Ganglion Impar Block is a procedure used to relieve chronic vaginal, rectal, and pelvic pain. The ganglion impar is a set of sympathetic nerves located around the coccyx which receive pain signals from the perineum, distal rectum, anus, distal urethra, vulva, and distal third of the vagina.
This block can potentially relieve pain coming from any of these pelvic areas. When you come for the procedure, you will have the opportunity to have all your questions answered, and you will sign a consent form. During the procedure, you will lay face-down and will receive a local anesthetic at the point of the injection under fluoroscopy. A combination of steroids and local anesthetics is injected in the spot as diagnosis and/or treatment. If immediate pain relief does not occur, then the ganglion impar is not the source of the pain, and the doctor will have a better idea of what could possibly be giving you such pain. If you achieve pain relief, then this block can decrease the pain in frequency and intensity.