There are many different ways that you can treat rheumatoid arthritis with ketamine infusions. Rheumatoid Arthritis, more commonly referred to as RA, is an incredibly painful and long-term disease that affects over 1 million people in America, most of whom are women. RA is an autoimmune disease that can cause debilitating pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints of the affected person, most often occurring in the hands and feet and negatively impacting the area’s motion and function. Here are some ways to help you treat rheumatoid arthritis with ketamine. Men and women between the ages of 40 and 60 may want to pay close attention to certain indicators that they may be developing RA, such as:
- Stiffness in the mornings
- Strange nodules forming at and around joints
- Chronic pain and swelling in the joints that don’t improve
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, reach out to your doctor (preferably a rheumatologist) about being tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis. A blood test can confirm several factors pointing to RA, including anemia, the presence of rheumatoid factor (found in most patients with RA), inflammation levels in the joints, and antibodies to certain proteins within the body.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Why is RA So Painful?
Being an autoimmune disease, RA involves the body attacking itself, specifically the cartilage that protects our joints. Once that cartilage is gone, the body does not grow it again, leaving our bones free to rub against each other with every movement and causing swelling, pain, and inflammation. The nerves within and surrounding our joints are often affected by the lack of protection as well, adding to the patient’s suffering.
Is There a Cure for RA? What Treatment Options are Available?
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for RA. There are, however, many different treatment and therapy options that may help patients regain their ability to enjoy their lives as normal. The course of treatment is usually determined by the severity of the disease and how early the patient was diagnosed and able to begin treatment, but the process usually involves:
- Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs): These are often the first line of defense against RA and are one of the most common treatments since they both reduce the severity of the patient’s symptoms and slow the rate of progression of the disease.
- Biologic Agents: These are biologic response modifiers, which directly impact the body’s immune-inflammatory response and can lower the risk of tissue and joint deterioration.
- IV Ketamine Infusion Treatment: Over the course of a series of treatments, ketamine has been shown to dramatically improve patient pain and inflammation levels, providing both short and long-term relief. This treatment does utilize a medicine that was originally used as a general anesthetic (ketamine), but countless studies have shown that in much smaller concentrations, it functions as a reliable treatment for pain of all kinds.
How Does Ketamine Therapy Work?
Intravenous Ketamine Infusion Therapy is an increasingly popular treatment for several conditions that cause pain, including Rheumatoid Arthritis and chronic migraines. Even in the concentration required for this kind of treatment (a fraction of how much would be used in general anesthesia), ketamine works by inhibiting numerous pain receptors in the body. Patients who have had little to no luck with the more common treatment options often find much-needed and long-term relief with IV ketamine therapy.
More often than not, RA patients find that the treatments that worked, in the beginning, lose their effect, and they’re forced to look into alternative treatment options. Because of its high success rate, ketamine therapy is becoming more popular for RA patients who either don’t respond or have stopped responding to other treatments.
If you have RA or suspect you may be developing the disease, consult with your doctor about early treatment options. If you have tried those options and nothing seems to be working long-term, it may be worth talking to your doctor about finding the nearest medical center that provides ketamine infusion therapy. Your doctors will work with you to create a personalized therapy plan to ensure the best results, and you can be well on your way to reclaiming your life without constant pain and swelling.
At Mindscape Ketamine & Infusion Therapy, our goal is to get you and your body back on the right path towards health and better healing. The experience of Dr. Quang Henderson paired with our spa-like clinic in Houston may just be the answer to joint pain and swelling caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.
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