Infusion therapy may be considered for selected chronic pain, neuropathic pain, CRPS, autoimmune-related pain, inflammatory arthritis, and complex pain conditions.
Learn how Dr. Aranguren uses infusion therapy as part of a personalized pain management plan to help reduce symptoms, improve function, and support long-term relief.
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Use the zone tags above to browse dedicated pages for each focus area, including services, providers, and what to expect during treatment.
If you’ve been living with chronic pain, migraines, nerve pain, or severe flare-ups that haven’t responded well to traditional treatments, infusion therapy may be another option worth exploring.
Infusions allow medication to be delivered directly through an IV in a controlled and monitored setting. Depending on the condition, the goal may be to calm inflammation, reduce nerve sensitivity, regulate the nervous system, or help interrupt chronic pain cycles.
Different types of infusions are used for different reasons. Some may help with chronic migraine, neuropathic pain, central sensitization, autoimmune-related symptoms, or severe pain flares that haven’t improved with standard medications alone.
Patients often ask if infusions are a “last resort,” but really they’re just one tool we can use when the nervous system and pain pathways have become stuck in a more amplified state.
My approach is always to understand why the pain is happening while also helping patients feel more functional and comfortable in the short term. Infusions are usually part of a broader treatment plan that may also include medications, rehabilitation, nervous system regulation, physical therapy, or other targeted treatments depending on the patient’s needs.
The goal is not simply temporary symptom suppression, but helping calm the system enough that the body can function and recover more effectively.
If you’re dealing with chronic pain, migraines, nerve symptoms, or persistent flare-ups and feel like you’ve run out of options, infusion therapy may be something worth discussing as part of a more comprehensive care plan.
Infusion therapy is a medically supervised treatment category that delivers medication through an IV or infusion-based approach. In pain and inflammatory care, different infusions may serve different purposes. Some may be considered for selected chronic pain, neuropathic pain, CRPS, or treatment-resistant pain patterns. Others, such as biologic infusions, may be used for certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions.
At Manhattan Pain Medicine, infusion therapy is not approached as a wellness IV service or a one-size-fits-all treatment. It begins with a diagnosis-first evaluation to determine whether an infusion is appropriate, which type may fit the condition, and what monitoring or specialist coordination may be needed.
MPM specialists evaluate infusion therapy by first clarifying the patient’s diagnosis, treatment history, medical risks, current medications, symptoms, and care goals. A patient with autoimmune-related pain may need a very different infusion plan than a patient with neuropathic pain, CRPS, chronic migraine, spine-related pain, or complex chronic pain.
Some patients may require lab review, infection screening, medication clearance, vital sign monitoring, or coordination with rheumatology, neurology, oncology, primary care, or another treating clinician. The goal is to match the infusion type to the diagnosis and safety profile rather than treating infusions as interchangeable.
Infusion therapy is not one treatment. It is a category that may include different medications, protocols, monitoring requirements, risks, and clinical goals. Ketamine therapy may be considered for selected complex pain or treatment-resistant pain patterns. Lidocaine-based infusions may be considered in certain neuropathic pain contexts. Biologic infusions may be used for inflammatory or autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis-related disease, or other immune-mediated conditions when clinically appropriate.
This distinction matters because the benefits and risks are not the same across infusion types. Ketamine can involve sedation, dissociation, mood effects, and blood pressure or heart rate changes. Lidocaine requires cardiac and neurologic safety consideration. Biologics may involve immune suppression, infection risk, infusion reactions, and lab monitoring. At MPM, infusion therapy is integrated into coordinated care, not used as a generic solution for chronic pain or inflammation.
Infusion therapy may intersect with several MPM Zones of Expertise, including Complex Chronic Pain, Autoimmune and Inflammatory pain, Psychology of Pain, Headache, Musculoskeletal issues, and neuropathic pain patterns. In complex chronic pain, certain infusions may be considered when symptoms remain severe despite standard treatments. In autoimmune or inflammatory pain, biologic infusions may be part of immune-directed care when clinically appropriate. In neuropathic pain or CRPS, infusion-based strategies may be considered selectively after careful evaluation.
MPM does not treat all infusions as the same. The team considers diagnosis, prior treatment response, medical risks, specialist involvement, monitoring needs, and whether infusion therapy should be combined with other care, such as medication management, pain psychology, physical rehabilitation, procedures, biologics, or specialist coordination.
Before an infusion, MPM reviews the treatment type, diagnosis, goals, risks, medications, monitoring plan, and any preparation requirements. Depending on the infusion, patients may need lab work, infection screening, medical clearance, medication adjustments, transportation planning, or coordination with another treating clinician. During the visit, medication is delivered through an IV or infusion system while the care team monitors for safety and response.
The experience varies by infusion type. Some patients may require vital sign monitoring, observation after treatment, or specific post-infusion instructions. Potential side effects may include infusion reactions, nausea, dizziness, sedation, mood effects, blood pressure or heart rate changes, allergic reaction, infection risk, or condition-specific adverse effects. Patients should report unusual symptoms promptly. Follow-up helps determine whether the infusion supported the treatment goal or whether the care plan should be adjusted.
I cannot say enough good things about Manhattan Pain Medicine. From the moment I walked in, I felt truly cared for and taken seriously. Dr. Nino Mikaberidze, Director of Rheumatology, is exceptional — knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly thorough. She takes the time to listen, explains every...
The best care I've received as a chronic pain patient. I traveled from out of state to visit Manhattan Pain Medicine because I could not find knowledgeable doctors in my hometown for my hypermobility, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome symptoms and comorbidities. Let me tell you, it was worth every travel e...
I was injured in a bicycle accident over 8 years ago. I’ve suffered throughout the years since my accident with nothing seeming to work. PT, Yoga, lifestyle changes, NOTHNG! I finally made an appointment with Dr Kane and I’m feeling an improvement in my life. I no longer stay up all night in pain, a...
One of the best experiences, if not the best, I have ever had at the doctor’s office. From the front desk to the nurses to the PA assisting the doctor this was a great experience. Dr.Nino actually listened to me and came up with a game plan. Would recommend this practice to as many people as I could...
I have very unique & severe nerve pain from CRPS which has no known specific cure. Dr. Siefferman has a huge tool box, far greater than the other 23 Drs. I have seen. He saved me from jumping off a bridge and continues to help me with both treatments and advice. Dr. S. is in a different league!
After two years of searching and feeling lost and let down, I finally found real help at Manhattan Pain Medicine. With Dr. Siefferman, Adam Rosenberg, Dr. Mikaberidze, and the whole team, I feel heard, supported and understood. Every symptom is being considered and I’m finally getting answers with m...
Why is Dr Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed one of the top pevic Floor specialists - 1- She wants to know a full history of what led the patient to get to this point. 2 - She listens intensley to the patient 3- She does not rush you 4- Extremely skilled at giving pelvic floor injections 5- I thank my luck stars she...
The staff was friendly and helpful. Dr. Siefferman was thoughtful, listened, asked questions and proposed simple safe ways to come to further conclusions regarding my pain and discomfort. The office staff including Dr. Siefferman is responsive even after the initial in-person visit. Very pleased.
Dr. Siefferman is a brilliant provider. While my pain is still a work in progress, Dr Siefferman always gives me options and explains his reasoning behind things. He listens to my feedback and concerns. I never feel rushed; and am grateful he works to meet me where I am. I highly recommend him.
What a great find! They listen to me, I listen to them and the diagnosis is made and a plan developed to develop an approach to treat all of my chronic pain. I wish I could have discovered this type of treatment sooner. This doctor and group give me hope.
Infusion therapy is a medically supervised treatment approach that delivers medication through an IV or infusion-based system. In pain and inflammatory care, infusions may be used for different purposes depending on the diagnosis. Some may be considered for selected chronic pain, neuropathic pain, CRPS, or treatment-resistant pain patterns. Others, such as biologic infusions, may be used for autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. At MPM, infusion therapy is not treated as a wellness IV service or a universal pain treatment.
Infusions used in chronic pain care may include ketamine-based therapy, lidocaine-based infusions, or other medically supervised protocols depending on the condition and patient safety profile. These treatments are not interchangeable. Ketamine may be considered for selected complex or treatment-resistant pain patterns, while lidocaine-based approaches may be considered in certain neuropathic pain contexts. MPM evaluates diagnosis, prior treatment history, medications, cardiovascular and neurologic risk, mental health history, and monitoring needs before determining whether an infusion may be appropriate.
Infusions may help selected neuropathic pain patients, but they are not appropriate for every nerve pain condition. Neuropathic pain can come from small fiber neuropathy, CRPS, nerve injury, spine-related nerve irritation, autoimmune disease, metabolic conditions, or other neurological disorders. Some infusion approaches, such as lidocaine or ketamine-based treatment, have been studied for certain neuropathic pain patterns, but response varies and long-term benefit is not guaranteed. MPM evaluates the diagnosis and safety profile before considering IV pain treatment.
Infusion therapy may be considered for selected patients with complex regional pain syndrome, especially when pain remains severe despite standard care. Ketamine-based infusions have been studied in CRPS and other refractory pain conditions, but results vary and treatment requires careful safety screening and monitoring. Infusions do not cure CRPS and should not replace rehabilitation, medication management, pain psychology, functional restoration, or other coordinated care. MPM evaluates whether infusion therapy fits the patient’s condition, risks, goals, and broader treatment plan.
Infusions may help selected autoimmune or inflammatory conditions when the treatment is directed at the underlying immune or inflammatory process. Biologic infusions may be used in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis-related disease, or other inflammatory conditions when clinically appropriate. These treatments require careful medical oversight, infection screening, medication review, lab monitoring, and specialist coordination. Infusions do not replace diagnosis, rheumatology care, or broader autoimmune disease management.
Biologic infusions are immune-directed medications delivered by IV for certain inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. They are designed to target specific parts of the immune system involved in inflammation. Depending on the diagnosis, biologics may be used for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, or other immune-mediated diseases. They are not general pain medications. Biologic infusion therapy requires medical supervision, infection risk review, monitoring, and coordination with the clinicians managing the inflammatory condition.
Biologic infusions and pain infusions have different goals. Biologic infusions are typically used to treat autoimmune or inflammatory disease activity by targeting immune pathways. Pain-modulating infusions, such as ketamine or lidocaine-based approaches, may be considered for selected neuropathic, CRPS, or treatment-resistant pain patterns. The risks, monitoring, dosing, and follow-up are different. MPM evaluates which category, if any, fits the patient’s diagnosis, medical history, treatment goals, and safety profile.
Ketamine therapy and lidocaine and ketamine infusions may involve different medications, protocols, monitoring needs, and treatment goals. Ketamine can affect pain signaling and may also cause sedation, dissociation, mood effects, nausea, or blood pressure and heart rate changes. Lidocaine-based infusions require careful cardiac and neurologic safety consideration. These treatments are not interchangeable. MPM determines whether either approach may be appropriate based on diagnosis, medical history, medications, risk factors, prior treatment response, and monitoring needs.
MPM begins with diagnosis. The team reviews the patient’s pain condition, inflammatory or autoimmune history, prior treatments, medications, labs when relevant, medical risks, mental health history, cardiovascular and neurologic safety factors, infection risk, and care goals. The question is not whether an infusion is available, but whether a specific infusion type matches the clinical problem and can be delivered safely. MPM may also coordinate with rheumatology, neurology, oncology, primary care, or other clinicians when needed.
Infusion length varies depending on the medication, protocol, monitoring requirements, and patient response. Some infusions may require preparation time, vital sign monitoring, observation during treatment, and post-infusion monitoring before the patient leaves. Other infusions may require lab review or specialist coordination before scheduling. MPM reviews the expected visit length, preparation instructions, and post-infusion requirements based on the specific infusion type being considered.
Infusions can be safe for selected patients when they are medically indicated, properly monitored, and matched to the patient’s health profile. They are not risk-free. Risks may include infusion reactions, allergic reactions, infection risk, blood pressure or heart rate changes, sedation, dizziness, nausea, dissociation or mood effects with ketamine, cardiac or neurologic risks with lidocaine, immune suppression with biologics, medication interactions, and condition-specific side effects. MPM reviews risks, monitoring needs, and alternatives before recommending infusion therapy.
Monitoring depends on the type of infusion. Some patients may need vital sign monitoring, medication review, lab monitoring, infection screening, cardiac or neurologic safety review, post-infusion observation, or coordination with another specialist. Ketamine, lidocaine, and biologic infusions each have different monitoring needs. MPM determines the appropriate safety plan before treatment and may recommend additional clearance or testing if the patient’s medical history raises concern.
Yes, infusion therapy may be combined with other treatments when clinically appropriate. Depending on the diagnosis, this may include medication management, physical rehabilitation, interventional procedures, biologics, pain psychology, headache care, rheumatology care, neurology care, or coordinated specialist treatment. Infusions are rarely the entire care plan. MPM uses them selectively within a broader diagnosis-first approach so treatment remains connected to the patient’s condition, safety profile, and functional goals.
Infusion therapy may need to be avoided or delayed when the diagnosis is unclear, the safety risks outweigh potential benefit, or another evaluation is needed first. Concerns may include unstable medical conditions, infection, medication interactions, uncontrolled blood pressure, certain cardiac or neurologic risks, severe psychiatric instability, immune suppression concerns, pregnancy-related considerations, or condition-specific contraindications. Patients should seek urgent care for trouble breathing, chest pain, severe allergic reaction, fainting, severe confusion, severe sedation, new neurological deficits, fever, signs of infection, severe headache, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, bowel or bladder dysfunction, rapidly worsening weakness, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Before care begins, our team helps patients understand the practical side of treatment, including insurance verification, out-of-network benefits, cost-share estimates, self-pay options, and billing questions. We believe patients should have as much clarity as possible before moving forward.
Infusion therapy is a medically supervised treatment category, not a single treatment. In pain and inflammatory care, infusions may include different medications with different goals, risks, monitoring requirements, and expected outcomes. Some infusions are used to support selected chronic pain or neuropathic pain patterns. Others are used to treat autoimmune or inflammatory disease activity. Some patients search for infusion therapy NYC care after standard treatments have not provided enough relief, while others are referred for a specific infusion type such as ketamine therapy, lidocaine-based infusions, or biologics.
At Manhattan Pain Medicine (MPM), infusions are approached through a diagnosis-first model. The goal is to determine whether an infusion is clinically appropriate, which type may fit the diagnosis, and how it should be coordinated with the rest of the care plan.
Chronic pain can involve many different mechanisms, including nerve irritation, central sensitization, inflammation, spine-related pain, CRPS, small fiber neuropathy, autoimmune disease, headache disorders, and complex overlapping pain patterns. Infusion therapy for chronic pain in Manhattan may be considered when symptoms are persistent, disabling, and not adequately controlled with standard care.
Ketamine and lidocaine infusions for chronic pain may be considered for selected patients, but they are not universal treatments. Ketamine has been studied for certain treatment-resistant and neuropathic pain conditions, including CRPS, but evidence and durability vary. Lidocaine-based infusions have been studied for neuropathic pain and require careful cardiac and neurologic safety assessment. MPM evaluates whether these options fit the patient’s diagnosis, medical risks, and care goals before proceeding.
Autoimmune infusion therapy NYC care is different from pain-modulating infusion therapy. Biologic infusions are immune-directed treatments used for selected inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis-related disease, or other autoimmune conditions when clinically appropriate. These medications are designed to reduce inflammatory activity by targeting specific immune pathways.
Biologic infusions are not general pain relievers. They require diagnosis, medical oversight, infection screening, medication review, lab monitoring, and coordination with clinicians managing the autoimmune or inflammatory condition. Patients with lupus, Sjogren’s, vasculitis, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, inflammatory arthritis, or other systemic conditions may require careful specialist involvement before infusion decisions are made.
The risks and goals of infusion therapy vary by medication. Ketamine therapy may involve sedation, dissociation, mood effects, nausea, dizziness, and blood pressure or heart rate changes. Lidocaine-based infusions may involve cardiac or neurologic risks and require appropriate screening and monitoring. Biologics may increase infection risk, cause infusion reactions, or require ongoing lab and medication review.
Because of these differences, MPM does not combine all infusions under one set of benefits or risks. The team reviews the patient’s medical history, medications, prior treatment response, mental health history, immune status, infection risk, cardiovascular risk, neurologic risk, and functional goals before recommending an infusion pathway.
Before an infusion, patients may need lab work, medical clearance, infection screening, medication adjustments, or coordination with another treating clinician. During the infusion visit, medication is administered through an IV or infusion system while the care team monitors safety and response. Depending on the infusion type, vital signs, sedation level, mood effects, neurologic symptoms, allergic reactions, or post-infusion recovery may be monitored.
After treatment, MPM reviews symptom response, side effects, function, and whether the infusion supported the intended goal. If treatment helps, future infusions may be considered at medically appropriate intervals. If it does not help or creates safety concerns, the care plan may be adjusted.
Infusion therapy may be one part of a broader care plan. Patients with CRPS may also need rehabilitation, pain psychology, medication management, and functional restoration. Patients with autoimmune-related pain may need rheumatology coordination and disease-directed care. Patients with spine-related pain may need imaging review, procedures, physical therapy, or surgical consultation. Patients with headache disorders may need headache-specific treatment planning.
MPM’s role is to keep infusion therapy connected to the diagnosis, not separate from it. Infusions should not delay necessary evaluation, emergency care, or specialist treatment.
Infusion risks may include infusion reactions, allergic reactions, infection risk, blood pressure or heart rate changes, sedation, dizziness, nausea, dissociation or mood effects with ketamine, cardiac or neurologic risks with lidocaine, immune suppression with biologics, medication interactions, and condition-specific adverse effects.
Patients should seek urgent medical care for trouble breathing, chest pain, severe allergic reaction, fainting, severe confusion, severe sedation, new neurological deficits, fever, signs of infection, severe headache, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, bowel or bladder dysfunction, rapidly worsening weakness, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
For selected patients, infusion therapy may be a meaningful option within pain and inflammatory care. MPM’s role is to determine whether the treatment is medically appropriate, which infusion type fits the diagnosis, and how to monitor and coordinate care safely.
