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. Lead doctor, Dr. Anurag Bhatia M.D., is a 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.