Ketamine Therapy for Chronic Pain, CRPS and Neuropathic Pain
Chronic pain affects millions of people in the United States. The effects of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and neuropathic pain are debilitating. Varied treatments are available, however, many times they are not successful.
Pain is not only a physical event. It is also a brain event. When experiencing pain, we are equally affected by its length of duration and intensity. If the pain level interferes with the activities of daily living, avoiding it becomes the brain’s primary focus because it interprets the pain level as equal to a risk to life.
Ketamine Therapy can Treat
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Neuropathic Pain
- Migraines
20 million or 7% of American adults live with high-impact pain, or pain that frequently limits life or work activities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023) Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019–2021. Rikard SM, Strahan AE, Schmit KM, Guy GP Jr.. Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:379–385. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7215a1. Retrieved 07/01/24.
For every 10,000 people with severe pain, there is only 1 board-certified pain specialist.
https://uspainfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chronic-Pain-Facts-12-30-2020.pdf. Retrieved 07/01/24.
The CDC estimates that nearly 1 in 5 Americans have used opioids to manage their chronic pain.
National Health Statistic Report (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Aug. 5th, 2021. James M. Dahlhamer, Ph.D., Eric M. Connor, B.S., Jonaki Bose, M.Sc.,
Jacqueline W. Lucas, M.P.H., and Carla E. Zelaya, Ph.D.
Prescription Opioid Use Among Adults With Chronic Pain: United States, 2019.
Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr162-508.pdf. 24/01/24
Ketamine therapy has a unique effect on chronic pain. Ketamine is primarily a “dissociative anesthetic”, used in hospitals every day for over five decades. The World Health Organization lists it as an essential medicine.
At its most basic level, anesthesia practice is the alleviation of pain. Modern Mindwork is a nurse anesthesia-led practice. We understand both acute and chronic pain management, and our in-depth understanding of pharmacology allows us to treat chronic pain with novel approaches.
How Does Ketamine Infusion Therapy Work for Chronic pain?
Ketamine therapy has both immediate and sustained benefits. It has transformative potential for enhancing quality of life. The therapy allows for customized treatment involving various doses and schedules. They are tailored specifically to each patient's needs, to effectively manage and potentially eliminate chronic pain.
- How Ketamine Relieves Pain:
- Blocking Pain Signals: Ketamine acts as an analgesic (pain reliever) mainly by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which play a critical role in transmitting pain signals, especially neuropathic pain signals.
- Reducing Pain Sensation: By inhibiting these receptors, ketamine directly reduces the sensation of pain.
- Enhancing Natural Pain Relief:
- Boosting Neurotransmitters: It increases levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine—natural substances in the body that help lessen pain perception.
- Anti-inflammatory Effects: Ketamine's anti-inflammatory properties further aid in reducing pain and inflammation.
- Long-term Benefits:
- Prolonged Effect: A series of ketamine infusions provides a lasting blockage of NMDA receptors, which disrupts pain signal transmission over a longer period, allowing the brain to adapt and develop new ways of handling pain.
- Psychological Benefits:
- Dissociative Properties: As a dissociative anesthetic, ketamine provides psychological relief by separating different brain functions, creating mental "space". This helps calm the amygdala—the part of the brain involved in the fight, flight, fawn, or freeze responses—and reduces the panic often associated with chronic pain.
- Emotional Processing: Patients gain time to pause and process emotions, helping them regain control over their pain and emotional responses.
- Empowering Patients:
- Finding New Coping Mechanisms: Ketamine encourages the brain to find alternative coping strategies for ongoing chronic pain, fostering a sense of hope that patients can achieve not only immediate relief but also long-term improvement and a fuller life.
Success Rate
The success rate of ketamine infusion therapy is high - nearly 80%. However, that also means that approximately 20% of patients do not experience relief. We monitor the initial infusions closely to establish the potential success rate of the therapy before we continue with treatments of a longer duration.
Contact Us Today
Modern Mindwork offers individualized, safe and effective ketamine therapy. We provide personalized care and support, empowering you to regain control over your life and achieve lasting well-being through the transformative benefits of ketamine infusion therapy.
Take the first step towards healing today.