5 Important Reasons to Up Your Fiber Intake
Nutrition is an essential aspect of health and well-being, especially when it comes to eating fiber. Read on to discover five vital reasons to up your fiber intake for optimal health and some weight loss.
Myths and Facts About Ketamine
If you’re one of the 50 million Americans who live with daily chronic pain, then chances are you’ve tried every treatment available. Even with a wide variety of treatment options, there’s no guarantee that any of them will work, and oftentimes they don’t.
But there’s one highly effective pain relief treatment you may not have tried: ketamine infusions.
Though we’re proud to offer our patients this pain relief solution at Delmarva Pain and Spine Center, Shachi Patel, MD, knows that understanding your treatments is just as important as getting the relief they promise.
She’s here to dispel the rumors and separate fact from fiction when it comes to ketamine infusions.
A closer look at ketamine
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that’s been around since the 1960s, when it was used in the Vietnam War to help ease the pain of wounded soldiers. It also has a scandalous reputation as a popular club drug for its temporary hallucinogenic effects.
But through the years, ketamine has found a new home in doctors’ offices and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions from depression to chronic pain.
Ketamine infusions are simple, outpatient procedures in which we insert an IV line into your arm. Once we place the IV, the ketamine solution begins to infuse into your bloodstream.
We keep a close eye on your heart and blood pressure to ensure your safety.
Unfortunately, ketamine carries a certain stigma that prevents chronic pain sufferers from getting what could be the answer to their symptoms. Here’s a look at a few common myths about ketamine.
Myth: Ketamine is mainly for mental health issues
Though it can be an effective treatment for a variety of mental health issues from OCD to depression, ketamine is also an excellent treatment for many types of chronic pain. For instance, cancer patients suffering discomfort after treatment have found relief from their symptoms with ketamine infusions.
Ketamine may also be an option for you if you suffer from chronic pain conditions like:
- Headaches
- Fibromyalgia
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Peripheral nerve damage
- Post-amputation stump pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome
Dr. Patel meets with you to discuss your symptoms and medical history before recommending ketamine infusions. If ketamine is right for you, you’ll enjoy fast relief from long-lasting pain that’s been unresponsive to other treatments.
Myth: Ketamine has no side effects
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug and comes with all the symptoms and warnings that accompany controlled substances. Our patients report mild reactions to their infusions, including:
- Blurry vision
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Hallucinations or vivid dreams
In extreme cases, severe side effects include:
- Slowed breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Slurred speech
- Loss of balance
- Difficulty walking
Dr. Patel provides comprehensive aftercare instructions to help you manage any side effects, but we do require that you have a trusted friend or family member present to drive you home after your appointment.
Myth: Ketamine is a street drug and it’s highly addictive.
Ketamine, though it has a reputation as a street drug, has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for use by doctors for legitimate medical needs.
In large doses, Dr. Patel uses it as an anesthetic. In smaller doses, she uses it to treat pain and other symptoms and conditions. Improper use and dosage can lead to addiction, but in our clinic, ketamine is administered in small, fast-acting quantities for clinical purposes.
To learn more about this breakthrough therapy or to schedule a consultation, contact our Newark, Delaware, office.
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