Ketamine for chronic pain

Hello @ckeys, I'd like to invite a few members who have mentioned using ketamine to this discussion to share their experiences with this prescription. @jdrhoads, @overwhelmed, @mandrake70, @hopeful123, and @deadpoets have discussed using ketamine in the past, albeit for some different diagnoses and they may be able to share their experience with the prescription.

@ckeys, did your provider have any insight on the potential side-effects? Many members have discussed ketamine as an adjunct to their mental health or depression treatments, and some for neuropathy pain as well.

I went with the IV ketamine treatment so I haven't used the nasal spray. From what I understand, the nasal spray just uses the S molecule of ketamine while the IV uses S and R. I used it as a treatment for my depression, not for pain though. I was told for the six sessions that I went to that the side effects are during the treatment, not after. I am heading in for another session tomorrow sort of as a 'booster' since my depression is coming back. I had been told that would happen within a few weeks and that I would need another session. The time between sessions is supposed to get longer and longer for preventing depression. My cousin hasn't been back for another session in over a year.
Good luck with the treatments for your pain.

@JustinMcClanahan Of course my provider talked about some things to expect, but without the typical insert you get with prescriptions, I am interested in personal experiences. Thank you!

My pain specialist wants to prescribe Ketamine orally for me for my CRPS (type 2.) I've discussed it with my neurologists and they don't believe it will be effective and I'm a high risk due to my Seizure Disorder and migraines. It may "help" or not either one of those at the risk of sending their controlled status out of whack as well.
I really don't know what to do. Both neurologists recommend IV ketamine for CRPS especially since I am progressing, but no other method.

Can you buy Ketamine over the counter? In the vitamins & minerals section? Peggy

No you need to have a doctors prescription and it needs to be compounded for a nose spray or an infusion

Thank you - I'll ask my pain doctor about it. Peggy

whst is katamine? is it like percocet?
does it helo netve psin? What are the sidee effrcts?

nerve pain

I'll see my pain doctor on Thursday. I chickened out of the tens stim trial thing. Too much prep time and recovery time and it might not work -- and, my insurance company won't pay for it - it would be at least 2 hospital procedures this year, maybe more. I might just let nature take its course. Nothing wrong with that. Peggy