The Benefits of Ketamine Infusion Therapy, Lidocaine Infusion Therapy, and Transcranial Magnetic Sti

International Spine, Pain & Performance Center and Mountain Spine & Pain Blog The Benefits of Ketamine Infusion Therapy, Lidocaine Infusion Therapy, and Transcranial Magnetic Sti
The Benefits of Ketamine Infusion Therapy, Lidocaine Infusion Therapy, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

If you’re living with chronic pain, you know how quickly it can take over your day. It affects how you move, how you sleep, and how you show up in your life. And when medications or standard treatments stop working or never worked well to begin with, it’s easy to feel stuck.

But you’re not out of options.

At the International Spine, Pain & Performance Center, you have access to advanced therapies like ketamine infusion therapy, lidocaine infusion therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 

These treatments take a different approach to pain management. They affect how your nervous system and brain process pain, rather than just masking the symptoms.

Each of these therapies works differently, which is why the right treatment depends on your symptoms, diagnosis, and response to previous care.  

Take a moment as our team explains the benefits of each one.

Ketamine infusion therapy 

Ketamine infusion therapy targets pain pathways in your brain and nervous system. Instead of simply masking your pain, it helps reset how your body processes it, especially when pain has become chronic. 

Specifically, it alters your brain waves and may induce gamma waves. Gamma waves are linked to improved neural connectivity and are often seen during meditation and more relaxed mental states.

We may recommend this treatment if you’re dealing with persistent, treatment-resistant pain or conditions linked to central sensitization.

Potential benefits of ketamine infusion therapy include reduced pain intensity, improved function and mobility, and better response to other treatments.

For the right person, ketamine can help break the cycle of chronic pain and open the door to more lasting relief. In fact, ketamine therapy can provide 12 weeks of relief for those struggling with complex regional pain syndrome.

Ketamine infusion therapy has an added benefit: It can help with treatment-resistant depression, too. Even a single infusion can help you feel better. This is an important benefit, since chronic pain and depression often go hand in hand.

Lidocaine infusion therapy 

Lidocaine infusion therapy is often used to treat neuropathic (nerve-related) pain. While lidocaine is commonly known as a numbing agent, in its infusion form, it helps stabilize overactive nerve signals that contribute to chronic pain.

When lidocaine reduces nerve excitability, the pain messages are less likely to reach your brain. 

You might consider lidocaine infusions for nerve-related pain, such as:

Lidocaine infusions can be especially helpful if your pain feels burning, tingling, sharp, or difficult to control.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for pain management

TMS offers a completely different approach to pain management than the first two options. It’s a noninvasive, drug-free treatment that uses magnetic pulses to influence areas of your brain involved in pain processing.

Instead of treating the body directly, TMS works at the source, i.e., your brain’s pain-signaling system.

Benefits of TMS include:

For people with chronic or complex pain, TMS can help turn down the intensity of how your brain perceives pain. This, then, leads to pain relief and a better quality of life. 

Like ketamine infusions, it can also help improve symptoms of depression. 

Why these advanced therapies matter for chronic pain

Chronic pain can alter how your nervous system processes signals. As weeks go by, your brain can become more sensitive to pain input, which can cause your symptoms to feel more intense and persistent.

That’s why treatments like ketamine, lidocaine infusions, and TMS are so valuable. They target how your body processes pain, not just where you feel it.

These therapies may help you:

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for pain. We evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and goals to determine whether ketamine infusion therapy, lidocaine infusion therapy, or TMS is the right fit for you.

Regardless of which treatment you choose, we build your plan around one goal: helping you feel better, function better, and live better.

Find the right treatment for your chronic pain today

To learn more, schedule an evaluation in Washington, DC, or Arlington, Virginia, or at our Mountain Spine & Pain location in Pulaski, Virginia. Our team can diagnose the source of your pain and help you get back on track.

You Might Also Enjoy...

When to See a Specialist About Your Hip Pain

When to See a Specialist About Your Hip Pain
Hip pain is not unusual, but how do you know when it’s time to see a specialist?  Hip pain that lingers, limits movement, or radiates into your leg may need more than rest. Read on to learn more.
Understanding Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Understanding Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can seem like an “invisible” condition without any visible injury, so what exactly is it? It’s a complex chronic pain condition that develops after an injury. Read on to learn more.