Hello Sophie,

I tried ketamine infusions on an outpatient basis for almost 2 years and did a 7 day inpatient infusion in ICU. It did help with allodynia, but the effects did not last long for me. I was getting out patient infusions every other week and the inpatient infusion only lasted 6 weeks and the pain and allodynia came back with a vengeance. I had read in an article in Pain Magazine that Ketamine works for about 25% of people, 50% will need constant boosters and the other 25% will receive no benefit at all. The ketamine began to really effect my liver and over time it became less effective.

I, like you, cannot wear anything on my left foot because of the pain, swelling and alloydynia. I recently went through a trial for the St. Jude's BURST DR Spinal Cord Stimulator. I had ALWAYS been against the whole idea of having an SCS because I also have CRPS in my spine and a fusion at L4-5, L5-S1, but I got a new pain doctor and he talked to me about this brand new technology that was FDA approved in Oct 2016. You cannot feel it at all and uses intermittent “burst” pulses to replicate the human body’s own natural nerve impulse patterns. My trial was great success, as I received over 80% pain relief (with having a torn hip labrum in my CRPS leg). I was able to wear socks and shoes for the first time in ages. I am now awaiting my permanent surgery.

So, if the ketamine does not work for you, there are other options out there to consider. Good luck, God bless and Happy Holidays!