If you’re struggling with Fibromyalgia, then you know how pain can interrupt your life and what you want to do. Finding relief from this musculoskeletal pain is frustrating. Fibromyalgia pain arises from a problem in the way the neurotransmitters in your brain function, making it very hard to pinpoint and alleviate.

To tackle fibromyalgia pain where it starts — in your brain — many patients and pain management specialists are turning to ketamine infusion therapy, including Dr. James Ashford, the pain management physician at Ashford Pain Solutions. Dr. Ashford founded Athens Ketamine Center to provide effective relief for patients in need of treatment for chronic pain.

If you’re living with Fibromyalgia, let’s take a closer look at how Ketamine can help. 

Understanding Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, or fibro, is a highly tricky disorder to pin down and diagnose because little is known about how the condition takes hold in your nervous and musculoskeletal systems. What we do know is that this complex chronic pain disorder can amplify the pain messaging in your brain, leaving you with unexplained and system-wide pain, as well as chronic fatigue, mood problems, and cognitive issues (sometimes called fibro fog).

Fibromyalgia typically affects women more than men, and it can develop on the heels of physical or emotional trauma. However, anyone can develop Fibromyalgia, even without an initiating event.

There is no cure for Fibromyalgia since the exact cause of the condition hasn’t been identified. This reality leaves the medical world to treat the disorder symptomatically, with mixed results.

Thankfully, ketamine infusion therapy is giving people living with Fibromyalgia new hope by allowing them to gain the upper hand on their pain and discomfort. At Athens Ketamine Center, we have seen first-hand how these treatments can help.

How Ketamine Works for Fibromyalgia

Ketamine was first introduced in the 1950s as a highly effective anesthetic. There are several traits that make Ketamine so effective:

1. Ketamine attaches itself to receptors in your brain and disrupts pain signaling.
2. Ketamine is a dissociative medication that not only stops the pain but creates a euphoric effect.
3. Ketamine doesn’t suppress your cardiovascular or respiratory functions as many painkillers do, which means it’s safer to use in a wider variety of patients.

Ketamine has been in use for decades in both humans and animals as an anesthetic. Still, the medical world began to see other benefits from the use of Ketamine, such as a reduction in depression and anxiety. Researchers believe that Ketamine achieves this by rewiring your brain and forming healthier neural pathways.

When it comes to Fibromyalgia, which is a disease of the brain and body, Ketamine delivers a powerful neurological punch in that it not only tackles the pain but also some of the mood instability that’s often associated with the condition.

Find Out if Ketamine is Right for You

If you would like to find out if you are a good candidate for Ketamine, Athens Ketamine Center would love to help you. Dr. Ashford and his team regularly deliver Ketamine treatments intravenously, and we’re here to assist patients in finding solutions to their pain. The number of treatments you need depends upon your unique situation. It’s best to contact us so we can review your medical history and discuss your options with you.  

If you’re an ideal candidate for Ketamine, we administer the ketamine infusions in our offices in Athens. Each treatment typically takes about an hour, after which time you’re free to go (though you need to have someone drive you). As you progress, we gauge how you respond to each treatment and make any necessary adjustments along the way, with the goal of restoring your quality of life.

Call us at (706) 286-8344, email us at ketamine@ashfordpain.com, or fill out our Contact form to get started.