Ketamine Therapy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome can be a debilitating condition that can affect all aspect of an individuals’ life. Ketamine treatment for CRPS can be especially helpful to reduce the duration and intensity of the condition.
What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a neuropathic chronic pain syndrome that has 2 subcategories. Type I - referred to as sympathetic dystrophy which happens without any known cause of nerve damage. Type II - referred to as causalgia which has a known nerve damage event.
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CRPS is the result of a malfunction in the nervous system that can lead to symptoms of physical pain and changes in skin and hair pattern of the affected area.
CRPS can lead to chronic debilitating pain, loss in mobility, depression and anxiety. Ketamine therapy has evidence to support its function in decreasing excitability of the nervous system through modulation of the glutamate neurotransmitters. In addition to glutamate ketamine can interact with opioid and local anesthetic receptors and further provide pain relief and improve quality of life by getting your symptoms under control.
CRPS can lead to depression and anxiety. In severe cases this can lead to decrease in mental clarity, the ability to concentrate and emotional lability.
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The good news is that ketamine infusions have been instrumental in helping with symptom relief and mental health reset. Let our experienced doctors and nurses help you take your life back.
Traditional Treatments for Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
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Traditional treatment for CRPS are opioids, nerve stimulators, NSAIDs, steroid injections and nerve blocks. None of these modalities help treat the inflammation and upregulation of signaling in the nervous system that leads to pain. Traditional treatment modalities have their own side effects which are unpleasant and can sometimes leave individuals unable to enjoy social interactions or physical activities.
How Ketamine Treats CRPS
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Ketamine treatment for chronic pain can be extremely effective if the pain is caused by inflammation of nerve cells as seen in CRPS. Ketamine works by binding to the NMDA receptor and modulating glutamate. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that promotes pain signaling from one neuron to the next and when too much glutamate is circulating in your nervous system it sensitizes the neurons. This all translates to more pain and inflammation.
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Research studies on the efficacy of ketamine in treating chronic pain and CRPS are showing that about 80% of patient will have a 50% reduction in pain with ketamine treatment
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Ketamine treatment for CRPS is an innovative treatment option. It helps treat the cause of pain vs. the symptoms of pain and thus can achieve a better outcome without being dependent on pills every day.
Why Choose Ketamine Therapy for CRPS
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Ketamine treatment for CRPS gets at the root cause of the chronic pain by decreasing inflammation and resetting the pain signals and neuroplasticity.
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Ketamine treatment for CRPS can help you decrease your reliance on opiate medications and increase recreational activities.
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Ketamine treatment for CRPS can allow you to become more independent and increase your overall quality of life.