Can Ketamine Treat Trigeminal Neuralgia?

If you struggle with chronic pain from trigeminal neuralgia, you may be interested in finding safe and effective treatments to ease the discomfort. In some cases, a qualified ketamine clinic may be able to help alleviate symptoms. Ready to learn more about using ketamine in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia? We discuss the details here: 

What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia? 

If you’ve been experiencing what feels like an electric shock on one side of your face, you may have a nerve condition called trigeminal neuralgia. Although this condition often develops spontaneously, it’s sometimes caused or exacerbated by trauma to the face or dental procedures. In other cases, it’s caused by pressure from a blood vessel on the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia is more common in women than in men, and most often affects people over the age of 50. 

Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia are typically described as a shooting pain in the side of the face that may occur alongside muscle spasms. Episodes of this type of pain can be brought on by mild stimulation from everyday activities such as brushing your teeth or applying makeup. People with trigeminal neuralgia often report mild and infrequent symptoms at first that become more intense and frequent over time. 

How Is Trigeminal Neuralgia Treated? 

If you think you may have trigeminal neuralgia, the first step is to see your primary care physician. After your initial appointment, your primary provider may refer you to a specialist. 

There are several treatment options for this condition, including medication such as anticonvulsants, antispasmodic agents (also called muscle relaxers), and Botox injections. In cases that aren’t responding to medication, surgery or alternative treatments such as acupuncture may be recommended. 

Although trigeminal neuralgia isn’t often treated with medical ketamine, studies suggest that this option has the possibility for great success in some patients. Ketamine is often highly effective in treating chronic pain conditions, and may accomplish pain-relieving results by blocking the NMDA receptor within the brain. 

If you’re tired of struggling with the debilitating pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia, you may be ready to try a safe, non-invasive treatment. When surgery isn’t an appealing option and traditional medications aren’t providing the relief you need, reach out to our ketamine specialists. We’ve seen firsthand how transformative ketamine can be for individuals with chronic pain, and we’d love to help you.

Interested in starting the process? Contact our team whenever you’re ready. We’ll discuss your background and symptoms to determine if we’re a fit before creating a customized healing plan with you. 

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