Study finds potential in nerve block treatment for smell distortions (45% had “Significant improvement”)

Medical Xpress / University of Western Ontario / The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ^ | July 13, 2023 | Prabhjot Sohal / Leigh J Sowerby et al

[ConservativeMind]

Imagine taking the first sip of your morning coffee, only to be hit by an overwhelming, gut-churning stench. This altered sense of smell is a reality for many living with a post-COVID smell dysfunction called parosmia—a disorder that twists even comforting smells into repulsive ones.

A recent study offers crucial insights into some key characteristics and treatment options for post-COVID parosmia.

The study identifies stellate ganglion block (SGB)—a procedure involving injecting a local anesthetic into the stellate ganglion, a collection of nerves in the neck—as a possible effective treatment to help alleviate the distorted sense of smell in patients.

"The stellate ganglion controls sympathetic signals to the head, neck, arms and part of the chest. Temporarily blocking these signals through an anesthetic injection could alleviate the distorted sense of smell in patients as it appears that part of the problem is in how the brain is perceiving the signal," said Sowerby.

"It's a procedure with minimal risk and of all the strategies patients have tried, from smell training to nasal corticosteroid sprays, SGB appears to be the most effective in treating post-COVID parosmia."

For this study, 209 adult patients registered with two social media groups—AbScent and Facebook COVID anosmia/parosmia were surveyed.

"This survey is the first step to get more data on patients and their experiences. Further research is needed to understand the efficacy and the benefit of SGB for post-COVID parosmia," he said.

According to survey results, smell training emerged as the most commonly adopted treatment option, trialed by 74% of the patients. This was followed by the use of nasal corticosteroid sprays and vitamin A drops, taken by 49% and 20% of patients, respectively.

Interestingly, while only 16% of patients underwent SGB therapy, it showed the highest effectiveness, with a substantial 45% of these patients reporting significant improvement.

[ConservativeMind]

45% of those who got the nerve block had substantial improvement.

I’d be getting this ASAP, if I needed it.

[ConservativeMind]

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[NautiNurse]

Vary small sample size n=33 used the block, with 45% reporting effectiveness = 15.

[ConservativeMind]

The procedure appears to have very few side effects.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, serious side effects are rare, and the minor ones usually go away in a few hours.

But, hey, they may not know what they are talking about.

[smokingfrog]

I have a friend that does not like coffee and can’t stand the smell of it. But after getting Covid, she says it doesn’t bother her any more. I think my sense of taste has been altered a little bit by Covid, but nothing to that extreme.

[lurk]

Since COVID, all bad smells smell the same.

[DannyTN]

as appealing as 45% improved smell distortions sounds, I’m quite satisfied with no smell distortions.

Unless they mean it will make your farts smell more distorted, and I don’t really think they can improve on mine.

[NautiNurse]

With a tiny sample size n=33, and less than half of those subjects reporting improvement, it is unrealistic to expect health insurance to cover the procedure. Expect to pay out-of-pocket.