Ketamine’s potential for chronic nerve pain
By Jenny Peterson
As access to ketamine therapy expands, researchers are exploring its potential beyond treatment-resistant depression, including whether it can help people living with chronic nerve pain.
Dr. Richard Bowen, owner of Charleston Ketamine Center and a physician for more than 30 years, said he has seen promising results among patients with neuropathic pain. Patients report meaningful decreases in the burning sensations and shooting pain caused by abnormal nerve signaling.
Exploring Ketamine for Chronic Nerve Pain
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is a good example. CRPS typically develops after an injury or surgical procedure when the nervous system responds abnormally.
“The condition starts with a minor injury or some type of surgical procedure on an extremity. In my opinion CRPS likely represents a case where the normal healing process goes awry,” Dr. Bowen said. “The primary symptoms are swelling due to increased blood flow and significant pain in the affected area. Both of these are positive responses to injury, increased blood flow promotes healing, and pain prevents further injury during the healing process. Unfortunately, with CRPS these symptoms do not dissipate once the injury has healed. Ketamine treatment has been shown to be one of the only treatments to provide relief.”
Dr. Bowen estimates that 5% to 10% of patients at his Long Point Road center seek treatment for neuropathic pain.
Ketamine’s effects on the brain are constantly being studied. Research suggests the drug can influence synaptic connections, strengthening some pathways, while potentially reducing activity in others.
A 2013 review in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that “there is evidence that long term treatment of chronic pain (particularly in pain with a neuropathic component) with ketamine will cause prolonged pain relief,” though the evidence comes from only a few randomized controlled trials.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, OCD
Most patients at Charleston Ketamine Center seek relief from mental health related issues such as treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. Treatment typically begins with an initial series of six, one-hour infusions very close together, usually in less than two weeks. These are followed by maintenance treatments, often monthly for four to six months.
Dr. Bowen has given more than 30,000 infusions over the last twelve years, with outcomes ranging from lasting improvement to ongoing maintenance needs.
But ketamine therapy is expanding into other areas. The center has added lower-dose ketamine treatment alongside talk therapy for people with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dr. Bowen said ketamine can also help reduce symptoms associated with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Ketamine treatment requires careful monitoring. Dr. Bowen advises against taking it alone, stating the vital importance of appropriate dosing in a controlled setting where professionals can monitor vital signs and make sure patients stay safe.
Ketamine has helped many patients at Charleston Ketamine Center find relief from treatment-resistant depression. For people living with chronic nerve pain, researchers and clinicians are continuing to learn how far that relief can reach.
To learn more about ketamine therapy at Charleston Ketamine Center, call 843-480-2273 or visit www.charlestonketaminecenter.com
