Living with fibromyalgia can be debilitating. Even after trying many different medications and therapies, you may still be suffering from chronic pain and fatigue. What else can you do?
The caring and skilled anesthesiologists at Boston MindCare can help you navigate your fibromyalgia symptoms, and they offer a unique treatment option — ketamine therapy. With their help, it’s possible to live a full life with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia — what is it?
Fibromyalgia is a very complex disorder defined by musculoskeletal pain over your entire body. This can be accompanied by extreme fatigue, even after you’ve slept for a long period of time, as well as mood disorders, which may further aggravate the problem. There are several common symptoms you may experience, including:
Cognitive difficulties Numbness Stiffness Anxiety Depression Pain and tender points
It’s unknown exactly what causes fibromyalgia, but it may be linked to genetic mutations in the brain that affect the action of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and glutamate. You can also develop it after an extreme psychological trauma, physical trauma, surgery, or infection.
Oftentimes, fibromyalgia is initially treated with pain relievers and muscle relaxants. However, if those don’t work for you, your doctor may prescribe other medications, such as sleep aids and antidepressants, to help you deal with symptoms. But what happens when those medications don’t work? Our doctors may recommend ketamine therapy as an alternative treatment.
How can ketamine help?
Ketamine has been used for many years as an anesthetic drug for surgical procedures. In small, controlled doses, it can help lessen the discomfort you’re experiencing, and can even help you feel calm and relaxed. Ketamine has also been shown to help a variety of chronic disorders such as:
Depression Migraines Fibromyalgia Anxiety PTSD OCD
So, you may be wondering what makes ketamine different from all the other medications you’ve tried. Ketamine works directly on the brain by blocking the NMDA receptor sites. These receptors are responsible for receiving signals from other nerve cells in your body. If the NMDA receptors are blocked, they can’t receive signals that indicate pain.
Along with blocking the NMDA receptors, ketamine also works on one of the major neurotransmitters in your brain, called glutamate. By inhibiting glutamate production, ketamine shuts off the communication between certain regions of your brain and your body. These parts of your brain are responsible for memory, motor function, sensory function, and emotion.
What you can expect with ketamine treatment
Once you’ve made an appointment at our office, one of our skilled anesthesiologists will discuss what you can expect with ketamine therapy, along with which route of absorption is best for your specific needs. Our doctors offer ketamine therapy in a variety of forms such as nasal spray, oral tablets, intramuscular injections, and IV infusion.
If they determine that IV infusion therapy is best for you, you’ll have an IV started in your arm. One of our anesthesiologists will oversee the infusion and monitor you and your response to ketamine while you’re there. They’re able to titrate the dose of the drug to best treat your symptoms but also keep you safe.
Like any other drug, ketamine does have side effects you should be aware of. Some of these include:
Confusion Hallucinations Muscle tremors Drowsiness Nausea Slow heartbeat
The dose of ketamine that you’ll be receiving is very low, but side effects can still occur.
Once the infusion is completed, you’re able to go home and rest. Ketamine works very quickly, and you may see results in as little as 24 hours. However, it’s best to remember that ketamine is not a cure-all drug, but rather one that can help you manage the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
If ketamine therapy sounds like a great treatment option for your fibromyalgia symptoms, contact our office at 781-247-5323 or use our online booking tool to make an appointment today.