[reluctant@thetable]

I live in a state that apparently has ZERO physicians who perform ketamine infusions. I am a newbie to this disease and really want to get this disease stopped in its tracks. How quickly it's taking hold of me is frightening.

I called throughout the southern half of Wisconsin and spoke to nurses in pain clinics to see if their physicians performed Ketamine infusions. (One nurse at a pain clinic had never heard of ketamine infusions- quickly crossed that one off the list).

However, I was able to find a group who USED to do ketamine infusions. The nurse seemed to indicate they stopped doing them because of difficulties with insurance coverage. Her group is big into the spinal implants and was trying to talk me into one of those. I explained why I didn't want to go this route- thanks to this forum. Told her that treatment only masked the symptoms but did not give remission. She agreed. She was losing patience with me and the call ended when I think she saw I wasn't going to utilize the surgical pumps and implants their group does. She said "You do realize you are talking to the pump and implant area don't you".

My question- My pain anesthesiologist who signed off on my case because there wasn't anything more he could do for me (except refer me to his partner for an SCS implant) is a part of the group that USED to doing ketamine infusions. Has anyone here had to convince a doctor to try (or in this case, resume) ketamine infusions?

I thought if I gathered up information, articles, and links about why ketamine infusions are useful AND if I used the form DeesRSD posted that helped her get coverage, perhaps my PM might talk one of his associates into resuming the treatments.

I am aware of the 3 groups in Chicago that do these infusions but they would be out of network. I can't afford the $6000 deductible for out of network treatment.

Thanks again to catra121 for her information on the most promising treatment for crps including ketamine infusions.

[CRPSjames]

Originally Posted by reluctant@thetable

I live in a state that apparently has ZERO physicians who perform ketamine infusions. I am a newbie to this disease and really want to get this disease stopped in its tracks. How quickly it's taking hold of me is frightening.

I called throughout the southern half of Wisconsin and spoke to nurses in pain clinics to see if their physicians performed Ketamine infusions. (One nurse at a pain clinic had never heard of ketamine infusions- quickly crossed that one off the list).

However, I was able to find a group who USED to do ketamine infusions. The nurse seemed to indicate they stopped doing them because of difficulties with insurance coverage. Her group is big into the spinal implants and was trying to talk me into one of those. I explained why I didn't want to go this route- thanks to this forum. Told her that treatment only masked the symptoms but did not give remission. She agreed. She was losing patience with me and the call ended when I think she saw I wasn't going to utilize the surgical pumps and implants their group does. She said "You do realize you are talking to the pump and implant area don't you".

My question- My pain anesthesiologist who signed off on my case because there wasn't anything more he could do for me (except refer me to his partner for an SCS implant) is a part of the group that USED to doing ketamine infusions. Has anyone here had to convince a doctor to try (or in this case, resume) ketamine infusions?

I thought if I gathered up information, articles, and links about why ketamine infusions are useful AND if I used the form DeesRSD posted that helped her get coverage, perhaps my PM might talk one of his associates into resuming the treatments.

I am aware of the 3 groups in Chicago that do these infusions but they would be out of network. I can't afford the $6000 deductible for out of network treatment.

Thanks again to catra121 for her information on the most promising treatment for crps including ketamine infusions.

I commented on another thread about how impressive your knowledge bas is after such a short time. It is frightening that within such a short period of time after your diagnosis that you were referred for a Spinal Cord Stimulator. It is not often that such a newbe knows that SCS only cover up the pain. I am not surprised because there is so much profit to be made all he way along the Spinal Cord Stimulator industry feeding chain, with little long term positive results for CRPS patients.

Maybe you could try a neighboring state that has a Ketamine program. Even if you could convince a doctor to introduce Ketamine into his/her practice I would caution you about being one of the first to be treated. Unfortunately SCS are quick and easy money, (although some insurance companies are questioning the high complication and failure rate with CRPS patients and being more selective and even denying coverage) Ketamine coverage is much harder to get, which is disappointing because of it's much higher success rate.

You sound like you are already a great advocate for yourself! Certainly much better than I was at your stage of the game. Really very impressive. Good for you!!!!!!!!!!

[catra121]

The cost of ketamine is one of the main reasons I wasn't able to do them early on (I live in the Chicago area and those places would have been out of network for me). If this is something you really want to do then it might be worth traveling farther if you think you can tolerate it to follow up with it.

As for trying to convince the doctors to resume ketamine treatments...I would think it would be unlikely though maybe not impossible. Maybe you could make a deal with the office that IF you can get approval from your insurance company THEN you could do the treatments? That's assuming that's their real concern of course and not just that the SCS is easier and more profitable for them. But it might be worth a shot especially if you like any of the doctors there.

Getting the approval from insurance can be tough though. There is a post on here somewhere that maybe you could search for where someone posted their process and what they submitted so that the insurance company would approve the request. If you could get the doctors on board, then you could work on the insurance company...all while you are doing tDCS so at least you are not losing any time on that front.

It might be easier if you can just find a place that accepts your insurance though that does the infusions already...then all you need to do is work on getting the insurance company to approve them.

I really hope everything works out for you. It's a shame that we all have to work so hard in many cases to get the treatments we need and that often the timely process of getting everything together means precious time lost for treatment. But if you stay focused on getting what YOU need and want in terms of treatment you will get there. Good luck!