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Cluster headaches are recognized as one of the most excruciating and disruptive headache conditions known to medicine. The pain is typically described as stabbing, searing, or drilling in nature—often focused behind or around one eye—and can come on suddenly with devastating intensity. These attacks follow cyclical patterns, occurring in daily bouts over weeks or months, followed by periods of remission.
In addition to the hallmark pain, cluster headaches are commonly accompanied by symptoms such as eye redness, tearing, nasal congestion, forehead sweating, facial flushing, and intense restlessness or agitation during attacks. For those affected, the condition can be debilitating and isolating.
At Tennessee Ketamine & Wellness Center in Franklin, TN, we understand the toll cluster headaches take—not just physically, but emotionally and socially. When traditional treatments like oxygen therapy, corticosteroids, nerve blocks, or triptans provide only partial or temporary relief, ketamine therapy offers a compelling alternative. Our IV ketamine infusions are designed to address the underlying neurological dysfunction that drives cluster headache cycles, with the goal of not just relieving symptoms but reducing recurrence over time.
The exact cause of cluster headaches is complex, involving irregular activity in the trigeminovascular system and hypothalamic dysfunction. These areas regulate pain perception, circadian rhythms, and vascular responses. In individuals with cluster headaches, this system becomes hypersensitive and prone to triggering severe, recurring pain episodes.
Ketamine helps by acting as a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. These receptors facilitate excitatory neurotransmission, particularly through glutamate—an important but often overstimulated chemical in chronic pain disorders. By blocking NMDA receptors, ketamine reduces this hyperactivity, effectively calming the central nervous system and interfering with the biochemical processes that perpetuate pain.
This intervention may result in reduced pain intensity, shortened duration of each attack, and, over time, fewer episodes within a cluster period. Patients treated at our Franklin clinic often report not just immediate relief after their infusion sessions but also longer-term improvements in the frequency and predictability of their headache cycles.
Ketamine offers a non-habit-forming treatment that doesn’t carry the same dependency risks as opioids or some migraine medications. This makes it a safer option for long-term symptom management.
Cluster headaches can escalate from zero to unbearable in minutes. Ketamine’s fast-acting properties allow it to begin easing symptoms quickly—sometimes after just a few initial infusions.
Unlike conventional therapies that mainly suppress symptoms, ketamine may help “reset” overactive neural pathways, reducing the frequency and severity of recurring headache cycles in the long term.
Each ketamine infusion plan at our Franklin clinic is customized. We take into account the duration, frequency, and severity of your attacks, as well as your medical history, to determine the ideal infusion schedule, dosage, and follow-up protocol.
Infusions take place in private treatment rooms designed for your comfort and well-being. Our licensed medical professionals remain by your side throughout your infusion to monitor vitals and ensure that your experience is as smooth and safe as possible.
If you’re living with cluster headaches, you know how profoundly they can impact your work, your relationships, and your overall quality of life.
Many patients come to us after trying a wide variety of treatments—only to find that the cycles keep returning, often stronger and more frequent than before. Ketamine offers something different: a neurologically targeted therapy that may not only relieve individual attacks but intervene in the pattern itself.
Our approach at Tennessee Ketamine & Wellness Center is built around both innovation and empathy. We treat each patient as a whole person—not just a diagnosis—so you receive care that’s personalized, evidence-informed, and focused on sustainable improvement.
If cluster headaches have taken over your days—or your nights—and you’re searching for a treatment that looks beyond masking symptoms, ketamine therapy may be a transformative option.
We invite you to reach out and learn more about how IV ketamine infusions at our Franklin, TN clinic can offer hope, healing, and meaningful relief from one of the most challenging pain disorders.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
Let’s work together to help you regain control and experience life beyond the pain.
Conditions Treated
1909 Mallory Lane, Suite 300, Franklin, TN 37067
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RN & Clinical Manager
Trina Haag is a highly experienced and compassionate Registered Nurse with over 15 years of expertise in patient care and advocacy. Her diverse background includes roles as a Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist, and Registered Nurse specializing in ICU and perioperative care. In addition to her clinical skills, Trina has successfully managed medical offices, where she excelled in delivering exceptional customer service and personalized patient care.
Trina’s commitment to patient advocacy is evident through her involvement with the National Patient Advocacy Foundation, where she passionately supports patient rights and quality healthcare. Her dedication to individualized care ensures that every patient at TNKWC receives the highest level of compassionate and personalized treatment.
Outside of her professional life, Trina values time spent with her family, including her loving husband, her daughter who brings joy to her days, and their loyal furry friend.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][us_image image=”568″ style=”shadow-2″][us_separator][us_btn label=”Schedule A Consultation” link=”url:%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact” width_type=”1″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Rachel Rome is a board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist with a deep expertise in regenerative medicine and palliative care. Her commitment to individualized patient care, innovative treatment approaches, and her prioritization of utilizing a holistic approach has made her a respected figure in the medical community.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Witnessing the transformative impact of ketamine on patients suffering from depression and chronic pain, Dr. Rome pursued advanced training in ketamine administration. In November 2021, she founded Mindful Infusions of TN, a concierge ketamine and wellness clinic, where she served as Medical Director. In addition, she has had the privilege of serving the local community at several clinics including David Price Regenerative Medical Center, LifeLinc Pain, and Empatia Palliative Care.
Dr. Rome earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Christian Brothers University and her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. She completed her residency in anesthesiology and a fellowship in pain management at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She is an active member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][us_image image=”599″ style=”shadow-2″][us_separator][us_btn label=”Schedule A Consultation” link=”url:%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact” width_type=”1″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Malchow served as an anesthesiologist for 25 years in the armed forces before retiring as a colonel in 2008. He then became an associate professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where he was the first Vanderbilt physician to offer intensive ketamine infusion therapy in 2014. In 2015, he established one of the few ketamine infusion centers (KIC) in the Veteran Health Administration and the only KIC in the U.S. specifically targeting opioid cessation/reduction.
He is an acknowledged U.S. expert on ketamine administration, having presented his extensive experience with ketamine in the veteran population at the American Society of Ketamine Physicians in 2018 and has given multiple lectures regarding the use of ketamine to national audiences in 2021. Dr. Malchow has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and serves regularly on worldwide medical missions supporting those in need.
Dr. Malchow is honored to serve as the Medical Director for the Tennessee Ketamine & Wellness Center to provide compassionate and competent care for those suffering from depression, PTSD, OCD, chronic pain, and opioid dependence.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][us_image image=”162″ style=”shadow-2″][us_separator][us_btn label=”Dr. Malchow’s Full CV” link=”url:%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F06%2F03-2021-Malchow-CV.pdf|target:_blank” width_type=”full” icon=”fas|file-alt”][us_btn label=”Schedule A Consultation” link=”url:%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact” width_type=”1″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]