Ketamine infusions for RSD

Hi Susie,

All I can tell you about ketamine it is often used as an anesthetic in veterinary surgery (I believe that it is also used in some human surgery, but I don't have much knowledge there). It is a good anesthetic because it also provides analgesia (which is obviously why you are looking into it). It binds to the opiod receptors in the brain. I have heard of it being used for pain conditions in humans, but I don't know any details. I think it is probably used in small amounts. Ketamine does have a reputation for being used illegally (people will actually break into veterinary offices to steal it), so I'm not sure how commonly it is prescribed. Wish I could tell you more, but that's all I know. Hope this helps some.

Skeye

Hey Skeye you have more knowledge than me,lol. I know zero about the drug. I do not have RSD but I do know several of our members here are afflicted with this horrid disease and are in terrible shape. The problem with RSD is there is no clear cut treatment program out there available. I do know when RSD first hit the medical community it was incredible the way drs treated the patients. Basically many were told they were nuts, obviously treatment has come a long ways, but pain relief is still lacking.

Ketamine infusions are becoming popular in reducing the horrid nerve pain that is associated w/having RSD. Like I said anyone here interested can do a google search and learn tons of info on this treatment.....Susie

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Hi, Susie. I've heard about the Ketamine infusions too, although I think very few places will do them. What makes me so sad is that I've read about extremely high success rates associated with Ketamine comas for treatment of chronic pain. They have done studies in Germany and found that inducing comas with this particular drug (a dissociative which used to be used for anesthesia) seems to "reset" the brain's pain receptors. In many of the procedures I read about, patients have experienced complete or nearly complete remission of their pain! Unfortunately, the procedure is not approved by any American hospitals (or probably more accurately - insurance companies...).

If I were a wealthy person, I would have been on a plane to Germany several years ago. I think it's a crime that there is a treatment out there that works and we just aren't allowed access to it.

Ry

OK, now I have some idea what you're talking about. I have heard about inducing comas in Germany for RSD (now CRPS) and there being about a 50% success rate. But I think I also heard it was very risky, so that may be why it's slow to come to the U.S. Still, it does sound intriguing to reset the brain in instances of CP.

PaLady

Hmm Ry these peeps getting the infusions are in the states, they are not put into a coma either. Their insurance is paying as far as I know for the infusions. Strange to say the least. Yes, its is sad that something that can help can be so far out of reach. We live in a country thats has the leading edge of medical science. But yet, when a drug is bad we are the last country to take it off the market. Then when a good drug is made available we are the last country to make it available.

Sure says alot for our good ole FDA. Which speaking of, they recently had 6 people send letters out with complaints about how the FDA is totally disregarding warnings on potential drugs causing fatalities in some people, big shake up going on there-sure needs to be. Employees are basically being told to mind their business or keep their mouths shut!! I am not surprised at all by these recent events....Susie

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