To feel pain isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it means your brain is working. Pain is a very normal and necessary sensation that occurs in the nervous system. It’s purpose is to alert you to either stop whatever it is that you’re doing that inflicts pain, or seek help for whatever injury might have already been inflicted.

It’s one of the driving forces that keeps us safe.

Chronic pain is a different beast. It’s any ache or pain that lasts for a duration of time exceeding twelve weeks. While acute (normal) pain is a necessary sensation to help keep us safe, chronic pain lingers.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for up to twelve weeks, but it can last as long as months (and sometimes years). Usually caused by an initial injury, such as a sprain or pulled muscle, chronic pain is believed to develop after the nerves have become damaged. The nerve damage, in turn, makes the pain more intense and longer-lasting.

Some of the most common types of chronic pain include:

• Headaches
• Post-surgical trauma
• Post-trauma pain
• Lower back pain
• Cancer pain
• Arthritis pain
• Neurogenic pain (pain caused by nerve damage)
• Psychogenic pain (pain that isn’t caused by disease, injury, or nerve damage)

How is Chronic Pain Treated?

Although there is currently no way to cure chronic pain, there are actions you can take to help manage the symptoms.

Ketamine for Chronic Pain

Ketamine, first approved by the FDA as an anesthetic, has been shown in recent years to treat mood disorders like chronic pain with rapid results. Ketamine is thought to play a role in the treatment of mood disorders through its influence on glutamate, a neurotransmitter that mediates response to stress and traumatic memories.

To learn more about ketamine and its use as PTSD treatment, contact usContact Us today to schedule a free consultation.