Ketamine Infusion Therapy Blog

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Treatment

Written by ketamine@dmin | Apr 5, 2017 12:00:00 AM

Thousands of people in the US are affected by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) every year. Advancements in medicine have largely not led to a permanent solution of CRPS, but in recent years, a ketamine-based treatment has shown great promise. Ketamine infusion treatments have resulted in significant and sustainable relief for patients suffering from CRPS.

Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles, led by Dr. Steven L Mandel, offers Ketamine Infusion Therapy in a state of the art treatment environment, addressing a wide range of medical conditions. Patients in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, California, and other parts and cities in this region of the state have an opportunity to receive Ketamine Therapy from Dr. Mandel.

NMDA Receptor Blocker

Patients with different levels of CRPS condition can be given different types of Ketamine Infusion Therapy for optimal outcomes. The safest and the most effective approach to treating CRPS patients with ketamine is the low dose “Awake” version of Ketamine Therapy.

Extensive research has shown that ketamine’s strength in treating CRPS resides in its ability to block NMDA receptors. Details of this research were published in the Journal of Pain Medicine, which show this unique property of ketamine. NMDA receptors are stimulated due to continued or intense pain stimuli on second order neurons that produce the phenomena of windup and central sensitization.

When these NMDA receptors are blocked, this can result in the blocking of cellular mechanisms that support windup and central sensitization. The only potent drug that is currently available for clinical use, which can block NMDA receptors, is ketamine. Clinically managed delivery of ketamine infusion treatments can retain a level of ketamine in the central nervous system for a minimum required time period, which will improve the effects of the sensitization process and associated pain.

Dr. Harbut’s Research

Dr. Ronald Harbut is considered as one of the foremost figures in researching the benefits of Ketamine Infusion Therapy. Dr. Harbut worked with the FDA to determine the currently used treatment protocol for patients of CRPS that involves Ketamine Therapy. The therapy comprises several low dose ketamine infusion treatments in a controlled clinical environment.

Neurology Today magazine asked Dr. Harbut to explain the reasons behind the success of Ketamine Therapy for many patients of CRPS. He compared this therapy to the healing process of a fractured bone. A broken bone can sufficiently heal if a splint is applied to hold the bone in its position for a certain time period, and once the healing is complete, the splint is removed.

The Ketamine Infusion Therapy, according to Dr. Harbut, does something similar. It provides the necessary support and allows the abnormally sensitized nerve cells to heal themselves, so that when ketamine is finally taken away, the pain will be mitigate or completely eliminated.

Ketamine Dosage

For the treatment of CRPS, the ketamine dosage may vary from 20 mg to 35 mg. However, the exact dose will be determined according to the patient’s CRPS condition and other factors such as body weight and overall health. Dr. Mandel receives CRPS patients from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, California, and nearby areas for ketamine infusion treatments.

For more information about treatments for depression, bipolar, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), fibromyalgia, pain syndromes and other conditions contact us at the Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles in Southern California (Orange County) by clicking here or calling  310-270-0625