kETAMINE TREATMENT

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The Ketamine Treatment Type Process

How Can Ketamine Help You?
We utilize a combination of medications, in addition to Ketamine, proven extremely effective for control of chronic pain and opioid reduction.

Ketamine Infusion treatments are effective for the treatment of resistant chronic pain syndromes like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Chronic Migraines & Headaches, Fibromyalgia, phantom limb, and many more.

Ketamine can also be useful in patients with an acute injury, due to its strong analgesic properties, in order to reduce the amount of opioid being taken for your symptoms. This decreases your chances of possible opioid dependency and can be a great bridge until more definitive treatment can be established.

 

What Can Ketamine Help With?

Mood Relief

Ketamine treatment is for people who suffer from treatment-resistant mood disorders. Each infusion is tailored specifically to the individual patient and to their specific needs. We adjust medication combinations and dosing specific to each patient to provide the most effective and long-lasting relief possible. Additionally, we use a web-based app to measure your specific baseline and monitor your progress on a daily basis to customize your treatments.

Mood Conditions We Treat Include:

  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Depression (major depressive disorder) (MDD)
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Sexual Abuse Trauma
  • Suicidal Thoughts (suicidal ideation)
  • Treatment-Resistant Depression

Discomfort And Migraine Relief

We use Ketamine in conjunction with other medications to provide fast onset chronic pain relief for neuropathic disorders and migraine conditions. We take great care with each patient to assure maximum effectiveness. We provide an individual care plan based on your specific history, symptoms and goals.

Chronic Discomfort Conditions We Treat Include::

  • Breakthrough Non-Cancer Discomfort
  • Cancer Discomfort
  • Central Neuropathic Discomfort
  • Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy
  • Chronic Migraines
  • Chronic Sickle Cell Discomfort
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Lyme Disease
  • New Onset Daily Headache (NODH)
  • Neuropathic Disorders
  • Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (Shingles, Herpes)
  • Painful Limb Ischemia
  • Phantom Limb
  • Radiculopathy
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
  • Trigeminal Neuropathic Discomfort
The Ketamine Experience

The Ketamine Treatment Process:

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to ensure that you have everything ready for your procedure. Your first appointment will begin with a consultation with Dr. Grinage or Wesley Karcher, CRNA. The provider will speak with you to further assess your mental and physical health history, and we’ll spend as much time as necessary to answer any questions you may have. The initial dose will be based mostly on your weight with minor adjustments for your age and physical condition. Subsequent doses may be adjusted depending on your response to the initial infusion. The infusion will last approximately 40-60 minutes for depression, PTSD, and bipolar depression patients, and for patients suffering from other treatable mood disorders.

When you arrive for your infusion, someone will bring you to a comfortable, private treatment room. Feel free to stay in your street clothes throughout the process. Family members or friends are welcome to stay in the room with you if you so choose.

Procedure:

To get started, we will take an initial set of vital signs. The provider will then locate a vein on your arm, wrist, or hand and almost acheslessly insert a tiny needle to introduce a thin, flexible IV tube. You will feel a small prick when the needle first enters the skin, which may temporarily feel a bit uncomfortable, but this slight “pinprick” sensation doesn’t last. The tube is connected to a syringe or a bag of fluid containing your required dose of ketamine, which will be delivered directly into your bloodstream.

During the procedure, we’ll monitor your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation with non-invasive equipment. Our staff will also monitor your response to the medication to make sure your ketamine drip rate is properly adjusted. After about 40-60 minutes we will remove the IV and you will be able to relax in your room until you feel ready to leave, usually around 30 minutes.

Each of our treatment rooms has a lamp so you may choose to lower the lights while you’re undergoing treatment. Most patients also bring a mobile device set up with their favorite playlist along with headphones or earbuds to listen to music. If you prefer to stream music, each treatment room is outfitted with WiFi.

It’s unusual, but some patients experience a slight bit of nausea during treatment. If you do become nauseous, we can help control it by adding anti-nausea medication to the IV. If you have a history of getting nauseous easily or being prone to motion sickness, please notify us in advance since we may want to add an antiemetic before the treatment begins.

 Experience:

Your experience during the ketamine infusion is far less mysterious or frightening than you may have heard. Since the therapeutic dose for depression, PTSD, anxiety, and mood disorders are quite low – far less than when the medication is used as an anesthetic during surgical procedures or abused recreationally – the experience is relatively mild and for many people somewhat pleasurable.

The ketamine will begin to have its effect within minutes after the infusion begins. You will not hallucinate or lose consciousness. If accompanied by a friend or relative, you will be able to carry on a coherent conversation. If here alone, you can sit quietly while you listen to your music. Physically, you will feel extremely relaxed but your mind will be fully engaged.

Sensation:

Some patients experience a dissociative effect while relaxing with their music. During this period, you may experience what some patients describe as an “out of body” sensation. Most patients enjoy this experience, but some find it a bit unusual. Many patients find that some level of dissociation is associated with subsequent better response to the ketamine infusion.

It is possible that you may have brief moments of fright during the infusion. This is normal, especially for those who begin the infusion process in a state of high anxiety or who get especially tense at not being in total control. You will never be in any danger, however, and our staff will always be monitoring your progress.

Discharge:

When the infusion ends, you will begin to regain your full faculties within minutes and will be allowed to relax in your treatment room until you feel ready to leave. The effects are most often completely gone after 15-20 minutes.

What to Expect For Neuropathic, Migraine, and Acute Injury Treatments
Process:

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to ensure that you have everything ready for your procedure. Your first appointment will begin with a consultation with Dr. Grinage or Wesley Karcher, CRNA. The provider will speak with you to further assess your mental and physical health history, and we’ll spend as much time as necessary to answer any questions you may have. The initial dose will be based mostly on your weight with minor adjustments for your age and physical condition. Subsequent doses may be adjusted depending on your response to the initial infusion. The infusion will last approximately 4 hours for chronic pain patients and for patients suffering from other treatable neuropathic, migraine, and injury conditions.

When you arrive for your infusion, someone will bring you to a comfortable, private treatment room. Feel free to stay in your street clothes throughout the process. Family members or friends are welcome to stay in the room with you if you so choose.

Procedure:

To get started, we will take an initial set of vital signs. The provider will then locate a vein on your arm, wrist or hand and almost acheslessly insert a tiny needle to introduce a thin, flexible IV tube. You will feel a small prick when the needle first enters the skin, which may temporarily feel a bit uncomfortable, but this slight “pin prick” sensation doesn’t last. The tube is connected to a syringe or a bag of fluid containing your required dose of ketamine, which will be delivered directly into your bloodstream.

During the procedure, we’ll monitor your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation with non-invasive equipment. Our staff will also monitor your response to the medication to make sure your ketamine drip rate is properly adjusted. After about 4 hours we will remove the IV and you will be able to relax in your room until you feel ready to leave, usually around 30-60 minutes.

Each of our treatment rooms has a lamp so you may choose to lower the lights while you’re undergoing treatment. Most patients also bring a mobile device set up with their favorite play list along with headphones or earbuds to listen to music. If you prefer to stream music, each treatment room is outfitted with WiFi.

It’s unusual, but some patients experience a slight bit of nausea during treatment. If you do become nauseous, we can help control it by adding anti-nausea medication to the IV. If you have a history of getting nauseous easily or being prone to motion sickness, please notify us in advance since we may want to add an antiemetic before the treatment begins.

Experience:

Ketamine infusions for pain conditions are generally well tolerated, but it’s best to be fully informed about what you may experience during neuropathy, migraine, and acute injury treatments. Because ketamine is a derivative of phencyclidine or PCP (a psychedelic compound), it can cause hallucinations in some patients if not combined with sedation. You will be given a benzodiazepine if this side effect becomes a problem.

Other possible side effects include nausea and, infrequently, headaches. These issues can also be treated during the infusion. Following treatment, you will likely be tired for several hours, and will need to be accompanied home by a friend, family member or other caregiver. In general, side effects are infrequent and relatively mild. Unlike other pain treatments and medications, ketamine is non- addictive and there are no long-term side effects when administered in the controlled, relatively low doses used to treat chronic pain.

What to Expect:

We develop individualized protocols depending on the nature of your pain and your response to the initial treatment. In some cases, a series of treatments will be recommended, often daily for a period of a week or more. While we can’t predict the duration of pain relief, our goal is to achieve weeks or months of lasting relief following these treatments. Most patients who enjoy prolonged pain relief will need to return on occasion for booster infusions.

In order to safely gauge your response, the first two ketamine infusions will be at lower doses and of shorter duration. Starting with the third dose and thereafter, the duration of the infusions will average about four hours. The ketamine dosage will be determined individually according to your response. While our success rates are high, there is no guarantee…approximately 20% of patients will unfortunately not experience relief. After the first two infusions, we will decide together whether the continuation of ketamine therapy is right for you. If you are one of the 80%, however, ketamine therapy can once again open the doors to full, active life with sustained pain relief you may have thought was out of reach.

Discharge:

When the infusion ends, you will begin to regain your full faculties within minutes and will be allowed to relax in your treatment room until you feel ready to leave. The effects are most often completely gone after 30 minutes.

get your life back

conditions that we treat

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Depression

With an 80% success rate in recent studies, Ketamine is helping people across the country regain control of their life.

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MIGRAINES

Are constant migraines having a negative effect on your daily life? Learn how ketamine provides relief.

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Chronic Pain

Are you suffering from Radiculopathy or Neuropathic Pain? Discover how Ketamine can help provide relief.

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Anxiety

Don't let Anxiety keep you down. Discover how Ketamine infusion therapy is helping thousands of people just like you find relief.

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Bipolar Disorder

In contrast to other medications, using Ketamine for bipolar treatment can offer significant relief within hours.

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Neuropathy

Neuropathic pain is a complex pain condition caused by a number of different issues within the nervous system.

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PTSD

Have you experienced a traumatic event, or are you ex-military? Find out how Ketamine is helping others live normally again.

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Suicidal Ideation

Ketamine Infusion Therapy has an 80% success rate for helping those with severe depression and suicidal thoughts.

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Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is a condition of the spine that occurs when roots stemming from the vertebrae become pinched or damaged. 

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