I have suffered with CPRS for over 10 years. It was always treated with oral drugs (Tramal, Oxycontin,Endone,) which resulted in my body having a very high threshold to painkillers. In the end, I became addicted to huge doses of opiates and that affected my entire life. AND, I was still in pain.
By chance, I found a Pain Management Specialist who used Ketamine Infusion for CPRS. He saved my life and my sanity. The probable side effects during the Infusion were explained to me. I had a 7 day Infusion which did have some side effects: some very strange hallucinations, fits of the giggles, trembling, felt very tired, muscle weakness, slurred speech, weird dreams.
The outcome of the Ketamine Infusion has been fantastic. I have never again taken any painkillers for CPRS. I remained pain free for nearly 12 months. I had another Ketamine Infusion 12 months after the initial one. I have just had my third; 10 months after the second one.
I would recommend that anyone who suffers from CPRS or any type of chronic pain ask their doctor about Ketamine Infusion.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Ketamine infusion. Unfortunately not enough doctors know enough about nor have experience using Ketamine for severe chronic pain. Dr. John Claude Krusz, our medical advisor here on ChronicPainConnection, has done quite a bit of research on ketamine infusions and has had good success using it with a number of his chronic pain and Migraine patients. I'm so glad to hear how well it has worked for you – especially since it's so difficult to find anything that helps CRPS. – Karen
It is so true that the benefits of Ketamine Infusion for chronic pain is not known widely enough. Also, I have found that it is available in only a very small number of hospitals. And where available, the waiting lists are extremely long. I now travel interstate once a year for my Infusions.
I have become a great advocate for Ketamine Infusion for the relief of chronic pain. Quite obviously, the patient needs to meet the required criteria but where applicable, it is a godsend. I lost 10 years of my life to chronic pain and in that time, sadly for me, became addicted to huge doses of opiates. I would never take narcotic medication again and when I meet people who do take opiates, I tell them of my experience.
Ketamine Infusion has given me the chance to start living my life again. I am now sitting back and free to enjoy "cloud watching".