If you’ve suffered a severe burn, pain management can be a long and difficult process. In particular, third- and fourth-degree burns can require extensive treatment, which may include surgical intervention, and can leave their victims suffering from chronic pain. If you find you suffer from ongoing pain as a result of a burn, ketamine therapy is one possible treatment that can provide you with long-lasting relief.
Different Types of Burns
A burn is an injury that causes damage to the skin or other organic tissue. Most burns are caused by heat, but they can also occur as a result of electricity, friction, radiation, or cold. The majority of burns are relatively superficial, but in some cases, they can be quite severe. While first-degree burns, which affect only the epidermis, or outer layer of skin, and second-degree burns, which also affect the dermis, or lower layer of skin, are easily treatable, burns that go deeper have more lasting consequences. Third-degree burns affect tissues beneath the dermis and often leave the skin charred, while fourth-degree burns go deeper and affect muscles and bones, leading to numbness in the area and ongoing damage.
Pain Management for Burn Victims
First- and second-degree burns typically heal on their own and require minimum intervention, mostly aimed at easing the symptoms. Topical ointments and over-the-counter pain medication are usually all that’s needed. For third- and fourth-degree burns, though, more serious treatment is usually required. Immediately after suffering the burn, the victim may need intravenous antibiotics and fluids to prevent infection and replace lost fluids. Later, the patient might require skin grafts or other reconstructive surgeries to replace scar tissue and otherwise improve the appearance of the wound.
For patients who have suffered significant burns, ongoing pain is often a fact of life. Chronic pain is typically treated with various medications, ranging from Tylenol to opioids, as well as more intensive interventions such as steroid injections or nerve blocks. Another helpful option is ketamine therapy, an innovative treatment that offers pain relief for up to 11 months. Ketamine therapy is safe and easy and provides proven results.
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