About Ketamine Treatment

Over the course of your 1-2 week treatment you will receive several infusions. During your treatment our team of expert staff will continuously monitor you. The infusion generally last anywhere between 1 and 4 hours and usually provides immediate relief from pain and depression. Once you have received the initial ketamine treatment you may come back as needed for a ketamine booster infusion. 

Today, a rapidly growing number of chronic pain patients who have not responded to conventional therapies are reporting life changing results after undergoing a series of low dose ketamine infusion treatments. Research over the course of the last 15 years has shown that small doses of intravenous ketamine infusions have been effective in decreasing symptoms related to chronic pain syndromes, especially those that have a neuropathic component.

What is Ketamine

Ketamine is a safe analgesic medication that was developed more than 50 years ago for use primarily by anesthesiologists for sedation during surgery. Ketamine is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, and is one of the most commonly used pharmaceuticals in the world.

In addition to being a powerful pain reliever it is also a strong antidepressant and anti-inflammatory drug. As pain practitioners, we understand that pain and depression often will go hand-in-hand. In certain instances, the effect of chronic pain serves to increase the symptoms of depression. Depression can increase the feeling and symptoms of chronic pain. The result is cycle that can be hard to stop. Ketamine has shown to be very helpful for its rapid changes in depression levels, and neuropathic (nerve pain) conditions that nothing else is working well for.

How does ketamine infusion therapy work?

Pain signals travel to and from our brain on a network of nerves which run throughout our body. Tiny spots on these nerves called NMDA receptors collect information from the body and immediately alert the brain if damage or injury has occurred.

Many chronic pain syndromes are caused by a increase of these NMDA receptors in the brain. Studies have shown that increases in these NMDA receptors have a lot to do with major depression, chronic pain syndromes, fibromyalgia and other neurological disorders.

In cases of acute pain, the NMDA receptors subside following the usual course of injury and the pain signal eventually is turned off. With chronic pain, the NMDA receptors do not turn off and begin to multiply creating an higher level pain signal.

Ketamine, has the ability to block NMDA receptors which then blocks the pain signal from reaching the brain. When administered in a precise low dose IV infusion, ketamine provides virtually instantaneous relief of pain symptoms and allows nerve receptors the chance to reset or reboot themselves.

The ketamine infusion process

New patients will be scheduled for a visit with one of our providers. During this appointment, your provider will examine you and review your medical records with you to make sure ketamine is right for you.

Ketamine therapy will given under close supervision of our trained medical personnel. Your will be in a relaxed, comfortable environment, bring a pillow from home if you like. A trained member of our staff will start your IV and connect the monitors to watch your breathing, blood pressure, heart, and other vital signs the entire time that the medicine is being given.

Once the medicine begins going into your bloodstream, you may begin to feel a little different. In many cases, relief can be experienced in as little as 15 minutes, but the amount and number of times you will need a treatment will be different for each person.

Once your ketamine infusion is complete, you will be watched in recovery for 30-60 minutes prior to being sent home. You must have a driver present.

Relaxation is the key to successful infusion. It can be difficult to carry on a conversation during the procedure, so you are encouraged to sit back and relax throughout the course of your treatment. Many find it helpful and relaxing to listen to music and to wear an eyeshade or sunglasses while undergoing the infusion therapy treatment.

What does ketamine infusion therapy treat?

We currently offer ketamine infusion therapy for many types of pain including:

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS/RSD)
• Fibromyalgia
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Headaches
• Low back and neck pain

We also offer ketamine infusion therapy for depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mood disorders.

Who will likely benefit from ketamine infusion therapy?

• People with neuropathic pain that is not well controlled with injections, nerve blocks, or prescription pain medication.
• People with chronic back and neck pain when nothing else works anymore.
• People with depression, PTSD and other mood disorders
• People with other musculoskeletal and joint pain.