Ketamine infusion therapy in an elderly patient with complex regional pain syndrome and major depression

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain disorder that severely affects mobility and quality of life. This case report describes an 86-year-old man who has a long-standing history of CRPS-related back and leg pain. Traditional treatments, including opioids and duloxetine, did not improve his symptoms, and due to religious beliefs restricting specific interventions, standard hospital care was limited. Given the severity of his symptoms and the refractory nature of his condition, an intravenous ketamine infusion was recommended to improve pain and comorbid depressive symptoms. Following one treatment, the patient exhibited immediate and substantial improvements in pain intensity, mood, and mobility. This case accentuates the importance of culturally sensitive, patient-centered care and suggests the role of ketamine in treating CRPS when traditional therapies are ineffective.