Chronic Pain
According to the CDC, 20% of Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is defined as either constant or recurring pain lasting for a period of 3 months or longer. Some common types of chronic pain are Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), chronic neck pain and chronic pain in the lower back.
If you do not treat your chronic pain, you may experience a decline in your mental and physical health in several ways including:
- Extreme discomfort
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Decreased mobility
- Poor concentration
- Weakened immune system
What causes chronic pain?
It's normal to experience pain for several days after an injury or operation. However, if it lasts longer than three months, it's considered "chronic" and should be treated as soon as possible.
Chronic pain is a result of nerve damage and can happen for a variety of reasons:
- Car accident
- Work injury
- Traumatic injury
- Poor posture
- Surgery
- Obesity
- Improperly lifting heavy objects
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Chronic pain has also been linked to several health conditions and diseases including migraines, fibromyalgia, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
How can I treat my chronic pain?
Unlike Our doctors, many doctors prescribe painkillers as the standard treatment for chronic pain. However, long-term use of non-opioids like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can result in severe liver and gastrointestinal damage. They also become less effective over time as our bodies quickly develop a tolerance.
The most common chronic pain treatment option is opioid painkillers. These painkillers work by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain, which blocks the brain from receiving pain signals sent by the body. While incredibly effective, opioids are also highly addictive. In 2019, 10 million Americans aged 12 and older abused opioids.
For these reasons, ketamine IV infusion therapy for chronic pain is the most effective treatment option.
What is ketamine for pain management?
Ketamine is an FDA approved drug typically used as an anesthetic. It is an NMDA receptor antagonist that works by binding to several receptors in the brain- including opioid receptors- to improve neural connectivity and plasticity.
How can ketamine treat my chronic pain?
By improving neuroplasticity, ketamine rewires the way your brain functions. Ketamine can help treat chronic pain by first blocking pain signals sent from the body to the brain, resulting in short-term pain alleviation, and then creating new neural pathways, which results in long-term alleviation of pain.
Studies have shown that more than 50% of patients experience a significant reduction in pain levels lasting up to 2 weeks after treatment. As an added benefit, ketamine is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety, both of which are linked to chronic pain.
When it comes to ketamine treatments, there are three main methods:
- Nasal sprays
- Oral ketamine
- Ketamine IV infusion therapy
Regardless of the treatment method, ketamine is given in low doses, so most patients report little to no side effects.
At Staten Island Ketamine, we specialize in ketamine IV infusion therapy. Our doctors, are board certified anesthesiologist with over 30 years of experience in interventional pain management. Our doctors has been rated Top Doctors by Castle Connolly since 2017 and is dedicated to treating chronic pain sufferers.
Together, we will work with you to create a ketamine for chronic pain treatment plan. If you're ready to experience life pain-free again, give us a call to schedule an appointment or make one online.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a neurological disease that causes chronic muscle pain and tenderness. It affects roughly 4 million people in the United States. But what exactly is fibromyalgia?
When our bodies are injured, our central nervous system sends signals from our body to our brain, which decrease in intensity and then stop altogether once we are healed. However, the central nervous systems of people with fibromyalgia seemingly overproduce pain signals and don't stop producing when the body is healed.
Fibromyalgia symptoms
The most common fibromyalgia symptoms are:
- Chronic pain
- Sensitivity to touch
- Fatigue
- Cognitive impairment i.e. "fibro fog"
- Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
- Migraines
- Insomnia
- Poor digestion
- Muscle spasms
It's important to find an effective fibromyalgia treatment as soon as possible- like ketamine IV infusion therapy with Dr. - Left untreated, fribomyalgia has been linked to other conditions including anxiety, depression, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ).
It's also common for those with fibromyalgia to have minimal symptoms except when a trigger pushes them into a "flare-up." These triggers can include:
- Poor diet
- Hormonal changes
- Poor sleep
- Lack of exercise
- Emotional and physical stress
- Temperature changes
- Illness or infection
- Surgery
What causes fibromyalgia pain?
While fibromyalgia is a common disorder, it's not very well understood. Doctors believe it can be caused by a variety of factors including:
- Inflammatory diseases like arthritis
- Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Genetics
- Sex: Women are twice as likely to get fibromyalgia
What are my fibromyalgia treatment options?
Fibromyalgia treatment options include:
- Antidepressants
- Painkillers
- Increased exercise
- Improved sleep
- Therapy
Most of these treatments are simply lifestyle improvements which- while helpful- are oftentimes not enough to improve fibromyalgia pain on their own. If you're looking for a fibromyalgia treatment that is consistently effective, ketamine IV infusion therapy might be the miracle treatment you've been waiting for!
How can ketamine treat my fibromyalgia?
Ketamine, commonly used as an anesthetic, reduces fibromyalgia pain because it binds to NMDA and opioid receptors in your brain, which blocks your body from sending copious pain signals to your brain.
Unlike other fibromyalgia treatments, ketamine has the unique ability to improve neuroplasticity and neural connectivity, which can help restructure and renew the brain. This can result in the creation of new pathways that prevent it from overproducing unnecessary pain signals long-term.
Is ketamine IV infusion therapy for fibromyalgia effective?
Ketamine has been used to treat fibromyalgia for quite some time. Studies dating as far back as 1995 have found that ketamine provides a more "significant reduction in pain intensity" for fibromyalgia sufferers when compared to common painkillers.
Since then, several studies have been done on the effectiveness of ketamine treatment for fibromyalgia pain, all yielding similar results: over 50% of fibromyalgia sufferers find relief with ketamine. Some patients even had their amount of pain reduced by more than 50%!
When it comes to ketamine treatments, there are three main methods:
- Nasal sprays
- Oral ketamine
- Ketamine IV infusion therapy
Regardless of the treatment method, ketamine is given in low doses, so most patients report little to no side effects. However, ketamine IV infusion therapy is recommended as it is the most effective. A recent case study showed ketamine completely abolished pain in a patient with fibromyalgia. Her daily pain went from a level of 6/10 to 0/10, which was maintained up to 5 months after her ketamine treatment therapy.
At Staten Island Ketamine, we specialize in ketamine IV infusion therapy. Our doctors, are board certified anesthesiologist with over 30 years of experience in interventional pain management. Our doctors been rated a Top Doctors by Castle Connolly since 2017 and is dedicated to treating fibromyalgia patients.
Together, we will work with you to create a personalized ketamine infusion for fibromyalgia treatment plan. If you're ready to experience life pain-free again, give us a call to schedule an appointment or make one online.
Migraines
According to the American Migraine Foundation, 12% of Americans suffer from migraines. Migraines are characterized by moderate to severe throbbing pain felt particularly on one side of the head. The pain can cause nausea and sensitivity to light, loud noises and physical movement. Some migraine sufferers also experience aura migraines, which can result in vomiting or diarrhea and vision that has zigzag lines, flashing lights or blind spots.
A single migraine can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, which can severely reduce one's quality of life. People who suffer from migraines are labeled as either episodic or chronic sufferers. Those with episodic migraines have 14 or less headaches per month, while those who suffer from chronic migraines- 3-5% of Americans- have 15 or more headaches per month with 8 of them being migraines.
What causes migraines?
Migraines are caused by atypical brain activity which negatively impacts the brain's nerve signals, blood vessels and chemical levels.Common migraine triggers include:
- Hormonal changes
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Poor sleep
- Intense exercise
- Bodily tension
- Dehydration]
- Caffeine and alcohol intake
- Bright lights
- Smoke
- Flickering screens
- Loud noise
How can I treat my migraines?
Common migraine treatments include:
- Painkillers
- Botox
- Vitamins and supplements
- CGRP antagonists
- Triptans
- Acupuncture
Not only do many patients report little migraine relief from standard treatment options, but 5-10% of migraine sufferers have refractory migraines, which don't respond to any standard treatments. This is why many turn to ketamine infusions for migraines.
Is ketamine IV infusion therapy for migraines an effective migraine treatment?
Ketamine is an anesthetic that binds to NMDA receptors in the brain, which prevents pain signals from being sent from the body to the brain. However, what makes ketamine unique is its ability to enhance neuroplasticity and neural connectivity, which means that the brain is able to create new neural pathways, effectively restructuring itself.
Most people who suffer from migraines dislike traditional migraine treatments because they only provide slight, temporary relief. With a series of ketamine treatments, you can receive significant short-term relief because it binds to opioid receptors, as well as long-term relief because it can help your brain create new neural pathways that prevent future migraines.
In fact, 77% of migraine sufferers find relief with ketamine therapy with results lasting 1-3 months after treatment.
When it comes to ketamine treatments, there are three main methods:
- Ketamine nasal sprays for migraines
- Oral ketamine
- Ketamine IV infusion therapy
Regardless of the treatment method, ketamine is given in low doses, so most patients report little to no side effects. However, ketamine IV infusion therapy is recommended as it has been proven to reduce pain levels in refractory migraine patients by 66% after a single 8 hour treatment.
At Staten Island Ketamine, we specialize in ketamine for pain management. Our doctors, are board certified anesthesiologist with over 30 years of experience in interventional pain management. He has been rated a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly since 2017 and is dedicated to treating fibromyalgia patients.
Together, we will work with you to create a personalized ketamine infusion for fibromyalgia treatment plan. If you're ready to experience life pain-free again, give us a call to schedule an appointment or make one online.
Contact Us
Contact Us to inquire about Ketamine IV infusion treatments or to schedule an appointment.
FAQ
How much does Ketamine IV infusion cost?
$500
Our doctors understands that most people are financially challenged when it comes to this type of treatment. All other facilities in surrounding areas typically charge $1,000 per session. That's quite a bit! so they committed to helping his patients by giving them a generous discount.
How long is each session of Ketamine IV infusion treatment?
1 hour.
Treatment of Ketamine IV infusion takes 30 minutes. Our doctors preps and monitors you personally, and therefore the total time in preparation to discharge will take about an hour.
How many sessions do I need?
Three to five (3 to 5 treatments).
Depending on how well you respond to treatment, it may take 3 to 5 treatments quarterly to provide benefit. This is not a solid number as each patient varies. Contact us to inquire.