Chronic pain after neck surgeries & waiting on a trial for a pain pump

Oh wow... Never in my years of all this pain, and 3 neck surgeries, and pain med's that don't work, or work at first, then get told by my Pain Dr that they are gonna try the Pain Pump on me. I have been thro so very much, with C6,7, and C3,4 fused from the front, and 3 years ago a whole joint taken out from the back with mass fixations removed. Year ago I got teeth pulled out for snap in supported dentures, and ha d6 implants put in. Now to find out every one of the implants are messed up and put in wrong.. Last week, had Oral surgery to have all the implants taken out. Now on another journey with that. So back to the Pain Pump, my Dr will not put me on a trial until my mouth issues have subsided. Boy, I cannot take anymore.. He has me on Morphine Sulfate 90 mg, and it surely does nothing anymore... Sure wish until he finally decides to put me on a trial, he gives me something to relieve some of this. My pain shoots into my head, and down my chest wall, and both arms now. Frontal Systems basically Kill me.... I don't see too many people with this severe neck pain as I, Please write me, if you have had such pain... God know's each and every one of us.... Hugs From Trish... I pray for all of us here.... PS I also raise a scarlet macaw, and may need to rehome him, which breaks my heart.


I have given your post a title.

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 4/25/2019 7:53:09 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Misstrish & welcome to the forum. One thing we understand here is chronic pain issues & the impact it can make on one's life.

So sorry to read about the dental implant situation. Are you scheduled for the removal in the near future? Have you been given any idea how long the recovery will be once they are removed?

I am excited to read that a trial for the implanted pain pump is in your future. Provided the trial is a success, I do hope this works in your favor. Many folks have success with the pumps & find the pain relief to exceed more than oral medications. You will never be pain free but you do have a great chance of better quality of life & that is so important.

Please let us know what you find out. Take care.

My Bad implants were taken out on May 15th, and now I have to wait 2-3 months to re-do them, and I am hoping for Teeth by October. What a long drawn out ordeal.. It surely didn't have to happen to someone at all, esp with someone with such severe neck problems.... Karma will be on the side of that so called dentist that did this to me for sure....

Misstrish, I am sorry to hear how much you are going through. Thanks for the info. I saw my PM person today and did discuss the pain pump but just at an intro level discussion. This is going to sound like a REALLY stupid question but I just don't really get it...Will a pain pump address pain in places other than the back? I have painful, swollen joints from psoriatic arthritis...Will a pain pump provide pain relief for everything (like taking oral medication) or is it specifically to relieve pain in the spine?

Thanks! I know mouth pain is the worst. And that is a long time to suffer.

Misstrish, just a thought, is it possible to go into a denture for the time being, in order to speed up the process of doing the trial for the pump? If the trial is a success have the pump implanted & then carry on with the dental implants? Just a thought. When my first pump was put in, I had to undergo an psych evaluation too, did your dr discuss this with you? I have a friend that is in the process of the dental implants & it is a lengthy process.

Hopefully something will go in your favor & you don't have to wait so long. We have had a couple of past members that had pumps for neck issues & they were quite pleased with their results. Catheter placement depends on whether the patient is being treated for neck or back problems.

@Darla, no a pain pump is a targeted delivery system. It is not for pain all over the body. If a person has both neck & back issues, they have to decide which area is the most problematic that they need relief from. When I had my first pump implanted I chose for my low back pain. We were able to get fair control of my neck issues by doing ablations of the nerve endings in my neck. The pump cannot help alleviate both issues. Perhaps one day they will be able to develop something that will handle both the neck & back.

Susie.. I really cannot figure out what you meant on your post.? Sorry... The implants have nothing to do with a pain pump honey. Like I said, I had Oral surgery to remove the bad implants in my mouth. Now I have to heal from that for the next step. My Pain Dr will decide when he can do the Pain Pump Trial for my cervical neck issues.... although he wants some of my Mouth issues to subside... Yes I know I will have to see a Therapist or phychiatrist first to see if I am mentally stable for this... Are any of Us..?? too funny really...We all try so hard thro this life, we all just want some sort of a happy life, not just existing.. Right... This forum is wonderfull.. you all have become some friends... thank you Hugs from Trish..

MissTrish, my thoughts on possibly dentures was to maybe push up the date on the pain pump situation. I know the recovery with implants can be lengthy. But it seems you & your dr have it figured out. I know of another lady that has denture implants & they were done incorrectly too.

The two key elements of a psych evaluation for are pain pump are; the patient does not have any issues having an implanted device & their expectations of pain relief are reasonable. I did I believe it was called an MMPI for 2 days. The psychiatrist reviewed my answers & then I did a consult with him. It’s nothing to worry over for sure.

Take care.

Hello all.. I haven't been on here for quite awhile... Still waiting on a Neuro stim or pain pump. Our Insurance has denied the neuro, and we have appealed it twice.. Now Insurance wants my Doctor to try another block on my neck issues. Its called the ganglion block.. Well, I do not want this.. I go back to my Dr this coming Friday.. I should have had the trial 3 months ago. I am so upset, and have really gone down hill with depression too./ something has to give for me.../ also, still working on getting my mouth ready for teeth.. I have found a dentist up in Jacksonville, that does permanent teeth, with implants...Life has been real long, after this long hot summer of Florida... I hope by the first of the year, I will have a mouth full of teeth, and a pain pump all done.... I pray each and every one of you here are fighting for a pain free life, as what we all deserve.... Trish loves you all..... I still have my scarlet macaw, but he will be going to a gal, once I get my mouth done, for alittle while... Huge hugs to you all....