Chronic Pain
Ketamine has emerged as a powerful treatment for chronic pain, offering significant relief especially for individuals who have not been helped with traditional pain management strategies. Ketamine is an appropriate choice to manage long term pain especially when compared to opioids like Vicadin and Oxydocone which are highly addictive and can cause hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain). Unlike many other pain medications, ketamine addresses the root causes of chronic pain at a neurological level, providing a comprehensive approach to healing. Its effectiveness comes from a combination of mechanisms that target both the body’s pain pathways and the brain’s perception of pain.
​At the core of ketamine’s action is its ability to block NMDA receptors, which are critical in the way the nervous system processes pain. In conditions of chronic pain, these receptors become overstimulated, leading to a phenomenon called central sensitization. This essentially "rewires" the brain and spinal cord to make pain signals more intense and more persistent. By blocking the NMDA receptors, ketamine interrupts this process, preventing the amplification of pain signals and allowing the nervous system to "calm down." This makes ketamine uniquely effective in treating pain that has become entrenched over time, particularly in conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain.
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​Ketamine also modulates glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. When glutamate levels are too high, they can contribute to pain and make the brain overly reactive to painful stimuli. Ketamine helps restore balance by regulating glutamate release, preventing it from triggering excessive pain responses. This action doesn’t just reduce pain; it can help heal the underlying neuroplastic changes that chronic pain induces. By promoting the brain's ability to form new, healthy neural connections, ketamine effectively “reboots” the pain pathways, helping them return to a normal, less painful state.
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In addition to its direct effects on pain pathways, ketamine has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Chronic pain is often accompanied by low-grade, ongoing inflammation, which further sensitizes pain receptors. Ketamine helps reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, molecules that perpetuate pain. This dual effect—modulating both the nervous system and inflammation—makes ketamine an incredibly effective treatment for pain that has not responded to other therapies.
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​If you would like to learn more about how ketamine therapy can be a tool in your journey toward easing your pain please see our Frequently Asked Questions or call 478-201-9220. ​
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Below is a list of chronic pain conditions for which ketamine therapy is used. Click on a condition below to learn more:
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