HEALING THOSE WHO PROTECT US
At the Operator Relief Fund (ORF), we have made it our mission to bring best-in-class wellness treatment and services to Special Operation Forces and Shadow Warriors struggling with Post Traumatic Stress and other complex trauma symptoms. We also understand that spouses of special operators need support as well. The scars endured from service have an impact on the mind, body, and spirit of the operators and their families. Shadow Warrior fatalities have more than doubled from 2022-2023, mainly attributed to cancer and suicide. It is our passion and duty to help operators and their spouses, begin a journey to health and wellness.
OUR APPROACH
ORF provides funding for Advanced Stellate Ganglion Block (ASGB) treatment for shadow warriors to enable a journey to health and wellness. The procedure calms the constant fight or flight state. Fight or flight state can look different for everyone, symptoms that look common to PTS concerns, but additional concerns of memory loss, low muscle tone, trouble breathing, sweating for no reason, and problems with digesting food, can occur as well. If your body can't function at a basic level, like converting food to energy, or something “simple”, like remembering to perform job duties, as it has done for years, we can't expect our operators to enjoy life and have thriving relationships. The root causes must be addressed first. Post traumatic stress and other traumas can literally change a person's biological functions. Once this occurs, it can be challenging or even impossible to heal without proper support. The ASGB procedure can give the operator’s nervous system time and space mentally, but also allows our biological functions to reset and refocus on how to start living a healthy lifestyle. ASGB is not about getting back to what was, but more so making something better for your future.
OUR IMPACT
In 2024 ORF will have served 350+ operators and spouses and we have treated over 600 participants since program inception with ASGB services. ORF has also funded additional lab work support, hormone therapy, and supplementation for operators and spouses who were involved in pilot studies.
ORF's recent study with America's Warrior Partnership included 155 participants over 18 months and demonstrated an average 6.5 month effective reset period for our ASGB participants.
Several factors of interest were highlighted, however two things seemed to display the most powerful findings, in regards to the longevity of lasting effects from the ASGB procedure. One, if the individual was active duty, this displayed a shorter window of relief for those individuals. This often looked like an average of 4-6 months of relief. If the individual was a veteran, this could look like 6-9 mos plus of relief. The second largest factor appeared to be whether the individual was engaged in other wellness activities. This could range from services such as life coaching, mental health services, and other varied medical alternative care supports such as hormone replacement, detox, nutritional options, lab work, and functional medicine options.
WHAT IS ASGB?
Advanced Stellate Ganglion Block (ASGB) is an injection of medication into a collection of nerves at the bottom front side of the neck. When administered into both sides of the neck, it has a proven, lasting impact. It resets the sympathetic nervous system fight or flight response to its baseline.
The single side SGB procedure has been used for several years for pain management. Over the recent years providers, military bases, and VA entities, have begun to explore its use for PTS symptom management. Early research displays that the single side procedure assists an average of 71-75 % PTS symptom reduction, with an average longevity of one to week to a month.
Over the last two years several providers and entities have begun the exploration of the dual sided approach often referred to as the ASGB and/or DSGB ( Dual SGB). Early results have indicated a 81% reduction in PTS and other associated symptoms, an average longevity in reduction of symptoms. of 6.5 months.
CURRENT SERVICES
ORF offers support for operators and their spouses to receive the ASGB procedure through one of our partner medical clinics. Our medical partners are private clinics that have been vetted for best in class protocols as well as privacy and efficacy. Currently, ORF funds the procedure itself, hotel room, and travel to and from the procedure. ORF additionally supports the life coaching services. Life coaching is offered through one of our private partners. These sessions can be used for the individual or for material support. Once connected with our partner medical clinic, an operator can seek additional types of support through that provider, if they wish to explore that on their own. Many find the connection to a provider they trust, allowing them to explore additional health concerns.
FUTURE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
ORF has supported several pilot and testing ventures over the last two years. Although several things are shown to be important, there are a few areas where crucial attention must be applied.
One area of support that we hope to fund for all operators, is the support of in depth lab work. This lab work will entail gut health, heavy metals, hormones, infections and autoimmune concerns.
Second, the support of special alternative care for women's services. These will look like partnering and hopefully providing a version of funded support with these select providers. Examples of these services include but not be limited to pelvic floor and supplemental service support.
Third, we need to be able to help operators and their families understand what curriculum of services will best support their optimum heal gains, post ASGB. We want to be able to offer individualized health and mental health options for individuals post treatments. We have heard that knowing what provider and who to trust, is one of the most difficult parts of getting on the right track. We hope to be able to help with that road map. We have already begun this process of internal build.
Finally, We already have partners across the continue, in order to support the various locations that our operators live and work. We hope to continue to expand sights and locations to support ease of access to care.
Operator Relief feels privileged to have gained the trust of many active and former SOF community members and their families. Over the last year we have grown our trust so much so that we often see a month-long access to care waiting time. We pride ourselves on being able to provide services faster and with more ease than the average payer service provider. In order to be able to continue to support this community we will need to continue to grow our donor community as well. If you feel led to donate or know of a person or organization that might be interested, please explore our donate link on the primary page. We appreciate the consideration of support.
PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS
We Can't Do It Without Your Generous Support