Neuropathic pain is a complex and often debilitating condition. It is also a condition that can be notoriously difficult to treat, with traditional treatments for neuropathic pain commonly failing to provide patients with relief.
Thankfully, the field of medicine is advancing constantly, and promising new discoveries are being made every day.
One emerging treatment that has shown promise for treating neuropathic pain is ketamine infusions. If you or someone you love is suffering from neuropathic pain, here is everything you need to know about ketamine infusions as a treatment option.
Understanding Neuropathic Pain
Unlike nociceptive pain — which is caused by tissue damage or inflammation — neuropathic pain arises from abnormalities in the nervous system. The condition can cause nerves in the body to send exaggerated pain signals and/or misinterpret normal stimuli as pain, causing a person to experience intense pain even when there is no underlying illness or injury to cause it. Neuropathic pain can manifest itself in various ways, including burning sensations, tingling, or shooting pains, and it often causes a serious impact on the patient’s quality of life.
Ketamine Infusions as a Treatment for Neuropathic Pain
Ketamine, primarily known as an anesthetic, has gained a lot of attention in recent years for its ability to modulate the nervous system in ways that go beyond its original purpose. Research suggests that ketamine can interfere with the transmission of pain signals, making the drug a promising candidate for treating neuropathic pain.
Ketamine functions as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, and these receptors play a central role in the perception of pain. By blocking NMDA receptors, ketamine can disrupt the transmission of pain signals and potentially provide considerable relief for patients living with neuropathic pain.
Schedule a Consultation at Freedom Spine & Pain Center
At Freedom Spine and Pain Center, we are dedicated to helping our patients find relief from chronic pain in all of its various forms. By offering cutting-edge, personalized treatments such as ketamine infusions, stem cell therapy, and epidural blocks, we help patients find relief where traditional treatments have failed.
To learn more about how the expert, compassionate physicians at Freedom Spine and Pain Center can help you treat your neuropathic pain, be sure to schedule an appointment at 210-920-8945. We have three convenient locations in Kerrville, Boerne, and San Antonio, TX.