Neuropathic Pain Treatment
Neuropathic Pain Treatment - Arvada, CO
Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain condition that occurs in 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 30. Described as pain that originates from injury to nerves or irregular patterns inside the central and peripheral nervous system, doctors have battled to treat neuropathic pain for years. Ketamine therapy works by a different mechanism than conventional mechanisms and has been shown to offer fast and effective pain relief. This holds particularly true if the neuropathic pain has a component of Central Sensitization when the brain learns to keep nociceptor neurons (brain pain cells) ON as their default state. Ketamine helps turn that signal back OFF.
At Relevare in Arvada, CO, we are proud to offer the latest neuropathic pain treatment options. Our mission is to help bring evidence-based pain treatment options to those in our community who need it most.
Restore Your Life!
Ketamine infusions are a promising treatment for chronic neuropathic pain.
Ketamine can also help provide relief for migraines, CRPS, phantom limb pain, and a host of mood disorders including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
How Does Ketamine Help Neuropathic Pain?
The evidence demonstrates that increased duration of relief from neuropathic pain is associated with a higher total infused dose of ketamine, and prolonged infusion durations, although the rate of infusion does not appear to be a factor, and coadministration of adjuvant medications such as midazolam and/or clonidine that help mitigate some of the unpleasant psychomimetic side effects.
Neuropathic pain conditions such as CRPS are a result of improper nerve connections that have developed as a result of nerve injury and/or chronic pain. The body undergoes a process called Central Sensitization. Central Sensitization is when your nociceptive neurons (pain cells) change their default signaling to ON or decrease the threshold needed to turn that pain signal on. “Wind Up” is a phenomenon where the nervous system stays upregulated and persistently reactive. These features make this kind of pain unique and difficult to treat.
Ketamine prevents Central Sensitization since the drug acts as an antagonist (a blocking agent) at the NMDA receptor. Central Sensitization is primarily mediated by the NMDA receptor. This is why ketamine works when other treatments have failed. Ketamine works by a very different mechanism than opiates and other pain medications. By blocking the NMDA receptor literally ketamine rewires the brain (this has been shown through fMRI studies) and starts to repair the signaling so that those nociceptive neurons (pain cells) change their default signaling back to OFF.
To learn more about the science behind the effectiveness of ketamine therapy please visit our science & education page. We also want to invite you to schedule your free 15min phone consultation with Dr. Mallek today to see if ketamine infusion therapy is right for you.
During Your Ketamine Infusion.
Ketamine infusions for pain require doses much higher than those for mental illness, about two to six times higher and infusions tend to last longer, typically ranging from two to four hours.
You will be continuously monitored in a private room throughout your treatment to ensure you remain safe and comfortable throughout your treatment session. The most common side effects, nausea, and dissociation (a feeling of being out of body) are typically easily treated with adjuvant medications.
The longer the infusions the longer the recovery, but not by much. Once the infusion finishes it will generally take anywhere from ten to thirty minutes for the patient to start feeling like the psychoactive effects of the drug are gone. The beneficial effects of the infusion should be evident as soon as the infusion is finished.
During your intake, we will explain more about the process, set expectations, and answer all of your questions.
We Can Help!
If you have tried and exhausted other neuropathic pain treatments and have not had any success, we can are here to help.
Contact our team today and learn how ketamine infusions for neuropathic pain can help you.
Ready To Start Your New Journey In Life?
Ready to get started? Call us today for your free phone consultation.