I am going to be evaluated for this again tomorrow.
Formerly, I had oral and intranasal ketamine back in 2015 for severe facial neuropathy. I also have orthopedic pain (arthritis in my spine and in my knees). I also have avascular necrosis in both hips and knees (probably other areas. The facial pain was resistant to any oral pain meds tried (gabapentin, trileptal, lortab, oxycodone (sometimes I did have some effect from oxy though not consistently), morphine, and diladud). I had oral troches and nasal as well as a paste for the oral pain that was applied topically). The facial/oral pain was following nerve damage from a severe oral infection as well as the subsequent oral surgery. Oral pain is typically resistant to meds. I am DNR/DNI and did not want injections or any other intervention. Ketamine was one of the few things that actually helped. And statistically is safer than opiates.
The downside was the expense. The pain management visit was covered by insurance but the cost of the oral/intranasal/topical ketamine was not covered. Comparatively to opaites the actual cost is reasonable, it's just a lot when it's coming out of your pocket.
Tomorrow, I am hoping that they will give me the troches and/or nasal spray. The pain is from fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy and the arthritis/avascular necrosis (nice double whammy). Currently opiates are only partially effective and make it difficult to work due to cognitive effects. I have filed for disability (you can work but can only make $1500/month). I have got to have some kind of income as I prefer not to wind up homeless.
I had 6 IVs of it over 1.5 weeks. On the 6th day, I dev a huge hive on my Rt leg. I felt more pain then than I did before I had a single bit of ketamine. Why don’t they first inject a little under the skin of the forearm to see if a person is allergic? Also why were you and I not offered an IV of saline to flush it out of our system bc here I am 1.5 yrs later with burning headaches after eating any food and on days the temp outside is very cold. And I’ve lost muscle.
It is making me angry that people are not getting the proper treatments and care. This is serious business, and I am sorry for anyone who has had a bad experience because protocols are not being followed. The treatment gets a bad name and is only known as the party drug that killed a "Friend."
I have been fortunate to have a wonderful experience with my provider. They are a hub of mental health care. They offer individual and group therapy to compliment the ketamine and Spravato treatments. And I still have all my limbs because it does not cost an arm and a leg.
I know that others may not have the same options and experience. My hope is for everyone to find something that will help.
It is making me angry that people are not getting the proper treatments and care. This is serious business, and I am sorry for anyone who has had a bad experience because protocols are not being followed. The treatment gets a bad name and is only known as the party drug that killed a "Friend."
I have been fortunate to have a wonderful experience with my provider. They are a hub of mental health care. They offer individual and group therapy to compliment the ketamine and Spravato treatments. And I still have all my limbs because it does not cost an arm and a leg.
I know that others may not have the same options and experience. My hope is for everyone to find something that will help.
My experience with ketamine treatments has not provided me with positive results. One needed to be driven to and from treatments because it was that strong and with no proven results. Would recommend trying mushrooms.
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Hi,
I am going to be evaluated for this again tomorrow.
Formerly, I had oral and intranasal ketamine back in 2015 for severe facial neuropathy. I also have orthopedic pain (arthritis in my spine and in my knees). I also have avascular necrosis in both hips and knees (probably other areas. The facial pain was resistant to any oral pain meds tried (gabapentin, trileptal, lortab, oxycodone (sometimes I did have some effect from oxy though not consistently), morphine, and diladud). I had oral troches and nasal as well as a paste for the oral pain that was applied topically). The facial/oral pain was following nerve damage from a severe oral infection as well as the subsequent oral surgery. Oral pain is typically resistant to meds. I am DNR/DNI and did not want injections or any other intervention. Ketamine was one of the few things that actually helped. And statistically is safer than opiates.
The downside was the expense. The pain management visit was covered by insurance but the cost of the oral/intranasal/topical ketamine was not covered. Comparatively to opaites the actual cost is reasonable, it's just a lot when it's coming out of your pocket.
Tomorrow, I am hoping that they will give me the troches and/or nasal spray. The pain is from fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy and the arthritis/avascular necrosis (nice double whammy). Currently opiates are only partially effective and make it difficult to work due to cognitive effects. I have filed for disability (you can work but can only make $1500/month). I have got to have some kind of income as I prefer not to wind up homeless.
Hope this helps. Good luck to you!
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1 ReactionI tried the nasal spray. Didn't work
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1 Reaction6 IVs of it over 1.5 weeks? I had 6 IV's over 4 weeks. What you had seems to be too much too fast?
I didn’t know that at the time but sure wish I had.
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1 ReactionIt is making me angry that people are not getting the proper treatments and care. This is serious business, and I am sorry for anyone who has had a bad experience because protocols are not being followed. The treatment gets a bad name and is only known as the party drug that killed a "Friend."
I have been fortunate to have a wonderful experience with my provider. They are a hub of mental health care. They offer individual and group therapy to compliment the ketamine and Spravato treatments. And I still have all my limbs because it does not cost an arm and a leg.
I know that others may not have the same options and experience. My hope is for everyone to find something that will help.
What is Spravato? That is new word and new therapy to me.
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1 ReactionSpravato (esketamine) is a prescription nasal spray used to treat depression in adults. It is the only FDA-approved nasal spray for TRD.
My experience with ketamine treatments has not provided me with positive results. One needed to be driven to and from treatments because it was that strong and with no proven results. Would recommend trying mushrooms.