How Manual Therapies and Ketamine Can Help with Touch Aversion in CRPS, Fibromyalgia, and Other Pain Conditions

Manual therapies can be used to manage touch aversion in conditions like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia. We'll also discuss the exciting role that ketamine can play in bridging the gap to touch tolerance.

Touch aversion is a heightened sensitivity to touch that can make even the lightest contact feel painful. This symptom is common in several chronic pain conditions, including:

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): A chronic pain condition that usually affects a limb after an injury, characterized by severe pain, swelling, and changes in the skin.

Fibromyalgia: A disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.

Other Chronic Pain Conditions: Conditions like neuropathy, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome can also lead to touch sensitivity.

For individuals with touch aversion, the idea of manual therapy or massage can be daunting. However, gentle, skilled manual therapies can actually play a crucial role in managing pain and improving quality of life. Manual therapies include various techniques that involve manipulating the body’s soft tissues. These therapies can help in several ways:

Pain Relief: Techniques like myofascial release, gentle massage, and lymphatic drainage can reduce pain by relieving muscle tension and improving blood flow.

Desensitization: Gradually introducing touch through manual therapy can help desensitize the nervous system, making it less reactive to contact over time.

Relaxation: These therapies promote relaxation, which can help reduce overall stress and pain levels.

Ketamine, traditionally used as an anesthetic, has shown promise in managing chronic pain conditions. Its use in a controlled, therapeutic setting can provide significant benefits for individuals with touch aversion. Ketamine can significantly reduce pain, making the prospect of manual therapy more tolerable. Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, helping the brain rewire itself to respond differently to pain and touch. Unlike many traditional pain and medications, ketamine can provide rapid relief, which can be crucial for those in severe pain.

At Unwind Oakland, we use a collaborative and integrative approach to help our clients manage touch aversion and chronic pain conditions. We start with a thorough assessment to understand each client’s unique condition, pain levels, and sensitivity to touch. During the ketamine-induced neuroplastic window, we introduce gentle manual therapies to help desensitize the body to touch. We provide continuous support and adjustments to the treatment plan in collaboration with prescribers and other practitioners based on the client’s progress and feedback.

Our goal is to offer a holistic and compassionate approach that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of chronic pain. By combining ketamine therapy with manual therapies, we aim to help our clients regain touch tolerance and improve their overall quality of life.

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References

Schwartzman, R. J., & Erwin, K. L. (2000). Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS): Mechanism and management. *Pain Management, 1*(1), 1-9.

Clauw, D. J. (2014). Fibromyalgia: A clinical review. *JAMA, 311*(15), 1547-1555.

Dore, J., Turnipseed, B., Dwyer, S., Turnipseed, A., Andries, J., Ascani, G., ... & Woolley, J. (2019). Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression: A clinical trial. *Journal of Affective Disorders, 263*, 107-114.