Posted on 11/28/2023 8:07:39 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Using an image-guided minimally invasive procedure, researchers may be able to restore the sense of smell in patients who have suffered with long-COVID, according to research.
Parosmia, a condition where the sense of smell no longer works correctly, is a known symptom of COVID-19.
The research team used a stellate ganglion block, which includes injecting anesthetic directly into the stellate ganglion on one side of the neck to stimulate the regional autonomic nervous system. The minimally invasive procedure takes less than 10 minutes, and no sedation or intravenous analgesia is necessary. Stellate ganglion block has been used with varying degrees of success to treat a number of conditions.
For the study, 54 patients were referred from an ear, nose and throat specialist after at least six months of post-COVID parosmia.
"The initial patient had a tremendously positive outcome, with continued improvement to the point of symptom resolution at four weeks," Dr. Zoga said. "We have been surprised at some outcomes, including near 100% resolution of phantosmia in some patients, throughout the trial."
Follow-up was obtained for 37 patients (65%), with 22 (59%) of the 37 reporting improved symptoms at one week post-injection. Of these 22, 18 (82%) reported significant progressive improvement by one month post-procedure. At three months, there was a mean 49% improvement in symptoms (range 10% to 100%) among the 22 patients.
Twenty-six patients returned for a second injection given on the other side of their neck after at least a six-week interval. While the second injection was not effective in patients who did not respond to the first injection, 86% of patients who reported some improvement after the first injection reported additional improvement after the contralateral injection. No complications or adverse events were reported.
"Other treatments have failed to date," Dr. Zoga said. "This injection is working."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
My wife’s sense of smell has been gone for a couple years. It’s killing her. Every once in a while she gets a whiff of something.
But frankly our trust in doctors has been destroyed so I’m sure she won’t consider this.
Try Zinc. Loss of smell and taste is a symptom of a zinc deficiency. Your body scarfs up its supply to fight viruses.
Thank you for sharing this.
“so I’m sure she won’t consider this.”
Yeah, i read the protocol and contraindications. For over two years, i have lost (estimated) 95% of smells, perhaps 2/3 taste. This to the point where a skunked daughter’s dog , and months later my own skunked dog, caused no problems for me personally, while others hurled and vomited.
It’s not a harmless procedure, with significant risk if done by an inexperienced physician.
Hard pass for this old man. I can live without things smelling good or bad.
“so I’m sure she won’t consider this.”
Yeah, i read the protocol and contraindications. For over two years, i have lost (estimated) 95% of smells, perhaps 2/3 taste. This to the point where a skunked daughter’s dog , and months later my own skunked dog, caused no problems for me personally, while others hurled and vomited.
It’s not a harmless procedure, with significant risk if done by an inexperienced physician.
Hard pass for this old man. I can live without things smelling good or bad.
Oops. Fat thumbs on an ipad.
Would it work for a TBI anosmia?
Traumatic injury.
I would not expect it would help that.
It would seem to depend on whether it’s just inflammation or actual complete damage. I can say that some studies have noted TBI can create chronic inflammation, however.
I would guess that if your smell was not lost immediately from the TBI, there could be some hope.
It was immediate.
Massive damage to frontal lobe where the olfactory bulb resides.
I was supposed to die but I’m contrary like that.
After 42 years I keep holy for a miracle.
Anosmia causes a lot of anxiety and phobias.
It’s a wretched way to live.
Did anyone ever get Short Covid ???
Did anyone ever get Short Covid ???
Zinc deficiency isn’t relevant to this type of sense of smell loss.
Do 5 and 3 day bouts with COVID count as short? That’s all I’ve had and never any loss of smell or taste. Tested positive both times. I took horse paste, vitamin C and zinc for the first and nothing for the 2nd.
I am keeping an eye on this. I have suffered from anosmia following a cold I had in 2017.
Get her this smell kit off of amazon. I know two people who did this and got it back.
She just smell each scent several times a day according to the instructions and hopefully in a couple of weeks, there will be a difference.
I know nurse anesthetists who have been doing these blocks to treat COVID-related loss of smell for two years now. They’ve had great success.
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