Fibromyalgia Treatment in Houston: Relief from Widespread Pain and Fatigue

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties often referred to as “fibro fog.” The condition isn’t caused by inflammation or tissue damage. Instead, it involves abnormal pain processing in the central nervous system.

People with fibromyalgia experience a phenomenon called central sensitization, where the nervous system becomes hypersensitive to stimuli. Normal sensations become painful (allodynia), and painful sensations become amplified (hyperalgesia). Your brain essentially “turns up the volume” on pain signals, making you feel pain that others wouldn’t experience from the same stimuli.

The hallmark symptom is widespread pain affecting multiple areas of the body. The pain is often described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist. Beyond pain, fibromyalgia causes profound fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest, sleep disturbances (waking unrefreshed despite sleeping for hours), cognitive difficulties (problems with attention, concentration, and memory), and other symptoms like headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and anxiety.

The experience of fibromyalgia is deeply frustrating. You look healthy to others, so they don’t understand why you can’t do things that seem simple. Medical tests come back normal, leading some doctors to dismiss your symptoms. The unpredictability of flares makes planning difficult. You never know if you’ll have enough energy to get through the day.

Researchers don’t fully understand what causes fibromyalgia, but it often develops after physical trauma, surgery, infection, or significant psychological stress. Some people develop symptoms gradually without a single triggering event. The condition appears to involve changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals.

Risk factors include being female, having a family history of fibromyalgia, having other rheumatic diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, experiencing physical or emotional trauma, and having mood disorders like depression or anxiety. The condition is real, not psychosomatic, though stress and emotions can certainly affect symptom severity.

When someone tries standard fibromyalgia treatments without achieving adequate relief, they may have treatment-resistant fibromyalgia. Traditional treatment typically involves medications (pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran, or amitriptyline), exercise programs (though exercise can initially worsen symptoms), cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep management, and stress reduction techniques.

While these approaches help many people, a significant percentage continues experiencing debilitating symptoms. The FDA-approved medications work for some but cause side effects like weight gain, dizziness, and drowsiness. Exercise helps long-term but can trigger painful flares in the short term. Many patients struggle to find a combination of treatments that provides meaningful relief without intolerable side effects.

The reasons for treatment resistance vary. Some people have particularly severe central sensitization that doesn’t respond to standard approaches. Others have co-occurring conditions like depression or sleep apnea that worsen fibromyalgia symptoms. Some individuals can’t tolerate the side effects of medications at doses needed for symptom control.

The frustration of living with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia can be devastating. Many patients tell us they felt dismissed by doctors who suggested their symptoms were exaggerated or psychological. We want you to know that your struggle is real, and innovative treatments are available that work through entirely different mechanisms than what you’ve tried before.

Your journey toward symptom relief begins with a thorough assessment at no cost. We need to understand your unique experience with fibromyalgia to develop the most effective treatment plan.

During your consultation, we’ll discuss:

• Your fibromyalgia history and what triggered your symptoms
• Current symptom patterns including pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues
• Previous treatments and what worked or didn’t
• How fibromyalgia impacts your daily life and functioning
• Co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders
• Current medications and their effectiveness
• Which innovative treatments might work for your specific situation

There’s no obligation to continue, and everything we discuss remains completely confidential. We understand that fibromyalgia is a complex, misunderstood condition, and we approach these conversations with expertise and empathy.

If you decide to proceed, we’ll develop a comprehensive treatment plan designed specifically for your fibromyalgia symptoms.

Your personalized plan considers:

• Severity and distribution of pain
• Fatigue levels and sleep quality
• Cognitive symptoms (fibro fog)
• Previous treatment responses
• Co-occurring conditions like depression or irritable bowel syndrome
• Your functional goals (work, activities, relationships)
• Whether you need longer infusion protocols for pain
• How to integrate our treatments with existing fibromyalgia management

IMPORTANT: For fibromyalgia treatment, ketamine infusions may last longer (up to 4 hours) compared to standard mental health treatments (40 minutes). This extended duration allows for greater symptom relief. You’ll also need approximately 2 hours of recovery time after longer infusions before leaving our facility.

Some patients benefit most from a series of ketamine infusions for breakthrough symptom relief. Others use our treatments as part of ongoing fibromyalgia management alongside medications, gentle exercise, and other interventions. We tailor the approach to your specific needs and symptom severity.

Every treatment session at Catalyst takes place in a comfortable environment with continuous medical monitoring.

What makes treatment at Catalyst different:

• Extended hours: 5am to 9pm, seven days a week
• Flexible scheduling around your energy levels
• Private treatment rooms with comfortable recliners
• Led by Dr. Ho, anesthesiologist and former pediatrician
• Continuous monitoring throughout treatment
• Understanding of fibromyalgia as a complex
• conditionCompassionate, validating care

Dr. Ho’s expertise as an anesthesiologist means he has extensive experience managing complex pain conditions and administering ketamine safely. Whether you’re receiving ketamine, TMS, Spravato, or stellate ganglion block, our medical team monitors you carefully and adjusts your treatment as needed.

We understand that people with fibromyalgia have good days and bad days. If you need to reschedule due to a flare, we work with you to find a better time.

Typical treatment protocols for fibromyalgia:

• Ketamine: 6-10 infusions (potentially longer duration) over 2-4 weeks initially
• TMS: Daily sessions over 4-6 weeks
• Spravato: Twice weekly initially for co-occurring depression
• Stellate Ganglion Block: 1-3 treatments for autonomic symptoms
• Maintenance: Regular booster treatments to sustain symptom relief

After your initial treatment series, we develop a maintenance plan. Research shows that ketamine’s effects for fibromyalgia may be temporary, but repeated treatments can provide sustained improvement. Many patients need periodic booster infusions every few weeks or months to maintain symptom control.

We’re committed to your long-term fibromyalgia management. Regular follow-up appointments help us monitor your symptoms, adjust treatment as needed, coordinate with your rheumatologist or pain specialist, and ensure you have the best possible quality of life.

We understand that fibromyalgia is a real, complex medical condition. You won’t hear dismissive comments about symptoms being “all in your head” from our team. We approach fibromyalgia with the expertise and validation this condition deserves.

We offer treatment protocols specifically designed for fibromyalgia symptoms. This may include longer ketamine infusions to maximize pain relief and symptom improvement. We understand that fibromyalgia requires different approaches than treating a single condition.

Dr. Ho’s background as an anesthesiologist means he has extensive training in managing complex pain conditions like fibromyalgia. His expertise is particularly valuable for patients who need comprehensive symptom management.

We understand that fibromyalgia causes good days and bad days. Our extended hours (5am to 9pm, seven days a week) and flexible rescheduling policies accommodate the unpredictable nature of fibromyalgia flares.

We work closely with your rheumatologist, pain specialist, and other providers to ensure coordinated care. Our treatments complement traditional fibromyalgia management approaches rather than replacing them.

Many people with fibromyalgia also struggle with depression, anxiety, chronic headaches, or sleep problems. We can address these co-occurring conditions as part of your comprehensive treatment plan, since improving mental health and sleep often helps with fibromyalgia symptoms.