Ketamine Therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral Neuropathy can be a debilitating condition that can affect all aspect of an individuals’ life. Ketamine treatment can be especially successful for neuropathic pain such as peripheral neuropathy.
Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral Neuropathy refers to damage of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. These nerves play a crucial role in connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body, transmitting signals related to sensation and muscle movement. There are many reasons why we develop peripheral neuropathy. Infections such as shingles, HIV, or Lyme disease can lead to damage of the peripheral nerves. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes can cause damage to nerve cells by damaging their microcirculation. Vitamin deficiency, alcohol abuse and exposure to toxins can also lead to peripheral neuropathy.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can vary but often include:
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Tingling or numbness: Especially in the hands or feet.
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Burning or shooting pain: Can be constant or intermittent.
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Muscle weakness: Difficulty with coordination and balance.
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Sensitivity to touch: Even light touch can be painful.
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Loss of reflexes: Reduced or absent reflexes.
Peripheral Neuropathy falls under the category of chronic pain. Long standing chronic pain can cause secondary depression, anxiety and stress as patients might be limited in the activities that they can perform including mobility and social interactions. The depression can then lead to loss of sleep and changes in appetite and suicidal ideation.
Traditional Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy
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Traditional treatment for peripheral neuropathy involves determining the root cause of the neuropathy and addressing any reversible causes. Other treatments include opioids, nerve stimulators, NSAIDs, steroid injections and nerve blocks. None of these modalities help treat the cause of pain as they are mainly aimed at treating and masking the symptoms. Many of these other modalities have their own side effects which are unpleasant and can sometimes leave individuals unable to enjoy social interactions or physical activities.
If you have tried traditional methods to get your peripheral neuropathy under control but haven't seen good results trying ketamine therapy could be the answer to getting your life back.
How Ketamine Treats Peripheral Neuropathy
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Ketamine infusions for peripheral neuropathy can be extremely effective because the pain is caused by inflammation of nerve cells. This inflammation in our nervous system causes an upregulation of pain signals making it impossible to get out of the pain cycle. 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 are showing that about 80% of patient will have a 50% reduction in pain with ketamine treatment
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Ketamine infusion therapy is an innovative treatment option for anyone who has failed traditional modalities for treatment of peripheral neuropathy. 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 Peripheral Neuropathy
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Ketamine treatment for peripheral neuropathy gets at the root cause of the chronic pain by decreasing inflammation and resetting the pain signals and neurocircuitry.
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Ketamine treatment for peripheral neuropathy can help patients decrease their reliance on opiate medications and increase their recreational activities.
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Ketamine treatment for peripheral neuropathy can allow patients to become more independent and increase their overall quality of life.