Just because you’re experiencing pain doesn’t mean you have to let it rule, or ruin, your life. About 21 percent of American adults experience chronic, long-term, pain each year, but the symptoms are treatable. Once diagnosed, chronic pain symptoms can be managed in several ways, including, potentially with the medicine ketamine.
WHAT IS CHRONIC PAIN?
“While acute pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself, chronic pain is different. Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years.” It could’ve been caused by an injury or illness, or perhaps another obvious source of pain, but some people experience chronic pain without signs of injury or body damage.
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF CHRONIC PAIN
“A review of recent literature examining the neurobiology and pathophysiology of chronic pain reveals that this highly prevalent condition negatively impacts multiple aspects of patient health, including sleep, cognitive processes and brain function, mood/mental health, cardiovascular health, sexual function, and overall quality of life.”
Chronic pain is more difficult to treat over time. It’s important that such pain is managed with the goal of minimizing or averting its associated long-term consequences, possibly by using ketamine infusion treatment.
IS CHRONIC PAIN CONTAGIOUS?
Don’t think of chronic pain as you would a case of the flu or another virus. It’s not a condition that can spread between people – mice, maybe – through coughing or the transmission of bodily fluids. It’s unique to each person. Some of the other conditions it may cause, such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, an inability to work or go to school, or handle daily chores, can jump between people the longer it’s left untreated.
CHRONIC PAIN SYMPTOMS
“Common symptoms of chronic pain include mild to very bad pain that does not go away as expected after an illness or injury. It may be shooting, burning, aching, or electrical. You may also feel sore, tight, or stiff in the affected area.”
People with chronic pain may suffer these kinds of pain:
- Arthritis pain
- Back pain
- Cancer pain
- Headaches
- Pain derived from nerve damage
The pain may be portrayed as:
- A dull ache
- Discomfort
- Stiffness
- Smarting
- Squeezing
- Throbbing
- Burning
- Shooting
Sometimes people experiencing chronic pain see other symptoms. These may include having trouble sleeping, feeling tired, or mood changes.
CHRONIC PAIN AND DISABILITIES?
Most people don’t think of chronic pain as a widespread cause of disability, though the World Health Organization and 100 million Americans would likely disagree. If long-term chronic pain leaves you unable to care for yourself or your family, go to school or work, then aren’t you disabled by your condition?
WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC PAIN?
From a practical standpoint, the best treatment for chronic pain is a medicine, procedure, therapy, or lifestyle change you’re comfortable with, lessens the pain, and doesn’t result in other unintended consequences – for you or someone else. If that seems like a tall order to fill, it’s not.
Successfully treating pain is sometimes a case of mental toughness, of realizing the pain is hindering everyday life and you need to do something about it. If you’ve dealt with chronic pain for months or years, and have either ignored it or not found anything to relieve it, then it’s time to move onto plan B.
Over the counter and store-bought pain relievers, braces, bandages, or anything of the sort may only go so far. What then? A doctor may recommend prescription medicine, a medical procedure, or physical or psychological therapy. One option is ketamine, proven to be effective in relieving chronic pain symptoms.
IS THERE ANYTHING BESIDES MEDICINE?
“Clinical trials have shown mind-body therapies … can significantly affect chronic pain. The purpose of these treatments is to help you relax and improve the communication and connection between the state of your mind and the health of your body.” Examples? Yoga, tai chi, meditation and guided imagery, among others.
DOES KETAMINE WORK?
According to a committee of UK scientists, ketamine has been shown to be an effective pain reliever. It’s a dissociative anesthetic. When applied medically, it’s administered in high doses which blocks pain signals and may render people unconscious. U.S.-based research has concluded that the medicine’s psychotropic properties can reduce symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, numerous other mental health disorders, as well as chronic or other pain from illness, injury, or medical conditions.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Like other kinds of discomfort, chronic pain shouldn’t be ignored. The danger of inaction could be severe, leading to other physical or mental health disorders with long-lasting consequences. If you suffer from chronic pain symptoms, ask us about treatment options, including using ketamine, which may be appropriate for your condition.
When our patients experience ketamine therapy they can enjoy both direct pain relief, as well as long-term results in their chronic pain management. Contact us today to learn more about the treatment options available for chronic pain and how NeuroRelief can help you.
