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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects around 3.5% of the U.S. population, approximately 8 million Americans every year struggle from the implications of PTSD. Trauma is almost always unexpected, and it wreaks havoc, often times unknowingly to people who are simply living their lives. PTSD can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of weakness. A number of factors can increase the chance that someone will develop PTSD, many of which are not under that person’s control.
Dr. Eugene Lipov has been working on the front lines to find answers, he has pioneered adaption of a sympathetic block in the neck called Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) for treating PTSD. Considering current efficacy of PTSD treatment is under 30 percent, using pharmaceuticals and psycho therapy, SGB’s success rate of 85 percent is a major game-changer. By defining PTSD as a BIOLOGICAL injury, it changes the whole entire aspect of it. When we go though repeated trauma, no matter the cause, the brain starts to think its the new norm. It basically says “Ok I’m going to protect you from everything all the time.” Not only will I protect you, but I will remind you of the trauma(s) in form of flashbacks and night mares. This is called re-experiencing or reliving an event.
We’ll talk to Dr. Lipov today, along with two of his patients who can speak about the results of this breakthrough. Army CPT retired Katie Blanchard was attacked by a coworker at Munson Army Health Center. Which resulted in 3rd and 4th degree burn injuries to nearly 20% of her body. Benjamin Dziobek is an OEF/OIF combat Veteran in the top 1% of cases of extreme PTSD nationally, and has survived a wide array of approximately 35 significant traumas. Following the service he self medicated like most trauma survivors do to hide the many wounds of the past.