Chronic Pain Specialist

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is persistent discomfort that lasts longer than six months. Unlike acute pain, chronic pain can continue long after the injury or illness that caused it has been treated.

Chronic pain can occur when pain signals remain active in your nervous system for months or years after an injury or condition causes damage.

How does chronic pain affect my body?

The type and severity of the symptoms vary based on the cause of chronic pain. Generally, the stress of chronic pain can cause an array of physical and emotional conditions, such as:

• Muscle tension
  
• Limited mobility
  
• Lack of energy
  
• Changes in appetite
  
• Depression
  
• Anxiety
  
• Anger

Chronic pain symptoms can have a negative effect on your quality of life. However, help is available at the Ketamine Treatment Center of East Tennessee. Dr. Jackson offers temporary relief from chronic pain via ketamine infusion therapy and Spravato® nasal spray.

What chronic pain conditions can ketamine treat?

Research shows that ketamine can provide short-term relief for some chronic pain conditions, such as:

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia involves widespread pain along with fatigue, mood changes, and sleep and memory issues. Symptoms of fibromyalgia often begin after physical trauma, surgery, infection, or extreme psychological stress.

Complex regional pain syndrome

Also called reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is continuous pain and sensitivity that usually affects an arm or leg. CRPS typically starts after an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack.

Dr. Jackson evaluates your symptoms and medical history to determine whether ketamine therapy may help relieve your chronic pain.

How does ketamine reduce chronic pain?

Studies show that ketamine infusion therapy helps people with certain chronic pain conditions, including CRPS and fibromyalgia, achieve short-term relief. Additionally, some of Dr. Jackson’s patients report an improvement in chronic pain when they receive low doses of ketamine for the treatment of depression.

Though more research is necessary, there’s no evidence so far that ketamine provides permanent pain relief. Consultation and ongoing treatment with your primary care physician or pain management specialist is essential for treating chronic pain.

To find out if ketamine therapy can help relieve your chronic pain and depression, call the Ketamine Treatment Center of East Tennessee, or book an appointment online today.