I am trying to get ketamine therapy because they promise amazing results. I live in Bar Harbor Maine which is conservative regarding meds and am treated like a drug addict. Although I am in so much pain and have suicidal ideation often I get no help.
Has anyone tried ketamine therapy?Does it help?
I take oxycodine, antidepressant, a lot of Tylenol but often can’t get out of bed. I have no quality of life.
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Hi Dawnie, and welcome!
I don’t tolerate meds and also prefer the natural route, so I can’t help you with own ketamine experiences.
Generally, I’d try “everything” that seems viable and doesn’t cost too much money or energy etc. to get. There are 100s of treatments that don’t cost either. Like searching for each and every symptom on youtube, e.g. for local pains all the physios explaining better than live physios how to resolve things by self-treatment.
I know you won’t mean it like that, but of course there is absolutely no therapy for fibro that anyone should promise “amazing results” for. Ketamine is coming to the fore a little, but it was only 6 studies with 115 patients that the following review from July 2024 found, saying “Most short-term studies had a good response. Only the study with 8 weeks of follow-up did not observe a good response. Side effects were common; all appeared during the infusion and disappeared after a few minutes of the ketamine injection.”
To me that’d suggest it might help pain a little for a short time with tolerable side effects, but maybe not after that.
Healthrising (one of the best sites online for fibro and similar) sums up “Ketamine can be effective, at least in the short term, in treating several chronic pain states including complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia”.
Helpful it might be for you as it also helps with depression. So if you’re getting that already, you might get a foot in the door with your docs by offering to trade it in for your oxycodine (which really is of course highly addictive) and/or antidepressant, esp. as it sounds as if those aren’t even working much…
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Hi, i have been on Ketamine for about 1.5 years now. It has helped me a lot! I still have to take other prescriptions for breakthrough pain. I was given a Ketamine infusion for a week and after that I was prescribed ketamine trochies which is a lozenge/compound made up at the pharmacy you get in a pack. I take three times a day for pain. My pain doctor used ketamine as a last resort. My doctor is the only doctor who has a ketamine program. I live in Burnaby, BC. If you have an opportunity to have a ketamine infusion…do not hesitate ….it is worth it. It is safe and it heals you in more ways than one
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Hi
Thank you so much. I will try it. you gave me hope.
Dawn
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Doctors are the ones who insisted I take. Oxycodone because taking too much Tylenol was ruining my liver. I got many lectures insisting I take it. If I do not have pain relief why live?There is no quality of life.
The studies you are referring maybe correct, but I see others who say the opposite.I am looking for people who have first hand experience. You can’t have fibromyalgia or have no pain with yours.
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Ah, I get it now. I misunderstood as if it wasn’t helping and as if your docs don’t like you taking it.
Of course. So those that promise amazing results will be first hand experience, plus Julez has and fully recommends, and the studies also say it can be effective. So is it your docs that now need convincing? Might the studies convince them to let you try it?
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I’ve tried ketamine twice. Once was infusion and next was trigger point injections. Have to say I’ll never do it again as it felt like I was tripping on acid or something, never done. But my body reacts differently than others and would say give it a try to help. Granted the pain was tolerable after that but couldn’t handle the side effects. Others in the clinic raved about how much it helped them. Prayers they get it for you.
Thank you for your feedback. They do say you disassociate which does sound like a trip. I am not convinced it will help, but I Don’t know of anything else. I take oxycodone and a lot of Tylenol but still cannot function and have to stay in bed all day everyday.
Currently, I cannot get a referral to get it done. My dr. Will not make the referral and is referring to psychiatrist,but she said it will be months to find one.
What helps you? Can you still work?
Thanks again
Thanks for your help. My dr. Refuses telling me I need a psychiatrist for a referral ,but there are’nt any available, it will take months.
I continue to be extremely depressed with no hope for the future , and I doubt ketamine will really help I just don’t know of any other treatment.
Thanks for your feedback. I can’t get a referral for ketamine.
Where do you live? I need your doctor and clinic or some place and am willing to fly in and stay for treatment. I am desperate.
I take 100mg of Savella twice a day & it’s been a life saver. Without it body hurts so bad even clothes are optional. I’ve been able to keep my fibro under control and only flare every few months, so when I have one it’s take me a minute to figure out what’s wrong. After the Savella I start working out again and found my mini trampoline was best for low impact. Back issues require movement or I hurt worse. Ask your Dr. for a referral to a pain management Dr., they seem to be more willing to try things with us.
I did work for awhile but my medical issues are about as long as my leg. Docs said to stop and take it easy as it was causing more stress and damage to my body.
I also stopped all pain meds as they did nothing for me so I have Baclofen for my back spasms and use CBD or Delta 9, contains THC but still legal, when the pain is bad. Hoping you can find some relief
I used to get it when I lived in Colorado but now live in WV. Anschutz medical center in Aurora Colorado, they take pain seriously and don’t think anyone should suffer.
I had a doc tell me it was because I was 20lvs overweight. Told him great I’ll go on a diet and loose 180lbs of doctor. Got a new doc that listened. Look for an internal medicine doctor that can also be a primary doctor.
Thank you so much for the information.
I looked up savella and it looks promising.
I assume it is an antidepressant? I am on an antidepressant and was wondering if you have tried other antidepressants that did not work?
The pain doctors here only do injections like anti inflammatory stuff, I already tried.
I loved how you had enough self esteem to address the dismissive Dr. I do have a primary but she refuses to refer other then psychiatrist. I know my depression is severe but who wouldn’t be when you are reduced to bed rest instead of living
Thanks for your input
It took me a long time to get that self esteem. It took realizing they weren’t listening to me which caused more stress, and we all know that causes more pain. Sending prayers that you find relief from pain and doctors that listen.