Pain Pump (Intrathecal Pump)

Has anyone out there gone through an implant of a pain pump (intrathecal pump) for pain relief?

I already have a Medtronic neuro-stimulator on the right side for a specific back/leg problem and it is working well...but it doesn't (and can't) offer relieve for the pain in the coccyx/pelvis area.  Both my neurosurgeon and pain management specialist are recommending a Medtronic pain pump as I am on very high and frequent doses of pain medication that are not overcoming the pain problem.  One doc is recommending using either morphine or dilaudid for the pump, the other doc is recommending a mixture of morphine, baclofen, etc. 

So much for the beach bikini! 

Any thoughts, comments, etc. are very much appreciated!

Hi Gramps...so sorry the pump didn't work out for you.  5 years seems like a long time for useage and then removal.  I would be very interested in hearing your experiences...it won't sway me...but I hope it will give me more information.

You are absolutely right about Medtronics...you have to read the very small print for complications.  My doctor gave me an excellent printout of a study done on complications, etc. resulting from pain pumps (non-Medtronic study!) so I would have all the information before making a decision.  Always scary stuff...but so were the last 6 surgeries!  Please let's hear more from you...............but I understand if you are not comfortable in giving out so much information.

My family doesn't understand why I',m even considering the pump.  I get so tired of either faking an "oh, I'm OK - thanks for asking" or telling the truth and when I have a "meltdown".  Do any of you have "meltdowns"....when you reach a point where everything seems like you are on a blaring, spiraling, painfilled merry-go-round that won't stop??

Nina

Dear Gramp, Thanks fo much for your great summyar of your pump experience. I have never heard of "Prialt", but will remember it going forward...it sounds horrible. I'm not surprised about the 5 surgeries for the pump....which is a big concern for me. My pain stimulator was 5 surgeries last year...."all were surprises", to the doctors but in the end had quite an emotional impact on me...not to mention the physical problems over a 4 month period...so much for the original estimate of only missing work about 2 weeks!

What are you doing for pain relief now that the pump has been removed?
Was the insertion of the pain pump a "...last resort" for you?

Nina

Hi Nina,

Yes, when the pump was first put in my pain mgt dr had Morphine put in my pump. Why I don't know, I could not tolerate oral Morphine. It just flat made me feel awful. Unfortunately, he forgot this. I think most people do better with a combination of meds in their pumps overall. For BT pain I have 2mg of Dilaudid, I try very hard to stay away orals meds. Once in awhile if I have really overdone things really bad, then I do have to take one. I probably take more muscle relaxers than anything and I truly think they help better than more pain medication.

I read what horror Gramps went thru with his and thats just tragic. I cannot begin to fathom what he went thru. I am somewhat curious about the dr that implanted it. I feel  like anything else, a person could get a bad pump, or ever a bad stimulator. Mine must really be in there good, because I have taken numerous bad falls and I have not harmed the unit in any way or compromised the catheter. I was oxygen deprived and falling alot, now on oxygen no more falls as long as I stay on oxygen. This has nothing to do with my pump.

I am thinking the pain clinic bills my ins around $600 for my pump refill and they pay either $200/$300. Thats for a 90 day supply. I do not pay for any of these charges except my copay for the office visit. For me I spend less on medication a month, per year with the pump. My meds come already mixed in a kit from a company here in Ft. Worth. There is no measuring or mixing at the drs office. My nurse is exremely cautious on refilling pumps. I don't think she could get things anymore sterile and that is a must. She even wears a mask & disposable gown. She does all the pump re-fills. I am very thankful that I have a nurse that is so professional.

My daughter has a friend that underwent back surgery and never did well after sugery. She has a tremendous amount of low back and leg pain. Its questionable if the dr nicked a nerve during surgery. SHe has the stim implanted and it did nothing for her. Finally, her pain dr asked if she would try the pump and she did. She is doing so much better. Before & after surgery she was going to ER every other evening to get a pain shot. She is no longer doing this. I just pray it continues to work for her because she went thru alot of suffering.

By the way the pumps are implanted high up on the right side. Its above the beltline in the front. They had to change where they were implanting them orginally it was about waistline. Alot of catheters were pulled loose because of people wearing the waist of their pants too tight, tight blue jeans were a real problem too.

I hope you can figure out a way to get you some relief too. Susie

VIEW IMAGEI have a medtronic pain pump 2 years now and it gave me back my life.I work full time. I have had no problems with it at all, and do exactly what PM Dr says who manages it. Only residual issue is burning in left foot but controlled with Neurontin2-3x day. I went through years and years of pain in back. I thank God all has gone well  from listening to others.

 Wow,

I am relieved to have so much info on the pain pumps.I have been really considering it because I cant get any significant relief from my meds. (dilaudid,cymbalta,lyrica and sometimes muscle relaxers). I have had crps for 3 years and have had extensive surgeries,including the spinal cord stimulator that had no relief from and recently had it removed.(it took 10 hours to put in, and 1 hour to take out).

  I feel like I'm running out of options. The next one is to take all the nerves out in that area and hope it dose'nt spred to another area(right foot).They tell me I need a plastic surgeon for this one. I go to Beth Isreal Pain Managment in Boston and trust thier opinions, but so far from all the blocks and screws in my foot none of the procedures seemed to have any real help for me. I am very unsettled about the pain pump and scared of more complications. I just wish a day can go by without having to feel all the guilt,pain and the sence of not beiing involved with my wife and kids activities. I try, but cant keep up their pace.

  I would appreciate any input for the nerve removal info that anyone has had or has heard.

                                 Thank you everyone for sharing

                                                         mike