More than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain each year. Most assume that chronic pain can only arise from a physical injury. However, more research into the condition points to other causes, like psychological trauma, deep anxiety, and depression. When these overwhelming situations occur, they can make an imprint on the brain, leaving some people more vulnerable to developing chronic pain.
Most pain can be treated with over-the-counter solutions, like lidocaine or ibuprofen. However, for more severe cases, there are prescription opioids. Opioids, while effective at treating serious pain, can cause physical and emotional dependence, and become less effective over time.
An alternative treatment for chronic pain—a treatment that has not shown to cause physical dependence issues—is ketamine. The drug, which has been used since the 1970s as a general anesthetic, has proven to be a useful tool to combat the symptoms of chronic pain, as well as a number of mental illnesses. When compared to opioids, this NMDA receptor-antagonist offers the opportunity for patients to benefit from its unique effects on the glutamate system.
The research speaks volumes. In a number of cases, ketamine was shown to be more beneficial than its opioid counterpart: morphine. The results of 24 studies—which spanned hundreds of patients, and measured the effects of ketamine for various forms of pain—were as follows:
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- Central pain: 10 patients found that oral and parenteral ketamine reduced pain with only modest side effects.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): 3 patients found that epidural ketamine produced complete pain relief, with one patient reporting severe headaches and nausea.
- Fibromyalgia: 46 patients found that ketamine increased pain endurance and reduced tenderness at trigger points in comparison to lidocaine, naloxone, and placebo.
- Ischaemic pain: 8 patients found that intravenous ketamine (0.45 mg/kg) produced transient pain in all patients compared to 5 patients obtaining relief from morphine.
- Orofacial pain: 3 patients found ketamine provided relief for pain that lasted for less than 3 years, and 1 patient found ketamine provided relief when compared to placebo.
- Non-specific neuropathic pain: 24 patients found that ketamine reduced hyperalgesia and allodynia with less effect of continuous pain.
Phantom limb pain: 15 patients found ketamine to be beneficial.
- Postherpetic neuralgia: 15 patients found that ketamine reduced pain.
- Acute or chronic episodes of severe neuropathic pain: 1 patient whom was unresponsive to morphine and intrathecal bupivacaine found intravenous ketamine beneficial.
It is clear that with other sources of pain, there must be other sources of relief. For these cases, chronic pain that stems from psychological trauma, anxiety, or depression, can be treated more effectively with therapies like ketamine infusions. This type of pain cannot be addressed using the same opioid therapies anymore. As research continues to progress, more evidence will point in the direction of alternatives like this.
Contact restoratIV Ketamine Wellness Centers
restoratIV Ketamine is Mississippi’s leading provider of ketamine infusions for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. Request a free phone consultation today to learn if you are a candidate for ketamine infusion therapy.
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