Does anyone know if there is anywhere in the USA that is doing the Coma Treament for RSD? Thank you for your help!!

Hi Dragracechick,

From what I understand the Ketamine Coma Treatment ISN'T available anywhere in the USA, they only do the Coma Treatment in Germany and Mexico and it is only usually given to the people that have really severe RSD.

Dr Schwartzman (sp?) is a doctor in the US and he does send some of his patients with severe RSD to Germany for the coma treatment.

Hope this helps and Welcome to the Forum!!!

Alison

Hi ali, Ali is right, dr. schwartzman, drexel university, you can get his name and number there under faculty and staff, is sending severe cases of RSD to Germany in the past and I belivie now he too is sending them to Mexico. That part I am not certain of. The other doctor referring many people for coma treatment is Dr. Kirkpatrick in Tampa. He has an international website. Good luck.Oh Dr. Kirkpatrick also refers his coma patients to Mexico.

http://rsdfoundation.org/en/Cantu_MD_Consent.htm

Here is a link to information about the ketamine trials being done in Mexico. Btw when I spoke with the German doctor directly a couple of years ago the cost was substantially less to have over there, roughly half of what they charge in Mexico.

MsL

Dr. Schwartzman, drexel college of medicine, philadelphia, pa
Dr. Kirkpatrick, Tampa, Florida. type both their name in google search and their names and numbers come up. Also search this site Key word coma and will find many infomative threads. good luck,cz

The Ketamine induced coma treatment is illegal in the US - the FDA have not approved it. As others have said, Germany and Mexico are he only places where this highly experimental treatment is available. An alternative, FDA permitted, treatment is available in the US using a sub-anaesthetic dose of Ketamine which is given by IV infusion over a period of 5-7 days. From A UK perspective this would still be regarded as experimental although I don't know how it is officially viewed in the US.

I tried a few months ago to get aninitial appointment with Dr Schwartzman - the first appointment was December 2009 so at that time it was approximately an 18 month wait to see him. I have heard as long as 3 years quoted but if you call his office they can give you an up to date idea. Makes our NHS seem not too bad after all!!!

Below is the contact information for Dr. Rohr in Germany, Dr. Schwartzman sends his patients to him in Germany to have the Ketamine Coma treatment.

You can contact him directly and I do not believe that there is such a wait list as is with Dr. Schwartman. Costs are substantially less in Germany compared to the US and Mexico. I'm sorry I do not have the phone number handy. He does speak English but it was better to have my husband communicate with him in Germany directly on my behalf. I have not gone ahead with the Ketamine Coma treatment, but I will if things progress for the worse. Saarbrücken is close to Frankfurt.

Kilinikum Saarbrücken

Dr. med. Hans-Peter Rohr
Klinik für Anästhesie, Intensivmedizin
und Schmerztherapie, Abteilung Spezielle Schmerztherapie
Oberarzt
Winterberg 1
66119 Saarbrücken
Germany

I would be curious as to the costs for Germany. My research showed Germany was almost 2x the cost, and the wait is 1-2 years. Dr Kirkpatrick in Tampa, FL can push patients through the Mexico study pretty quickly, and Dr. Schwartzman keeps referring more and more to Mexico due to the delays in Germany.

The care in Mexico is out of this world, absolutely top notch, and Dr. Cantu is possibly, the nicest, most compassionate, loving and competent Doctor I've ever met in my life. I had heard and read such things about him before, but you can't really understand it until you are under his care. He gets it.

Mexico coma costs approx 32k (for the dr and hospital costs)
plus airfare, hotel, taxis, food for family

50k is a safe number + boosters following that which over 3 months (booster every 2 weeks) will cost you another approx. 10k-25k depending on how you do it.

It's expensive no doubt, but it's a frikken miracle treatment for the vast majority who've gone through it. I've witnessed it personally.


The above link will show you the pre and post coma videos of the patients who've done it.

I'm happy you had such a positive experience with the doctors and treatment in Mexico NSMD. Reading the patient information I have no doubt one would be in good hands. Are you an MD by chance?

Attached is a copy of the Patient info from Germany for those who are interested. Email and telephone numbers are on this document.

The costs according to my direct consultation in Germany in 2006 would be approximately 12,000 euros for the hospital & Dr costs, considering the current rate of exchange that puts the hospital bill just a little over 15,000 US dollars, depends on the exchange rate when you go. I do know from experience that hospital costs in Germany are substantially less less than in the USA as a private patient.

I have a hard time seeing how this would cost 50K even with an additional cost of boosters when retuning home.

MsL

Attached Files

Patient-Info-Ketamine Germany.pdf (68.6 KB, 1126 views)

Interesting MSL, thanks for sharing that document.

The $12k euro quote, is that if you enter the study privately with the german doctors and hospital or if you go through Dr. S.

That is far less expensive than I was originally quoted/told.

As for Mexico:

32k - Dr's/Hospital stay (includes 1 free booster)

Variables:
How many family members are traveling with you. Lets assume 2-4.

Rooms: 100 night x 21 nights on average = 2100-4200 in lodging.
Food: 50-100 day for 2-4 people x 21 days = 1150 - 2100
Airfare: Many RSD patients need to fly first class - our airfare costs totaled 6,500 - for the various family members. At minimum on coach your looking at 1500 up to 6500 or so.
Taxis - Depends - 150-500 *incl airport to and from*

That's approx 45k right there...if you need to stay longer or need additional boosters, etc, costs climb. For us, we were in the mid 50's range for Mexico.

Boosters can range from 300-day to 2500 day.