The lumbar sympathetic ganglion is a bundle of nerves located just in front of the lower spine. It is responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. It can transmit pain when injured.

A lumbar sympathetic ganglion injection can be used to treat painful conditions in the leg and foot, including:

• Complex regional pain syndrome – chronic pain in an arm or leg
• Phantom limb pain – pain or discomfort that feels as though it is coming from a limb that is not there (such as following amputation)
• Hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating
• Vascular disease – conditions of the circulation system
• Peripheral neuropathic pain disorders – damage to nerves

You will have this procedure in the Northwestern Medicine Anesthesiology/Pain Medicine Clinic.

What to Expect During a Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion Injection

During the procedure:

• You will lie face down on the procedure table.
• You may be sedated so the procedure is more comfortable.
• Your care team will clean your back.
• They will drape your back to keep the area sterile.
• Your physician will use a small needle to numb the skin with a local anesthetic.
• Using an X-ray for guidance, your physician will place needles on either side of your spine and move toward the front of the spine.
• Your physician will inject a contrast dye to confirm the correct position of the needle.
• They will inject a local anesthetic and, in some cases, steroid.
• You will likely feel a temperature change in the limb on the affected side.

Many patients will have immediate pain relief. However, you may need several injections for long-lasting pain relief.

Complications can include:

• Bleeding
• Soreness
• Infection
• Allergic reaction
• Nerve injury
• Injury to the surrounding tissue