Chronic pain is a serious issue for many cancer patients, with over 90 percent experiencing uncontrolled pain in advanced stages. There are many factors that can lead to inadequate pain management, including disease progression and side effects from standard pain medications.
We’re a ketamine infusion therapy clinic located in Gainesville, FL and provide treatment for those dealing with chronic pain from cancer and its treatments. Reach out to us to learn more about how ketamine therapy can help with chronic pain and mood disorders.
Ketamine is a medication used for pain relief and anesthesia, recognized by pain management professionals as a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain in cancer patients during and after treatment. It works by slowing the transmission of pain signals from nerves to the brain, which may decrease pain and help patients feel relaxed. Ketamine therapy is given intravenously for best results. Treatment duration and dosage vary by patient, but sessions typically last about 4–6 hours.
Cancer pain can vary in severity from mild to severe and has various causes. Chronic cancer pain often results from the disease’s progression or medical treatments. The pain level mainly depends on the cancer type and location, the disease stage, and any damage caused by treatments. Cancer pain is generally classified as acute or chronic.
Acute pain can be mild to severe and happens suddenly, subsiding shortly after. Chronic pain can also be mild to severe but lasts or worsens over a longer period. Many cancer patients with chronic pain struggle with insufficient pain relief due to medication intolerance, disease progression, or treatment side effects.
Pain From Cancer Treatment
Common treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery contribute significantly to chronic cancer pain, leading to the following pain types.
Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain, or nerve pain, occurs when cancer treatments damage nerves, producing burning, sharp, or shooting pain. It can also arise from pressure on nerves or the spinal cord, potentially from radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or surgery.
Phantom Pain
Phantom pain occurs in body parts that have been surgically removed, frequently affecting patients who have lost limbs or organs. For instance, patients may feel pain in the breast area after a mastectomy.
Pain From Cancer
Pain can also occur when a tumor presses against bones, nerves, organs, or other body parts. Bone pain often arises when cancer spreads to bones or as a side effect of medications that prevent white blood cell reduction after cancer treatments.
When given by a ketamine clinic, ketamine therapy effectively relieves pain and reduces reliance on traditional treatments like opioids. Ketamine from our clinic is quick, safe, and has no long-term side effects.
Fast-Acting Cancer Pain Management
Patients with chronic cancer pain typically feel the effects of ketamine therapy shortly after starting intravenous (IV) treatment. Many notice significant pain reduction within days.
Non-Invasive & Safe Pain Relief
This method is among the safest for cancer pain relief, having minimal effects on the circulatory and respiratory systems compared to conventional medications—ketamine is both safe and effective.
No Long-Term Side Effects
Using low doses of ketamine for cancer pain carries a lower risk of side effects, such as delirium, hallucinations, and dysphoria, common with morphine and other pain medications.
To find out if you qualify for ketamine pain management, contact us. You may be a candidate if you experience side effects from other pain medications, insufficient relief from them, or if you’re experiencing difficult-to-manage pain related to cancer treatment. Schedule an appointment with our ketamine treatment center today.
To find out if you qualify for ketamine pain management, contact us. You may be a candidate if you experience side effects from other pain medications, insufficient relief from them, or if you’re experiencing difficult-to-manage pain related to cancer treatment. Schedule an appointment with our ketamine treatment center today.
