Giving Ketamine a Facelift

I am way a lot bent out of shape at National Geographic Channel’s portrayal of Ketamine in their show, Drugs, Inc: Ketamine … and I’m not the only one.  Unfortunately, it has gotten a bad rap, courtesy of the king-pin drug lords who dole out “Special K” to their eager beaver abusers.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … I hate the side effects of Ketamine but it’s pain relieving properties totally outweigh anything negative.

So … I’m calling on all of you to help me!!  I am writing a letter to Nat Geo requesting that they show both sides of the Ketamine controversy.  In this blog I am including my rough draft of said letter but I need more input … from YOU!!  I know that quite a few of my readers are receiving K treatments of some kind, whether it’s via nerve blocks (like myself) or infusions (like the Penguin), or, and I have only read about them, the overseas Ketamine induced comas.  But if I had more direct human sources to quote, I could make this letter a hella-ton more persuasive.  In my own opinion, Ketamine has become the wonder drug for most RSDers, but we are taking a beating when it comes to public awareness.  Help me quash these rumors that we are falling into the “addict” stereotype for something that really is beneficial to our well-being!!

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To Whom It May Concern;

I would like to begin by telling you how much I enjoy and respect your television and magazine publications.  You have provided me with valuable information and breath-taking photographs over the years and I look forward to learning more from National Geographic for many years to come.  That being said, I am appalled at your portrayal of Ketamine in your show Drugs, Inc: Ketmaine.  Whereas it has sadly become a street drug, that is not it’s only use and it DOES have benefits when used and administered correctly.

I have a nerve disease known as RSP/CRPS (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).  The McGill Pain Index ranks RSD pain as being higher than non-terminal cancer, childbirth and amputation.  I have had this disease for over twenty years and I can honestly tell you that is like a living hell.  To put this into layman’s terms, RSD/CRPS is caused by trauma to a nerve or nerves, usually in a hand or foot.  It can be brought on by a sprain, fracture, and surgical incision; or even something as minute as slamming a finger in a door or stubbing a toe.  It can also happen as the result of another disease, such as shingles.  RSD has been described as a condition characterized by pain that is over and beyond the normal amount of pain that accompanies the initial injury, and when the injured limb has healed, the out of proportion pain is still prominent.  In addition to the pain, other symptoms include, but are not limited to: blood flow deviations that change the color, temperature and/or skin thickness of the affected area; swelling; loss of movement (range of motion), atrophy (disfigurement), dystonia (uncontrollable muscle spasms and shakes) of that same area.  RSD/CRPS is manageable but not controllable, nor is there a cure for the disease.  And it can spread, within an individual’s body, to the other limbs, core, face, and even organs.  RSD/CRPS can also incite numerous other autoimmune diseases.

For myself and many other RSDers like me, including young children, Ketamine has brought us as close to pain-free as we can get without a cure or going into remission.   Why did you not mention these benefits in your program?  You are usually fair in your portrayals of controversial issues but you have really let a number of us chronic pain sufferers down on this one.

I feel that I must clarify for you that, personally, I do despise Ketamine’s side effects.  All of them.  I receive Ketamine nerve blocks twice a year because that is all I can consciously allow myself.  I do not enjoy feeling trapped inside of my head, as if locked in the basement of my own worst nightmare.  I do not take any pleasure from vomiting for hours after I awake from the anesthesia.  I loose one week of my life during my Ketamine recovery while the fuzzy-headedness, waves of nausea, vertigo, and memory lapses  wane.  What makes all of this worth that suffering is the pain relief, limb temperature increase, and return of mobility that I know I will feel immediately.
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Today I saw an article from NPR about the benefits of Ketamine for depression sufferers.  That's a start!!  (and I'll find a way to incorporate some of that info into the letter later today.)

Now I need your help, RSDers, Caregivers, and Normies!!  What are some positive aspects of your dealings with Ketamine?  How have you seen it work in your loved ones?  Do you think that we deserve the label “addict” because of our need for Ketamine?  Please reply in the comments, or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can email me at havefaith_91@yahoo.com.  Help me put an end to this nonsense!!

I have faith that we will be justified in the eyes of the world … eventually.  Until then, speak up!!  Let’s make our collective voices heard!!