The next treatment

As some of you know, I have a thing called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

I’ve had this thing for a few decades but only discovered what it was a few years ago.

I’ve had it a long time, but I’m incredibly lucky… it progresses slowly for me.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, yes?

For the next couple of days I’m going to go lay in a bed at the Pain Clinic for six hours a day while nurses stand by and pump one of the strongest anesthetics on the planet into my system in a low, regulated dose.

The good news is I’ll get to say I survived the drug they use to put elephants to sleep. Ketamine in lower dosages is a hard to get street drug. Most insurance providers don’t cover it. Many doctors still don’t know that it’s an option for treating CRPS. All of these factors make actually finding a doctor to administer it more difficult and the wait list really long.

Well someone cancelled, so I got the call that I can jump forward in the line (by months) if I would just drop everything for a couple days. Done!

At my dosage levels I’ll be a bit away from being in a coma, the goal is really to get the ketamine to block some of my NMDA receptors enough to provide relief.

Over 50% of patients experience partial to complete relief for 3-6 months after the first treatment and 1-3 years after a second treatment. In some countries, they use a higher dosage, putting the patient into a coma, resulting in 100% permanent pain relief.

So if I’m one of the lucky few who this will work for I may have a few more of these when my name comes up again or my next international vacation may be a week in a coma while the fam’s at the beach.

If I’m not one of the lucky few… well let’s just be honest and say that would suck.

That would suck.

I know I’ll be emotionally drained like every other treatment I’ve sustained.

I know there is a partial risk of acceleration of the condition.

I know my family will still be here to support me.

I know there’s some amazing things I have yet to write.

I know there’s some amazing changes in our global startup ecosystem I have yet to fully see realized.

I also know that all those amazing things in my life will be that much closer if I am one of the lucky few.

So fingers crossed it works.