Anyone undergo routine ketamine infusions for SFN?

Hello @jdrhoads -- I did a search of Connect Groups and Discussion by clicking on the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top of the screen and found members who have discussed using ketamine infusions in a post. I'm tagging those members to see if they are able to share any information with you.

@overwhelmed, @deadpoets,@adiari, @miro, @lauriedr, @toomuchyarn and @islandhippy do you have any information on ketamine infusions that you can share with @jdrhoads?

I also found the following article that may be of interest to you in the International Anesthesia Research Society.

Intravenous Ketamine Infusions for Neuropathic Pain Management: A Promising Therapy in Need of Optimization:
-- https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/fulltext/2017/02000/Intravenous_Ketamine_Infusions_for_Neuropathic.41.aspx

John

Thanks so much John!

Welcome @jdrhoads , I underwent Ketamine treatment a few years ago. It was on an outpatient basis for a period of 5 days. They setup infusions for me daily for five straight days. It did nothing for me at all. I begged for another round, however, they refused, saying they had many other patients that may benefit.
I am not convinced that five days is sufficient period of time to allow for changes. Just my opinion.

I just want to follow up now that I've completed the inpatient 5-day infusion. Going in I was averaging between 7-9 on a 10 point pain scale, now three weeks out I'm averaging 4-5. There have even been days where I'm at a 3, although rare because just about anything I do shoots my pain up. I would continue to push your doctors to give you another try, and this time go with the inpatient setting, the infusion is continuous (titrated), and I believe more effective because there is no break in the treatment.

Thanks for coming back to give the group your updated experience with ketamine infusions for SFN, @jdrhoads. Do I understand correctly that the infusion was continuous for 5 days? How long did it take before you started to notice a reduction in pain? How long is the treatment expected to last?

The ketamine was slowly increased (titrated), and I noticed some initial effects and slight relief by mid-day Tuesday. At that point the pain was going down as the meds were being titrated up until late Thursday, at which time I felt no pain (I walked in on Sunday evening at a high 7 nearly 8 pain level). As the meds were decreased over the course of Friday the pain slowly returned to around a 5, which is not uncommon and occurs every time that I get infusions. It took a day or two, but by Monday I was at a 4 and was 3 by that evening. This Friday will mark a month post-infusion, and I am at a steady 5. One thing that my pain management and I believe is that my booster infusions have not been frequent or long enough to maintain the lower pain levels. I just continued going in for a 2-hour infusion every other week, which was what I was doing before the 5 day treatment. Doctors will tell you that there is no set protocol for infusions, it is entirely based off response by each patient. I've had relatively good luck keeping the pain at a tolerable level through the use of ketamine, although its use has not (so far) led to a reduction in my other meds (Lyrica, Savella and Tramadol as required). Hope this information helps to some degree, its just so tough finding the right regimen, and when you seem to have done so the pain is creeping up even more!

Hello,

May I ask how you were able to convince the insurance company to cover the ketamine IV infusions, unless you paid out of pocket?