Nerve pain, or neuropathic pain, can be challenging to manage, often leaving people searching for better treatment options. Many pain medications exist, but they don’t work for everyone. They may also cause unwanted side effects. This article explores ketamine as a potential treatment for nerve pain. If you’re dealing with chronic nerve pain, keep reading to discover how ketamine works, what the treatment process involves, and whether it might be a suitable option for you.
Understanding Nerve Pain
What Causes Nerve Pain?
There are several causes of nerve pain, and the causes vary between people. However, for most people, there is damage or dysfunction in the nervous system, particularly in cells involved in pain signaling pathways.
When these cells are damaged, it can disrupt normal pain processing, leading to two common symptoms: allodynia, where harmless stimuli (like clothing brushing against the skin) cause pain, and hyperalgesia, where pain is felt much more intensely than usual.
Nerve pain may manifest in various ways, including burning, shooting, or persistent discomfort. This can impact someone’s ability to function and affect their quality of life.
Factors that contribute to the onset of nerve pain include:
- Inflammation: When the body’s natural defense system becomes overactive, it can damage nerve cells and cause pain. This is often seen in inflammatory conditions like endometriosis.
- Mechanical Stress: Continuous pressure on nerves can interfere with their normal function and worsen pain. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive movements or prolonged pressure on a nerve in the wrist.
- Ischemia: Reduced blood flow to nerve tissue can lead to nerve damage, increasing pain.
- Demyelination: The loss of the protective coating around nerve fibers can disrupt their function, leading to pain. This is what causes pain in Multiple Sclerosis.
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels over time can damage nerves, leading to diabetic neuropathy.
Challenges of Treating Nerve Pain
Treating nerve pain presents several challenges. Unlike other types of pain, nerve pain often does not respond well to conventional pain relievers such as opioids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). As such, people are often prescribed pain-relief drugs with other medications that affect pain pathways, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and anti-epileptic medications.
Though these drugs can reduce neuropathic pain, it’s often by only a small amount. Moreover, their side effects can sometimes cause more harm than good. People may experience sedation, drowsiness, and dizziness, making it hard to function in day-to-day activities. There is also a major risk of addiction, in particular with opioid drugs.
How Ketamine Works for Nerve Pain
The Science Behind Ketamine and Pain
Ketamine was initially developed as an anesthetic due to its fast-acting pain-relief effects. Its effectiveness is largely attributed to its ability to block NMDA receptors in the brain, which are proteins involved in pain transmission and the perception of pain. By inhibiting these receptors, ketamine reduces the brain’s ability to process pain signals. Ketamine also affects other proteins associated with pain transmission, such as cholinergic and opioid receptors.
NMDA receptors are believed to play a key role in central sensitization, the process by which the nervous system becomes more sensitive to pain and other sensory stimuli. By blocking NMDA receptors, ketamine may prevent the onset of chronic neuropathic pain.
Additionally, ketamine has been found to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule that helps support the growth and repair of nerve cells. By increasing BDNF, ketamine may be able to repair and restore damaged nerve circuits associated with neuropathic pain.
Ketamine’s Mood Enhancing Effects
Neuropathic pain can take a toll on someone’s well-being, and an estimated 60% of those with neuropathic pain experience depression, anxiety, and stress. Ketamine may not only help manage these physical symptoms but also address the mental health issues that often occur along with neuropathic pain. Ketamine is currently used off-license to treat mood disorders, and clinical trials show it can have fast-acting, powerful benefits for these conditions.
Clinical Trials Using Ketamine for Pain
Clinical trials have studied the effectiveness of ketamine to treat nerve pain, using several different treatment models.
In one study, ketamine, when administered through epidural injection, effectively reduced neuropathic chronic pain in patients who had been previously non-responsive to conventional treatments. Patients experienced benefits lasting between 2–5 weeks after treatment.
Another study compared ketamine treatment with morphine in patients with nerve pain caused by a herpes infection. Ketamine, but not morphine, significantly reduced pain in the patients and helped normalize their allodynia and abnormal sensory responses to heat.
What to Expect from Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine therapy for nerve pain is usually given through IV infusion. Other methods include oral ketamine and topical treatments.
At Emerge Ketamine, we provide IV ketamine for chronic pain at our state-of-the-art clinics in Woburn and Danver in Masechussets. If you undergo treatment with us, we deliver the infusion over 40 minutes.. During this time, you’ll be lying down with the option of wearing an eye mask and listening to carefully curated playlists through headphones so you can fully relax.
As the infusion progresses, you may experience sensations like lightness, floating, or mild numbness.
Possible side effects include:
- Euphoria or talkativeness
- Dream-like or heightened sensory experiences
- Mild anxiety
- Nausea
- Headache
- Sweating
Our medical team will monitor you closely during your infusion. They will manage side effects and adjust the dose as needed. They will remain with you until you are safe to go home.
After your first treatment, you’ll have a follow-up chat with one of our staff members to discuss a suitable treatment plan going forward. Your response to ketamine and the nature of your pain condition will determine the frequency and duration of visits.
Results and Benefits
Ketamine can offer many benefits to those with nerve pain. This includes:
- Pain reduction: Many patients experience noticeable relief from chronic nerve pain, often within just a few sessions.
- Improved mobility: With reduced pain, many individuals find they can move more freely and engage in daily activities with greater ease.
- Enhanced mood: Ketamine has been shown to have antidepressant effects, which can be beneficial for individuals whose chronic pain has led to depression or anxiety.
- Long-term relief: In some cases, the pain relief from ketamine therapy can last for weeks or even months, particularly when combined with other treatments like physical therapy or lifestyle changes.
However, it’s important to note that each person may experience different results.
Is Ketamine Therapy Right for You?
While ketamine therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for many individuals suffering from nerve pain, it may not be suitable for everyone. Ideal candidates for ketamine treatment include those who have:
- Tried other pain management options without success.
- Chronic nerve pain
- Conditions characterized by nerve pain such as fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
If you’re considering ketamine therapy in Boston, book a complimentary call with one of our team members at Emerge, and we’ll discuss whether you’re a suitable candidate for ketamine therapy.
Take the First Step Toward Pain Relief at Emerge
Living with chronic nerve pain can feel debilitating, but ketamine therapy could be a path to relief. At Emerge Wellness, we’re here to support you every step of the way, offering compassionate care in a calming environment tailored to your needs.
If you’re ready to explore whether ketamine therapy is right for you, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with our team. Let’s work together to create a personalized plan to help you regain control and improve your quality of life. Book your complimentary call today to take the first step toward lasting relief.