dorsal root ganglion (DRG) block targets the sensory nerve cell body just outside the spinal cord and is used for radicular (nerve-root) pain in a specific dermatome. The blocks on this page target autonomic or cranial ganglia — stellate, coeliac, hypogastric, impar, sphenopalatine and the sympathetic chain — for different pain problems.
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How much does a private ganglion block cost in the UK?
Roughly £600–£1,400 for a sphenopalatine block, £800–£1,600 for a stellate block, £900–£1,800 for a ganglion impar block, £1,000–£2,000 for a sympathetic block, £1,100–£2,200 for a hypogastric block, and £1,200–£2,400 for a coeliac plexus block. Imaging and any sedation are included.
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How long does a ganglion block take to work?
Local anaesthetic works within minutes — most patients feel the effect on the table. Steroid, where added, takes a few days to build. Neurolytic coeliac plexus blocks give meaningful relief for three to six months, sometimes longer.
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Do I need imaging guidance?
Yes. Ultrasound, fluoroscopy or CT is the standard of care for every ganglion block and is what makes the procedure safe. Landmark-only techniques are outdated.
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What are the risks?
The important ones are bleeding, infection, dysphonia or Horner’s syndrome after a stellate block (transient and expected), diarrhoea and low blood pressure after a coeliac block (expected), and — rarely — injection into a vessel or the CSF. Image guidance is designed to prevent the rare complications.
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Can a ganglion block be repeated?
Yes. If a diagnostic block gives clear, meaningful relief we can repeat it, add a steroid, or move to a radiofrequency ablation for longer relief. Neurolytic blocks (alcohol or phenol) are reserved for cancer pain.
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When can I go back to work?
Most people are back to office work the next day. Driving needs someone else on the day of any sedation. Heavy lifting or vigorous exercise waits 24–48 hours to protect the injection site.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Dorsal root ganglion block
Targeted block for dermatomal radicular pain.
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Epidural steroid injection
For radicular back and leg pain from disc or stenosis.
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Facet joint injection
For axial back or neck pain from the small spinal joints.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more