Ketamine for Chronic Pain

Pain that narrows your life in ways others can't see.

Depression Anxiety PTSD Chronic Pain OCD Addiction Veterans Suicidal Ideation

The Bottom Line — IV Ketamine for Chronic Pain

IV ketamine calms hypersensitized nerve pathways at the source. Clinical evidence supports use in CRPS (13 of 14 studies showed efficacy), fibromyalgia (41.5% responder rate), and neuropathic pain. Tier-based pricing at Music City Ketamine: $475-$1,425 per session depending on protocol intensity, administered by Marla Peterson, CRNA in Franklin, TN.

Is This You?

How Ketamine Helps Chronic Pain

Chronic pain involves a phenomenon called central sensitization — the nervous system becomes hypersensitive, amplifying pain signals even when the original injury has healed. Over time, the brain and spinal cord essentially learn to stay in a heightened pain state, making everything hurt more than it should.

Ketamine blocks NMDA receptors, which are directly involved in the "wind-up" process that maintains central sensitization. It interrupts the pain signaling cascade, reduces neuroinflammation, and can essentially reset the pain processing system.

Central sensitization reset: By targeting NMDA receptors at the core of chronic pain maintenance, ketamine interrupts the amplified pain signaling loop — reducing the nervous system's hypersensitivity and allowing the pain processing system to recalibrate.

For chronic pain, dosing protocols are different from mental health infusions. Longer infusion sessions — 1 to 4 hours — are used to achieve deeper and more sustained NMDA receptor blockade. This extended protocol allows for a more thorough central sensitization reset.

At Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN, Marla Peterson, CRNA — with 20+ years of anesthesia experience — administers every infusion in a private suite with real-time monitoring, adjusting your dose based on your specific pain condition and response.

Chronic Pain Infusion Pricing

1 Hour
$475
2 Hours
$845
3 Hours
$1,100
4 Hours
$1,425

Music City Ketamine provides a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. Financing through Advance Care is also available.

What the Research Shows

13 of 14
studies showed significant pain reduction in CRPS patients receiving IV ketamine
CNS Drugs — Narrative Review, 2025
41.5%
complete responders in fibromyalgia patients after IV ketamine induction
Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy, 2025
5-11 yrs
of complete pain relief reported by some CRPS patients after high-dose protocol
Ketamine for CRPS — Systematic Review, 2023

Ready to explore whether ketamine therapy is right for you?

Schedule a Consultation
Or call (615) 988-4600 · Music City Ketamine, Franklin, TN

What Our Patients Say

★★★★★
"I've had CRPS and fibromyalgia for over eight years. I've tried every medication, every nerve block, every therapy they could think of. After my ketamine infusions with Marla, the constant burning started to quiet down. For the first time in years, I had days where the pain wasn't the first thing I thought about when I woke up."
— Patient, treated for CRPS and fibromyalgia
★★★★★
"Marla understands chronic pain patients in a way most providers don't. She never once made me feel like I was exaggerating or drug-seeking. She listened, she explained the science, and she adjusted my infusion in real time. And Wilma curled up next to me before my session — that kind of comfort matters more than people realize."
— Patient, treated for chronic pain

Frequently Asked Questions

How is ketamine dosing different for chronic pain vs. depression?

Chronic pain protocols use longer infusion sessions — 1 to 4 hours — to achieve the central sensitization reset. Mental health infusions are typically 40-50 minutes. Marla Peterson, CRNA adjusts the protocol based on your specific condition.

Does insurance cover ketamine for chronic pain?

Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN provides a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. Financing through Advance Care is also available.

What chronic pain conditions respond to ketamine?

CRPS, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, chronic migraines, and centralized pain syndromes have all shown positive responses to ketamine therapy in clinical research.

Marla Peterson, CRNA

Marla Peterson, CRNA

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

20+ years of anesthesia experience. Member, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Marla personally administers and monitors every infusion at Music City Ketamine. Read her full bio →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IV ketamine therapy for Chronic Pain at Music City Ketamine.

Does ketamine work for chronic pain?

Yes — clinical evidence supports IV ketamine for several chronic pain conditions. 13 of 14 studies showed efficacy for CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), and 41.5% of fibromyalgia patients respond. It calms central sensitization at the spinal-cord and brain level.

What pain conditions does ketamine treat?

IV ketamine has the strongest evidence for CRPS, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain (diabetic, post-herpetic, post-surgical), chronic regional pain syndrome, and chronic post-surgical pain. Less evidence for purely nociceptive pain like arthritis.

How many ketamine sessions for chronic pain?

Pain protocols are tiered by intensity. Tier 1 (1-hour, $475) for entry-level cases. Tier 2 (2-hour, $845) is most common. Severe pain (CRPS, fibromyalgia) typically uses Tier 3 (3-hour, $1,100) or Tier 4 (4-hour, $1,425) for full central sensitization reset.

Is ketamine for chronic pain an opioid alternative?

Yes. IV ketamine works on NMDA receptors and central sensitization rather than opioid receptors. It does not produce opioid-like dependence and is increasingly used as an opioid-sparing or opioid-replacement strategy for chronic pain patients.

How long does ketamine pain relief last?

Varies widely — from weeks to months per session, depending on condition and individual response. Many chronic pain patients schedule maintenance infusions every 4-12 weeks. Each session aims to extend the relief window.

Your Pain Is Real. And There May Be a Way Forward.

If you've exhausted the usual options and the pain is still running your life, it might be time to try a different approach. Let's talk about whether ketamine therapy at Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN is right for you.

Schedule a Conversation Text (615) 988-4600
Or call (615) 988-4600 · Flexible hours including evenings and weekends