Why ketamine for chronic pain?
Ketamine blocks NMDA receptors involved in central pain sensitization — the process by which the nervous system becomes "stuck" in a chronic pain state. By interrupting that signaling, ketamine can offer relief where opioids and other medications have failed.
Conditions we treat
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Neuropathic pain
- Chronic migraine
- Post-surgical pain
The pain–mood connection
Chronic pain rarely lives alone. It drives — and is driven by — depression, anxiety, and sleep disruption. Because ketamine acts on pain pathways and mood circuitry simultaneously, many of our chronic pain patients describe relief in two dimensions at once: the body quiets, and the dark cloud lifts.
Our typical pain protocol
- Series of 4–6 IV infusions over 2–3 weeks
- Slower drip rate and longer infusion than mood-focused protocols
- Maintenance every 4–8 weeks based on your response
- Coordination with your pain specialist or primary care provider
Reducing reliance on opioids
Many of our patients come to us hoping to taper opioids or avoid escalation. Ketamine is not a magic substitute — but for the right candidate it can meaningfully reduce baseline pain and break the central sensitization cycle that keeps the nervous system in a chronic pain state.
What to expect realistically
Pain relief is rarely instant or total. Most patients report a gradual lowering of baseline pain over their series, improved function, better sleep, and an increased ability to engage with physical therapy, exercise, and life.