Ketamine for Pain

Ketamine infusion (IV ketamine) has been used worldwide for 50 years as an anesthetic and is classed by the World Health Organization as “an essential medicine”. At lower doses ketamine infusion therapy has long been recognized as highly effective in giving immediate and sustained relief from many types of difficult-to-treat chronic pain.

“It’s clear that ketamine IV makes sense for pain – that’s what it was designed to do,” Dr. Reginald Richardson MD.

Acute pain is the body’s protective mechanism to signal injured or diseased tissue; when the underlying problem is cured, the pain goes away.

Chronic pain is not a protective mechanism. Instead, the nerves continue to send pain messages long after the injury or disease has healed. Chronic pain—unlike acute pain—can cause structural changes in the brain, create cognitive problems (ability to think clearly), anxiety and depression. Up to 40 percent of Americans are today dealing with chronic pain.

Chronic Pain Treatments – The Role of Ketamine Infusion Therapy

Chronic pain is still not well understood. Traditional medication treatments include antidepressants, anti-epileptics, and opioids. Treatment is often based on a trial-and-error approach. Only 30 to 40% of patients experience adequate to good pain relief from these methods.

Dozens of clinical trials have shown IV ketamine (intravenous ketamine) is effective for treatment-resistant chronic pain syndromes, especially different forms of neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

These clinical trials also reveal that results definitely vary depending on exactly how ketamine therapy is conducted. During the past 10 years, Ketamine Wellness Centers has carefully developed research-backed and evidence-based best practices for the optimal treatment of chronic pain.

How Does IV Ketamine Relieve Chronic Pain?

Different from opioid and non-opioid pain killers, ketamine targets a highly specialized receptor in the nervous system (the NMDA receptor). During ketamine infusion therapy pain signal transmission through these receptors is interrupted. A highly unique feature of ketamine is at the same time as blocking the receptors it almost immediately helps overloaded and damaged pain centers to “reboot”. A series of low-dose ketamine infusions in awake patients can dramatically reduce pain much faster than traditional treatment options.

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IV Ketamine Therapy and Neuropathic Pain (Neuropathy)

What is neuropathic pain?

Up to 10% of people have neuropathic pain. It is a distinct type of chronic pain that does not go away. Instead, the pain itself becomes the disease process.

If a person breaks a bone, pain signals are carried via nerves from the site of the trauma to the brain. With neuropathic pain, however, pain signals originate in the nerves themselves. The dysfunctional nerves then send faulty signals of pain long after the injury has healed and can even send pain signals from the slightest touch—known as central sensitization. It is not known why some injuries lead to neuropathy, while others do not. Depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, are all associated with untreated neuropathy and themselves can increase the perception of pain.

IV Ketamine Treatment for Neuropathic Pain

Medications designed for epilepsy or depression may reduce symptoms, and topical medications are sometimes helpful. Opioids (such as morphine) and NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or COX-2 inhibitors) are often not effective against neuropathic pain.

Multiple clinical trials have shown IV Ketamine to be effective in treating treatment-resistant neuropathic pain. It has been described as “a new class” of pain treatment.

These clinical trials also revealed that results vary depending on exactly how ketamine therapy was conducted, for example, the dosage, number, and length of the infusions. During the past 10 years, Ketamine Wellness Centers (KWC) has carefully developed research-backed and evidence-based best practices for the treatment of chronic pain. A small percentage of patients will not experience sustained relief; however, most patients can achieve weeks or months of lasting relief following a course of KWC infusions.

IV Ketamine Therapy and Fibromyalgia

What is fibromyalgia?

About 2% to 4% of adults have fibromyalgia. The majority are women whose symptoms also tend to be more severe. Fibromyalgia symptoms vary, but chronic pain, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep problems are common as are difficulties with concentrating and memory (sometimes called “brain fog” or “fibro fog”). In fibromyalgia, the brain overreacts to pain signals, intensifying feelings of pain. It is not known what causes this reaction, in some cases, it appears related to an earlier traumatic event, injury, or disease. The condition runs in families, but a specific gene for fibromyalgia has not been found.

IV Ketamine Treatment for Fibromyalgia

There are three FDA-approved medications for fibromyalgia, two are antidepressants.

Multiple clinical trials have shown Ketamine IV therapy effective in treating fibromyalgia

IV Ketamine Therapy and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

CRPS, also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), is a fairly rare but debilitating type of chronic pain that typically affects an arm, hand, leg, or foot after an injury which doesn’t have to be major. The root cause of CRPS is unknown, it can develop from things as simple as stepping on a nail, a dental infection, or stress and affects women three times more than men.

Typically, there are three stages of CRPS:

Stage 1 CRPS: Lasts one to three months. Symptoms include severe burning/aching pain, changes to skin (temperature, color, texture), sensitivity to touch, muscle spasms, swollen and stiff joints, and rapid growth to hair and nails.
Stage 2 CRPS: Lasts three to six months. Symptoms increase, the pain intensifies, and may spread.
Stage 3 CRPS: Chronic constant pain can develop up to a year after the initial onset of CRPS and can last for years or become permanent.

IV Ketamine Treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

There are several typical treatment recommendations from physical therapy to opioids to surgery.

Ketamine has emerged as an effective treatment option for some CRPS patients. A recent study looking at a number of clinical trials found that ketamine infusion provided pain relief. How long relief lasted varied from patient to patient and according to exactly how ketamine therapy was conducted, the dosage, number, and length of the infusions. During the past 10 years, Ketamine Wellness Centers (KWC) has carefully developed research-backed and evidence-based best practices for the treatment of chronic pain. A small percentage of patients will not experience sustained relief; however, most patients can achieve weeks or months of lasting relief following a course of KWC infusions.

Ketamine for Pain

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