CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Living with a pain condition is a daily battle against a nearly invisible enemy. At Desert Pain Specialists, patients are seen, heard, understood and supported throughout their pain management journey.

The physicians at Desert Pain are dedicated to helping patients find relief from chronic and acute pain conditions using all available resources, including injections, nerve blocks, regenerative medicine, physical therapy, medications and surgery. Although it isn’t possible to get every patient completely out of pain, many experience significant improvement.

For patients with chronic pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments, lidocaine and ketamine infusions offer a promising therapeutic approach. Both are far more effective when administered intravenously. 

“If they’ve tried a lot of things with minimal success and the pain is still interfering with their daily life, this may be an option they’d like to explore,” interventional pain management specialist Dr. Ryan Workman said. 

Studies have shown that lidocaine and ketamine infusions are highly effective in treating a wide variety of pain conditions, including migraines, chronic headache, shingles, spinal cord injury, cancer pain, chronic idiopathic pain, neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia and more. 

Desert Pain has offered therapeutic ketamine and lidocaine infusions for the past two years. A physician such as Workman will meet with the patient before the procedure to discuss what to expect along with risks and benefits.

During the infusion, patients relax in a recliner behind privacy drapes and may listen to calm music or doze off if they wish. Their heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level is monitored continuously by a nurse. 

Perhaps best known as a surgical anesthetic, ketamine has been used in medicine for more than 60 years. It inhibits NMDA receptors, which play a vital role in the perception of pain, effectively blocking pain signals. Ketamine also demonstrates anti-inflammatory qualities in the brain and spinal cord, Workman said. 

At Desert Pain, ketamine is administered over the course of four hours to minimize the probability of side effects. Workman said patients experience gradual pain relief during the infusion, and the results can last up to three months.   

Also a decades-old medicine, lidocaine decreases the sensitivity of pain receptors by blocking sodium channels. Workman said it can lower the risk of hypersensitivity to pain in patients taking opioids long term. Research indicates it also lowers the amount of cytokines in the body, creating an anti-inflammatory effect that may further reduce pain.

Lidocaine is a more affordable option than ketamine and is typically administered in just 30 minutes. Many patients report immediate pain relief, Workman said, adding that the effects of the infusion usually last for one to two months. 

After their first infusion, patients will be given a pain diary to log their pain level and other symptoms (like sleep, daily activities, et cetera) over the next month. After four weeks, they will meet with a Desert Pain physician for a follow-up. Infusions can be done as close as four weeks apart.

As the area’s premier interventional pain management team, Desert Pain practices evidence-based, forward-thinking medicine that integrates the newest available treatments. They address all types of pain conditions, including back pain, neck pain, sciatica, neuropathy, migraines and sports injuries.

Their state-of-the-art facilities in St. George and Cedar City allow them to offer unmatched quality of care for their patients. And with six satellite clinics along Interstate 15 between Beaver and Overton, Nevada, they’re prepared to serve the needs of the area’s growing population. 

For many people, treatments at Desert Pain restore their mobility and significantly enhance their quality of life. Patients can again perform everyday tasks and participate in their favorite activities without pain – be it golfing, playing tennis, hiking or hunting.

“That’s the best reward as a pain physician, where someone is able to do something they love to do and have been unable to do because of their pain,” Workman said.

Call 435-216-7000 or visit the Desert Pain website to schedule an appointment today.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T • 

Resources

• Desert Pain Specialists | Telephone: 435-216-7000 | Email: [email protected] | Website.
• Locations:
  • St. George: 617 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 301.
  • Hurricane: 48 S. 2500 West, Suite 110.
  • Cedar City: 1760 N. Main St.
  • Beaver: 68 N. Main St.
  • Panguitch: 200 N. 400 East.
  • Kanab: 348 N. Highway 89.
  • Mesquite, Nevada: 340 Falcon Ridge Parkway, Suite 600.
  • Overton, Nevada: 475 N. Moapa Valley Blvd.

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