Chronic Pain Treatment

Chronic Pain Treatment in Naples, FL

According to the World Health Organization, chronic pain is one of the top 20 causes of disability worldwide. Approximately 1 in 40 adults in the United States, and 1 in 100 children, suffer from chronic pain. While chronic pain does tend to run in families, researchers are still unsure exactly what causes someone to develop chronic pain.

When an individual suffers from chronic pain, their whole life can be thrown out of balance. Ketamine can treat chronic pain symptoms, giving many another chance at life. Ketamine treatments have a host of positive effects on chronic pain. It increases endorphin production, desensitizes overactive nerves, and improves well-being.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Pain?

Joint pain
Muscle aches
Burning pain
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Loss of interest in sex
Drug or alcohol abuse
Marriage or relationship problems
Job loss
Suicidal thoughts

Boosting Endorphins in the Central Nervous System

Many studies suggest that ketamine stimulates the production of endorphins, natural compounds that can reduce pain. Endorphins are related to improved well-being, greater energy, heightened focus, and diminished anxiety. By increasing levels of endorphins, ketamine may work proactively to prevent severe levels of chronic pain in the future.

Decreasing Neural Signals That Could Exacerbate Chronic Soreness

According to recent studies, intravenous ketamine can prevent the brain from sending numerous neural signals, and the medication could reduce signals related to chronic pain. Generally, ketamine can decrease neural signals for more than two weeks.

Working Against Chronic Stress

Ketamine can substantially reduce levels of cortisol. The reduction in cortisol likely means ketamine is effective at reducing chronic stress. Chronic stress reduces cognitive capacity and long-term memory and hampers critical thinking. Ketamine may, over time, reverse these effects, yielding higher cognitive performance, better retention, and more task focus resulting in improved critical thinking.

How Ketamine Works

Recent evidence points to ketamine’s inhibitory effects on the NMDA receptor in the lateral habenula. The lateral habenula is a brain region primarily responsible for encoding negative rewards or anti-reward cause-and-effect relationships. Those with chronic pain show an overactivity of burst firing in the lateral habenula. As a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, ketamine prevents glutamate from activating the NMDA receptor. The inhibition of the NMDA receptor may cause a build-up of free glutamate, which then activates the AMPA receptors. When surplus glutamate activates the AMPA receptor, it releases a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) chemical. BDNF, in interaction with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), promotes new neural growth. This new growth may reroute the brain from hyperactive areas associated with negative reward signals, thereby providing long-term relief from mental health conditions and chronic pain conditions.

Getting Relief

If you suffer from chronic pain and want symptom relief, turn to Dura Medical in Naples, Florida, for exceptional care. Behavioral health specialists Stephen Durand, CRNA, APRN, Kathryn Hart, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CPNP-PC, and their expert team offer ketamine therapy to treat chronic pain. Call the office to learn more about this revolutionary treatment, or book an appointment online today.

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Chronic Pain Treatment