For individuals battling the relentless pain and disability of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), ketamine-assisted physiotherapy offers a promising path to reclaim function and quality of life. This innovative approach combines ketamine’s rapid pain-relieving properties with targeted rehabilitation, addressing both neurological dysfunction and physical limitations.
Why Ketamine?
Ketamine disrupts the cycle of central sensitisation—a hallmark of CRPS. This is where the nervous system becomes hyperresponsive to pain signals. Ketamine acts by blocking NMDA receptors preventing abnormal pain signalling and processing pathways. This works to:
- Reduce pain intensity, enabling patients to engage in physiotherapy without overwhelming discomfort.
- Reset maladaptive neural pathways, potentially reversing the neurological changes driving CRPS.
Synergy with Physiotherapy
Often patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome are unable to tolerate physiotherapy due to pain flares. Ketamine assisted physiotherapy allows patients to overcome this barrier. This allows:
- Enhanced Mobility: Ketamine’s analgesic effects allow patients to tolerate movement retraining, desensitisation exercises, and graded motor imagery.
- Neurological Reorganisation: By lowering pain thresholds during therapy, ketamine may help rewire dysfunctional sensory and motor pathways.
- Functional Restoration: Intensive physiotherapy during or after infusions maximizes gains in strength, coordination, and daily activity tolerance.
Advantages Over Conventional Therapies
- Faster Pain Relief: Unlike oral medications, ketamine acts rapidly, breaking the cycle of pain and immobility.
- Non-Opioid Solution: Avoids dependency risks associated with long-term opioid use.
- Holistic Impact: Addresses both the neurological roots of CRPS and its physical consequences.
Is This Approach Right for You?
Ketamine-assisted physiotherapy is particularly suited for patients:
- With refractory CRPS unresponsive to standard treatments.
- Seeking to avoid invasive interventions and opioid medication.
Next Steps
If CRPS has limited your mobility and quality of life, ketamine-assisted physiotherapy could be transformative. Contact us for an assessment with one of our Pain Specialists to discuss your options.