Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that completely impairs your ability to function and enjoy life normally. For many it is difficult to find a treatment that is effective. In addition to the pain itself, some treatments such as opioid pain medication can lead to addiction or other significant health problems.
Ketamine can be an excellent choice of treatment for certain types of chronic pain. There are many different pain conditions but in general, ketamine is more suited towards treating nerve-related pain. Ketamine seems to improve or repair the function of damaged nerves which decreases the related pain. Arthritis-related pain does not typically respond well to ketamine treatment.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a type of chronic pain that usually affects one or more limbs. It was formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). CRPS usually develops after some type of injury or accident, but the underlying cause is not well understood. Symptoms can be highly variable from person to person as well as changing over time. The pain associated with this condition can be overwhelming for some. Some studies show that treatment is more likely to be effective when started early. If you have tried other forms of treatment and still suffer from CRPS then ketamine infusion therapy may be an excellent option for you.
Neuropathic pain, also call neuralgia or nerve pain is particularly debilitating and feels different than other types of pain. Those who suffer from this condition tend to report sensations of burning, stabbing, or feeling an electrical shock. Normal sensations such as a touching a cold object or light touch might cause significant pain. A few examples include peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, post-herpetic, trigeminal, occipital and pudendal. Regardless of the exact cause or type of neuropathic pain you may have, ketamine may provide relief when other treatments have failed.
Fibromyalgia is also a type of neuropathic pain but is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. It is commonly associated with aching or burning in different parts of the body. Research suggests that the way the brain processes pain or other stimuli can be amplified resulting in higher than normal pain levels. Fibromyalgia can be triggered by either physical or psychological stresses and often impairs mood and memory. This particular type of pain stands out as it seems to respond well to doses of ketamine used to treat mood disorders such as depression. If you suffer from fibromyalgia and haven’t found relief with other treatments, please contact us to determine if ketamine infusion therapy is right for you.
Chronic migraines effect 3-5% of adults in the US. This condition generally progresses over time from just a few minor headaches (episodic) to many significant migraines on a monthly basis (chronic). Besides the obvious symptom of moderate to severe pain, many develop dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light, sounds or smells. There are many potential causes or triggers. If you are suffering from chronic migraines and other treatments aren’t working, then ketamine therapy may work for you.