Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain: What to Expect and Who It Helps

Chronic pain can be frustrating—especially when traditional treatments like medications, physical therapy, or injections don’t provide lasting relief. If you’ve tried multiple options and still struggle with pain, ketamine infusion therapy may be an option worth exploring.

At Deseret Rock Pain Specialists, we focus on evidence-based, minimally invasive treatments to help patients regain function and quality of life. Ketamine infusions are one of the newer tools we use for select patients with difficult-to-treat pain.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication that has been used safely for decades in anesthesia and emergency medicine. At lower doses, it has unique effects on the nervous system that can help reset how pain signals are processed.

Instead of simply masking pain, ketamine works on pathways involved in something called central sensitization, which is when the nervous system becomes overly sensitive and amplifies pain signals.

How Ketamine Infusions Help with Pain

Many chronic pain conditions involve changes in the brain and spinal cord that make pain persist even after the original injury has healed.

Ketamine helps by:

• Reducing abnormal pain signaling
• Calming overactive nerve pathways
• Potentially improving response to other treatments

Patients often describe it as helping to “turn down the volume” on their pain.

Who Might Benefit from Ketamine Infusions?

Ketamine therapy is not for everyone, but it can be helpful for patients with:

• Nerve-related pain (burning, tingling, shooting pain)
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Chronic low back pain that hasn’t improved with other treatments
• Fibromyalgia (in select cases)
• Pain that has not responded to injections or medications

If you’ve had limited success with treatments like epidural injections or radiofrequency ablation, ketamine may be considered as a next step.

What to Expect During a Ketamine Infusion

Ketamine infusions are performed in a calm, monitored clinical setting.

Here’s what a typical visit looks like:

Before the infusion:

• You’ll check in and have your vital signs taken
• An IV will be placed
• You may receive medication to prevent nausea

During the infusion:

• The medication is delivered slowly over 1–2 hours
• You’ll be monitored closely the entire time
• Many patients feel relaxed, drowsy, or mildly “detached”

After the infusion:

• You’ll rest briefly before going home
• You’ll need someone to drive you
• Some patients notice improvement the same day, while others improve after a series of treatments

Are Ketamine Infusions Safe?

When performed in a monitored medical setting, ketamine infusions are generally well tolerated.

Common side effects include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Temporary changes in perception (a “floating” feeling)
• Mild increases in blood pressure

Serious complications are rare, especially when patients are properly screened and monitored.

How Many Treatments Are Needed?

Most patients start with a series of infusions over 1–2 weeks. Some experience relief after just a few sessions, while others benefit from periodic maintenance treatments.

The goal is not just short-term relief—but longer-lasting improvement in pain and function.

Is Ketamine Covered by Insurance?

In many cases, ketamine infusions for chronic pain are not covered by insurance. However, many patients choose to proceed because of the potential for meaningful relief when other treatments have failed.

Is Ketamine Right for You?

If you’re dealing with chronic pain that hasn’t improved with standard treatments, ketamine infusions may be an option to consider.

At Deseret Rock Pain Specialists, we carefully evaluate each patient to determine if this therapy is appropriate and safe.

Take the Next Step

If you’re interested in learning more about ketamine infusion therapy, we’re here to help. 👉 Contact us: https://deseretrock.com/contact

Or schedule a consultation to see if this treatment could be a good fit for you.