Fibromyalgia
Ketamine For Fibromyalgia
Ketamine is steadily becoming an increasingly used option for the treatment of pain. This is in part due to the fact that it has been successfully used to manage several different kinds of pain, including headaches, migraines, and chronic pain. So, it isn’t a surprise that medical institutions have turned their attention towards using ketamine to effect successful treatment of another widely occurring, very painful medical health condition; Fibromyalgia.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic medical condition or disorder characterized by heightened sensitivity to pain. This condition causes whole-body tenderness and pain, fatigue, and inability to sleep. The major problem with treating fibromyalgia is that it is very challenging to diagnose because it has several symptoms that all mirror those of other medical conditions. This, in turn, means that there are no conclusive diagnostic tests for fibromyalgia, and healthcare professionals frequently misdiagnose this disorder.
Since this condition is so difficult to diagnose, some people have even questioned whether fibromyalgia is a “real” medical disorder; however, you should know that fibromyalgia is VERY real and affects many people. A study carried out in the United States showed that nothing less than three million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia; staggering statistics for a “not real” medical condition, right? Make no mistake; however, because fibromyalgia has also been known to occur in children, it is a medical disorder that must be taken with utmost seriousness.
Fibromyalgia is known to cause severe pain affecting the muscles and bones in the body, which greatly affects an individual’s ability to enjoy quality living. The pain can get so intense that it incapacitates the individual suffering from the condition.
Causes of fibromyalgia
The actual causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown; nevertheless, some risk factors have been associated with this condition. They include:
- Gender: According to studies carried out, fibromyalgia is more likely to occur in women than in men. Though the exact cause isn’t clear, it is suspected that sex hormones influence the occurrence and severity of fibromyalgia and its symptoms.
- Age: Many people are under the impression that fibromyalgia only affects women in the post-menopause stage of their lives; however, this isn’t accurate at all. This is because fibromyalgia is more commonly diagnosed in women of child-bearing age than those in menopause. However, it has to be said that the risk of developing fibromyalgia rises concurrently with age.
- Stress: The relationship between stress and fibromyalgia is somewhat complicated; however, fibromyalgia has been known to frequently occur simultaneously with stress and stress disorders like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Genetics and family history are also pretty important fibromyalgia risk factors.
Fibromyalgia treatment options
It’s important to note that fibromyalgia cannot be cured; however, it can be successfully managed, and several treatment options have been used to do just that. Treatment options for fibromyalgia include:
- Medications such as pain relievers, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants.
- Yoga
- Acupuncture
- Exercise
- Cognitive-behavior therapy
Downsides of Fibromyalgia
Although these fibromyalgia treatment approaches have proven t be somewhat effective in the successful management of this condition, the fact is that they also have some pretty significant downsides that make using them for treatment complicated. For example, some antidepressants used in the management of fibromyalgia have long onset of action; this means that it could take as long as weeks or even months of consistent use before their effects can be felt, meaning that patients would have to endure the severely unpleasant side effects of fibromyalgia for that long.
There is also the fact that some of these medications could even elicit side effects that are much more dangerous than the effects of fibromyalgia itself, with some of these effects tending toward life-threatening. This and many more reasons prompted further research into discovering much safer yet effective alternative fibromyalgia treatment, and that’s exactly what ketamine infusion therapy is.
Ketamine for fibromyalgia: What makes ketamine a perfect treatment option?
Now you may wonder, “How’s a commonly abused party drug supposed to help me take care of fibromyalgia?” Great question! However, you should know that ketamine is much more than a “party drug” as it is a substance that has been used to successfully and effectively treat several different medical conditions, including fibromyalgia. Still undecided? Let’s take a look at some of the things that make ketamine a perfect fibromyalgia treatment option for you.
- Safer Alternative: Conventional fibromyalgia treatment involves the use of several different kinds of drugs, most of which have the capacity to elicit potentially life-threatening adverse effects. Ketamine, however, does not have such dangerous consequences, ensuring that patients on ketamine infusion therapy are not at risk from their medication.
- Effective action: Studies carried out have shown that ketamine is very effective in the management of fibromyalgia. This is because ketamine effectively reduces sensitization of the central nervous system, thanks to its glutamate-blocking effects, ensuring that fibromyalgia patients can enjoy the much-needed pain relief they need. Ketamine has also been used to successfully treat individuals who have tried and remain unresponsive to other fibromyalgia treatment options.
- Fast Action: Ketamine’s pain-relieving effects are felt by patients in as little as minutes, which is a drastic improvement on the pain-dampening effects of other treatment medications like antidepressants which could take as long as days or even weeks for their effect to be felt.
Getting started with ketamine infusion therapy for fibromyalgia
Ketamine infusion therapy is a very promising and effective treatment for fibromyalgia; however, it needs to be done the right way for patients to enjoy all this treatment approach. At Prosper Ketamine & IV Nutrition Therapy, our mission is to provide you with that individualized, patient-focused ketamine infusion therapy you need to enjoy effective, lasting relief from fibromyalgia and its symptoms. Reach out today, and let’s help you get started on the path to a pain-free life.