Ketamine for Chronic Pain

Pain that affects an individual for longer than three months or beyond the normal healing time of an illness or injury is considered to be chronic. That prolonged suffering can negatively impact a person’s quality of life, including emotional and social well-being.

If you believe you're dealing with chronic pain, contact a medical professional. Through treatment and proper pain management, relief is possible.

Chronic pain can be caused by a number of reasons, including an illness or underlying untreated medical condition. Common causes include nerve damage, back injuries, arthritis, migraines, and fibromyalgia.

Because there are so many types of chronic pain, symptoms vary from person to person and are typically closely tied to the underlying cause of the pain.

That being said, many sufferers have reported pain that:

• Is persistent, lasting three months or more
• Affects their quality of life
• Isn't controllable through the use of over-the-counter pain medications
• Causes tingling or numbness in the affected area
• Comes with weakness and fatigue
• Impacts appetite, weight, and sleep habits
• Leads to depression or anxiety

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic condition that most commonly affects one limb, such as a hand, leg, or foot. Caused by an abnormal nervous system response to an injury, CRPS is characterized by intense, continuous pain.

Symptoms of CRPS include:

• Swelling
• Changes in skin temperature or color
• Sensitivity to touch
• Stiffness and limited mobility
• Muscle weakness
• Changes in hair and nail growth in the affected region

The most common symptom is pain that feels out of proportion to the initial injury.

So, what causes CRPS? The exact cause is not yet fully understood, and because it can be difficult to diagnose, it can be difficult to manage. Effective treatments include a combination of physical therapy, psychological support, medications, and, now, ketamine therapy.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness. While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not yet known, it's thought to be a combination of several factors, including environmental, genetic, and psychological.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia vary from person to person, but many report:

• A widespread pain that's akin to a dull ache
• Tender points on the body that are painful if pressure is applied
• Extreme fatigue, making it difficult to perform daily tasks
• Sleep disturbances, including restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea
• Chronic headaches, including migraines
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Depression and anxiety

Migraines are a type of headache characterized by severe, intense pain. Sufferers report sensitivity to light, smells, and noise that can last for several hours to several days. Nausea often accompanies migraines, as do tingling and speaking disturbances.

What causes migraines? Changes in the brain and fluctuations in certain chemicals are believed to play a factor, but the exact cause of migraines is still unknown. They can be triggered by stress, lack of sleep, or even changes in the weather, with symptoms including:

• Pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of the head
• Visual disturbances, including blurred vision
• Vomiting
• Fatigue before, during, or after the episode
• Neck pain