Quote:
Originally Posted by LIT LOVE
So, I received a cancer diagnosis and I'm having surgery in a few weeks. Staging isn't done until after. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to receive Ketamine at the time of the surgery or not. Anyone else had to go through this while having active CRPS and willing to relay info? If so and if you'd rather pm or email, that's fine as well. Thanks in advance.
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Hi Little Love,
I'm sorry you have to deal with cancer as well as RSD and all the complications that brings. I agree with the others that when dealing with multiple specialists across different conditions which interact it is important to get them to communicate with each other and ask them to copy each other into letters/report. I haven't been in your situation so I'm not sure how relevant my experience is.... Recently I had my neuro stimulator and battery removed I couldn't have opiod pain relief because I was on low dose naltrexone for RSD so instead my specialist gave me IV ketamine for a few days as an inpatient. I think I had a normal anaesthetic for the procedure. I have had many unavoidable surgeries including an emergency caesarian since having RSD. The only one I had an issue with is a thoracic outlet release surgery (my hand was going blue) where they did damage to the nerve. It spread the RSD to that side however the spread and nerve injury improved a lot with therapy. I remind myself before surgery that the anaesthetic is there to disassociate my brain from my body during surgery so they can do what they need to safely. I think it's important you feel confidence in the anesthetic used. I think having ketamine afterwards would count as another protective measure as your brain is not registering the pain of the surgery. From memory,my RSD specialist said there is a 15 percent risk of spread with each surgery so that is an 85% risk it won't spread with this surgery. I would ask your RSD dr about whether any special measures may help reduce the risk eg nerve block as well as anaesthetic or post surgery ketamine, epidural etc. There are some recommendations for surgery on the RSD sites. Other than post surgery ketamine I've only ever had normal anesthetics. It would be interesting to hear from people who used the RSD guidelines about their experiences.
I hope it all goes well for you and you can feel comfortable with the decisions you make in partnership with your health professionals. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.
Booklover