Stella and RTHM Partner to Treat Long COVID Symptoms
We are excited to announce the partnership between Stella and RTHM, a research clinic treating complex and post-infectious illnesses, to provide RTHM's Long COVID patients access to Stella's Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatment
Changes in sympathetic nervous system function have been documented in those diagnosed with Long COVID. Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) has helped return the sympathetic nervous system to a healthier state after a biological trigger alters its function. The Stellate Ganglion Block treatment offers promising results and is administered by our many board-certified anesthesiologists trained by Stella.
The path forward for SGB treating Long COVID
Recently, our partners published a case study in the Journal of Neuroimmunology that showed how SGB treatment reduced symptoms of Long COVID.
"Stella's Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) is one of the options within our individualized treatment plans, but it's an important one. The collaboration between RTHM and Stella provides our patients with a unique and potentially helpful treatment."
- Dr. Jennifer Curtin, RTHM's co-founder
Long COVID affects up to 30% of those who have contracted COVID-19. Yet few clinicians have the background in post-viral disease or can access all the tools required to treat these challenging conditions. RTHM is unpacking the knowledge gained from other, often post-viral diseases like ME/CFS and leveraging that wisdom for those suffering with Long COVID.
"It's clear that Stella and RTHM will both continue to innovate like lives depend on it— because they do."
- Michael Gershenzon, Stella's Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
RTHM believes in the best outcome
RTHM will collect a wealth of longitudinal biomarker and questionnaire data on patients undergoing Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), which could help support the efficacy of SGBs in people with Long COVID and potentially other chronic complex diseases.
"Where others see Long COVID as 'uncharted waters', we already have a partial map from navigating other post-viral diseases."
- Dr. Jennifer Curtin, RTHM's co-founder
RTHM's treatment and diagnostic algorithm created by co-founder Dr. Curtin will help clinicians make the best treatment and diagnostic decisions for patients – including Stella's Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) methodology. RTHM will identify patients that may find relief from Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) and facilitate care with Stella Certified MDs. RTHM will be using apps and biological and biometric data gleaned from wearable devices, which could help support the efficacy of SGBs in people with Long COVID.
"RTHM and Stella have a shared mission: ending needless suffering. The number of people affected by Long COVID represents a major health crisis. Knowing that Stella's treatment might be able to help an entirely new population is incredible."
- Dr. Jennifer Curtin, RTHM's co-founder
Looking toward a hopeful tomorrow
The only data regarding Stellate Ganglion Block's (SGB) effects on Long COVID are investigative case studies, however, its application in treating Long COVID is novel but promising. And as cases of Long COVID emerge, it's essential to have attractive therapeutic modalities like SGB and the therapies at RTHM for people to turn to when looking for the appropriate care.
If you would like to learn more about about RTHM's Long COVID treatments, visit https://rthm.com/, or to learn more about Long COVID and Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), please read Stella Certified Doctor Dr. Luke D. Liu's case study on Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) for Long COVID.