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Tag: ketamine

what-helps-with-chronic-back-pain

What Helps With Chronic Back Pain?

It’s normal to have back pain occasionally, especially if you’re over 30 or have a physically challenging job standing or sitting. For many people, it goes away on its own. But if back pain lingers for months without cause, you may be experiencing the first signs of chronic back pain.

WHAT IS CHRONIC BACK PAIN?

“Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. It can come and go, often bringing temporary relief, followed by frustration. Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if you don’t know the cause,” according to Hopkins Medicine.
But chronic back pain is different for everyone, with different symptoms, different tolerance levels, and different reactions to medicine or therapy. Sometimes, the symptoms can be treated with multiple strategies, including using ketamine.

IS CHRONIC PAIN A BIG DEAL?

Yes, and its consequences shouldn’t be minimized or ignored. It not only affects millions of people worldwide, but the World Health Organization calls it one of humanity’s leading sources of disability. Chronic pain leaves its tire tracks on about 50 million American adults; of those, about 44 percent are men and 56 percent are women.
Chronic pain and its evil twin, chronic back pain, harm all age groups and income levels, resulting in stress for individuals, families, and America. How bad is the economic burden? Some reports say the U.S. loses about $600 million a year due to lost productivity.

SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC BACK PAIN

  • Lasts more than a few weeks
  • Is intense and doesn’t improve by resting
  • Works its way down the legs, particularly if the pain goes below the knee
  • Causes weakness, tingling, or numbness in either or both legs
  • Is paired with unexplained weight loss
  • Burning sensations
  • Discomfort which feels like it’s stinging, squeezing, or shooting
  • Your back is constantly sore or stiff
  • Many of these symptoms may respond to store-bought pain relievers, therapy, and new treatments like ketamine infusion.

RISKS OF CHRONIC BACK PAIN

  • Advancing age results in wear and tear on the spine which results in disc degeneration or spinal stenosis, for example, producing back and neck pain. This is especially true if you’re over 30 compared to someone younger.
  • Certain spinal disorders may have a genetic component.
  • Any job with repetitive bending and lifting or that requires many hours of standing without relief or positioned in a chair that doesn’t offer back support puts you at greater risk.

HOW TO DIAGNOSE CHRONIC BACK PAIN?

If you have chronic back pain, you can expect to undergo many tests which may include:

  • Blood tests to check for evidence of cancer, inflammation, infection, and/or arthritis
  • Bone scans to discover and track a bone disorder, fracture, or infection
  • A Discography
  • Electrodiagnostic tests
  • Diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays
  • Myelograms

WHAT HELPS WITH CHRONIC BACK PAIN?

In some cases, a doctor will first recommend a store-bought pain reliever or an assistive device for a sore limb before suggesting other treatments. In the case of chronic back pain and diagnostic procedures with inconclusive test results, a healthcare provider could also offer:

  • Ketamine infusion therapy. Ketamine is thought to restore and reset connections between nerves throughout the body.
  • Analgesics and NSAIDS (aspirin or ibuprofen).
  • Anticonvulsants.
  • Antidepressants.
  • Alternative therapy like acupuncture.
  • Behavioral therapy.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Spinal mobilization and spinal manipulation.
  • Spinal injections.
  • Traction.
  • Chiropractic procedures.
  • Surgery.
  • Implanted nerve stimulators.
  • Rehabilitation programs.

SURGERY MIGHT BE AN OPTION IF …

Back pain is considered chronic when it lasts six months or longer and you don’t know what caused it originally. There are red flags to watch for, which may indicate the need for surgery:

  • New or increasing bowel/bladder issues
  • Weak limbs
  • Walking and equilibrium problems
  • Signs of faster (brisk) reflexes

CAN CHRONIC BACK PAIN EVER GO AWAY?

Each of us deals with pain differently, including chronic back pain. If a cause for your pain has been diagnosed and can be treated, there’s a chance the symptoms will disappear for good. However, remember the nature of the condition is such that it can strike anywhere, at any time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re experiencing back pain that’s become chronic – lasting for several months – and you don’t know what caused it, see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. Chances are high the pain won’t go away on its own, and even if you can function with it, it could result in other problems down the road. Many of the symptoms can be relieved with therapy, pain medication, and newer innovations like ketamine infusion.
If you or a loved one have questions about the clinical use of ketamine we can help. Contact us today to learn more about the innovative new treatments available at Premier Infusions.

when-does-postpartum-depression-start

When Does Postpartum Depression Start?

New moms face enough challenges after childbirth without suffering from depression, but sometimes the symptoms happen no matter the efforts to stop them cold. If they’re mild and short-term, they’re called the “baby blues.” If they’re more severe and long-lasting, you may be experiencing the first signs of postpartum depression.

WHAT IS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

“Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health illness that affects women after giving birth. For some women, it is normal to feel the “baby blues” for a few weeks after giving birth. With postpartum depression, feelings of sadness, loneliness, worthlessness, restlessness, and anxiety last much longer than a few weeks.”

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

Mood swings starting a few weeks after childbirth are normal, sometimes paired with short bursts of anxiety, sadness, and irritability – these are all part of what some people call the “baby blues.” Symptoms that are more severe and last for several months could be the first signs of postpartum depression. In most cases, the symptoms begin anywhere from a few weeks to six months after giving birth – but have started during pregnancy, which is rare. In other cases, postpartum depression may not happen until a year after childbirth. Some cases are treated with new therapies like ketamine infusion.
Symptoms of postpartum depression include:

  • You feel sad, hopeless
  • You feel worried, scared, panicked
  • New moms sometimes blame themselves unnecessarily
  • You cry a lot
  • Feelings of moodiness
  • Abnormal sleeping patterns, too little or too much
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Problems concentrating
  • Removing yourself from your family or social events
  • Feeling detached from your baby

WHAT CAUSES POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

Like other mental illnesses, postpartum depression has more than one cause. Some are similar to causes for other kinds of depression, but others are unique to women during and after pregnancy, including:

  • Hormonal changes that a woman experiences after a baby is born
  • Environmental and other changes, some of which you can manage (dieting) and some you can’t no matter how hard you try (loss of sleep due to a newborn babies eating and sleep patterns, and the stress of taking care of a newborn)
  • Previous episodes of postpartum depression
  • Depression not caused by pregnancy
  • Severe premenstrual syndrome
  • A stressful relationship or marriage
  • Lack of social support
  • Stressful events during or after pregnancy like being severely ill during pregnancy, premature birth, or a problematic delivery)

ARE THERE OTHER KINDS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

Decades of careful research and patient interaction have taught us there are several kinds of depression, each with their own categories and often unique symptoms. The same holds for postpartum depression, which is why the medical community has sub-categorized it into smaller types with symptoms ranging from acute to severe, short to mild:

  • Postpartum Blues (also known as “baby blues”) is the most widespread postpartum mood disorder, affecting about 50 to 85 percent of women who give birth. Symptoms are normally short-term and don’t hinder a woman functioning day today
  • Postpartum Anxiety is sometimes misdiagnosed or brushed aside because people assume new moms have anxiety no matter what. It’s characterized by high tension and stress, and the inability to take it easy or relax.
  • Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder surfaces when a new mom is obsessed with cleanliness and compulsively scrubs down the baby’s crib or changing station, among other examples.
  • Postpartum Panic Disorder is characterized by severe stress levels in about 10 percent of women after childbirth. It may include symptoms like shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
  • Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affects about nine percent of women after pregnancy and involves a perceived threat of danger to the mom or baby. Symptoms may include a difficult pregnancy, delivery by C-section, or the baby ending up in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

Finally, postpartum psychosis is very rare, affecting only about one percent of all women following pregnancy. It’s often characterized by delusional thoughts, hallucinations, extreme agitation, confusion, hyperactivity, and poor judgment. Women who suffer from postpartum psychosis nearly always require medication like ketamine or hospitalization to learn to control their symptoms.

TREATMENT FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

In many cases, a gynecologist, general practitioner, or therapist will diagnose postpartum depression and recommend treatment which often begins with psychotherapy. Sometimes the symptoms can be controlled with ketamine infusion therapy. In the worst-case – postpartum psychosis, where imaged threats of danger or violence have materialized; you can expect hospitalization.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Postpartum depression and its various sub-types indicate a serious mental health illness which too often goes without treatment. The consequences of heroically brushing it aside can be severe for the new mom, her baby, and family and friends. If you think you’re suffering from depression or another disorder, get help.
If you or a loved one have questions about the clinical use of ketamine we can help. Contact us today to learn more about the innovative new treatments available at Premier Infusions.

what-to-know-when-you're-depressed

What To Know When You’re Depressed

Depression’s not easy to live with, especially now. America’s been hit harder than any other country by COVID-19 and its effect, with nearly 200,000 dead and millions unemployed. There’s been a spike in depression cases since June, but knowing about the illness will help you make informed decisions regarding treatment.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Depression is a serious medical illness. It’s more than just a feeling of being sad or ‘blue’ for a few days. If you are one of the more than 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away.”
Depression is an illness of the brain. There is a range of causes, including biological, genetic, environmental, and psychological triggers.

WHO DOES IT AFFECT?

Depression affects people of all ages, regardless of gender, religion, politics, money, or social standing. Who is affected by depression?

  • More than 264 million globally.
  • In the U.S., more than 17 million adults.
  • The risk of depression is greater for women (8.7 percent) than men (5.3 percent).
  • People between 18 and 25 years-old have the highest rate of depression (13.1 percent) by age group.
  • Depression is most prevalent among adults reporting a multi-racial heritage (11.1 percent).
  • About 3.2 million children in the U.S. between 12 and 17 years-old have depression, with more among girls (20 percent) than boys (6.8 percent).

DEPRESSION IN MEN

Symptoms in men include the following:

  • Regular feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or emptiness
  • Feel very fatigued
  • Have problems sleeping or sleep more than average
  • Little or no satisfaction from activities once enjoyable
  • Escapist behavior, like devoting considerable time at their job or on sports
  • Physical symptoms, like headaches, digestive trouble and pain
  • Trouble with drug use or alcohol
  • Controlling, abusive, abhorrent, or violent behavior
  • Irritability or unacceptable anger
  • Risky behavior, like reckless driving
  • Problems controlling their temper or arguing unnecessarily
  • Depression is less prevalent in men than women, unfortunately, and men are more known for violent episodes related to mental illness.

DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

Depression can happen to any woman, anytime, despite age, income, or race, but it’s a treatable illness. Symptoms include:

  • Sadness, anxiety, “empty” moods
  • No longer interested in pleasurable activities including sex
  • Excessive crying, restlessness, irritability
  • Guilt, helplessness, pessimism
  • Abnormal sleep patterns, either too much or not enough
  • Appetite changes followed by weight loss or gain
  • Low energy, fatigue, feeling “slowed down”
  • Thinking of death or suicide
  • Trouble concentrating, remembering, decision-making
  • Physical symptoms that are treatment-resistant – headaches, digestive ailments, chronic pain

DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN AND TEENS

Depression in children and teens shows up in many ways.

  • Irritability, sadness, or socially withdrawn
  • No longer interested in pleasurable hobbies
  • Changes in weight
  • Sleeping problems
  • Hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt
  • Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions
  • Thinking about death and suicide
  • Low energy
  • Shows little emotion
  • Complaints of headaches and stomach pain
  • Anxious or “clingy” with a caregiver

Teens may sleep, move, or speak more slowly than normal to the point where it’s noticed by others. Severe depression in young adults and children can manifest in symptoms like seeing or hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations) or holding onto false beliefs (delusions).

WHAT TO KNOW WHEN YOU’RE DEPRESSED

  • Self-tests for depression. Everybody, it seems, are armchair psychologists with intractable opinions on what constitutes depression. If you think you’re depressed, you can try and identify classic symptoms discussed above, or try an online self-assessment. Beyond self-help, though, there is no path for psychotherapy or medicine without a formal diagnosis.
  • Clinical & medical testing for depression. In order to be formally diagnosed following criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, you have to be examined by a medical doctor or licensed mental health professional. A doctor or therapist will try and uncover what’s causing your symptoms.
  • Treatment options for depression include a combination of psychotherapy, self-help, or medicines like antidepressants. Over the last several years, researchers have discovered an innovative new use for the anesthetic ketamine, repurposing it to treat symptoms of mental disorders including depression.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Depression is a serious mental health disorder harming millions of people globally. Its symptoms are infamous and treatable, so if you need help, reach out to your partner, family, doctor, or therapist for more information. Drugs like ketamine can reduce symptoms and build confidence within you for controlling the disorder.
If you or a loved one have questions about the clinical use of ketamine to help treat the symptoms of depression we can help. Contact Premier Infusions today to learn more about the innovative new treatments that are available.