pain pump ?? I just want my pain under control...Is that too much to ask

I have a question about the pain pump. I don't have one, but it's a possibliity considering all the problems I have.

I have been on pretty much every pain med out there, and nothing has worked to make my pain tolerable. I have been on narcotics now for 5 continuous years. UGH!! I hate having to take anything at all, but at the same time, I so badly want my pain under control. I have seriously high BP, last week at the ER it was 185/119, or 125, I can't remember exactly. Wow, I know.

I also have major depression from all my medical problems, surgeries, procedures, etc...

I see a pain management doctor tomorrow, the same one my husband sees. He is very good with what he does, I hear.

He deals with stimulators and pumps.

How does medication through a pump differ from medication taken by mouth or even IV?? Do you feel the same woozy feeling like the IV med's? I hope not.

I want to be as informed as I can for my appointment tomorrow. Right now I'm on hydrocodone 10/660 and MS contin, but I ran out of the ms contin today, and I'm REALLY not doing well.

Tomorrow can't come soon enough.

thanks in advance for your answers.

Hi Southview I have a pump and no you do not have the woozy feeling like from a shot or the IV. I drive a car and do it without fear of having an accident. I have a 5 yr old grandson that I sometimes pick up from school or go get him to bring him to my home. There is no way I would get behind the wheel of a vehicle with him in it if for one moment I thought I may be slightly impaired.

Most of the time we actually end up on less medication with a pump that we took orally because the drugs used in the pump are in concentrated form. There are different meds that can used in the pump, I have 4 different meds in my pump, Dilaudid is my pain reliever. I ended up with a pump because we ran out pain med to try me on, either I had an allergic reaction or the side effects were not tolerable. My pump is made by Medtronics, however, I recently learned Codman has a pump that does not have to be replaced ever. There is no battery to have to deal with and I am going to want to have this one if possible when my battery dies in my current pump. I probably have 2 years left with it. Although I love the pump it does come with its own set of problems and drawbacks. I love not being a clock watcher and I am saving my liver. I still have pain and yes you still BT meds even with a pump when needed but its more tolerable and I have better quality life. Pumps are sort of last resort when the meds gambit has been ran and they are no longer effective and quality of life is in the toilet.

The most important thing with a pump is having a dr that is educated in handling a pump patient and he/she knows all about the medications that can be used in a pump. They need to know about the meds as much as a pharmacist does. Without these two elements the pump will not be successful. The other problem is once you have a pump implanted another PM dr most likely will not touch you and take you on as a patient. This is something the drs never tell potential pump patients. I do not know if its a liability issue or what but it is very difficult getting another dr to take over your care. If your dr refers you to someone to take over the care thats fine but to strike out on your own really, really hard. Not just any PM dr can handle a pump patient. I have a neurosurgeon that takes care of my pump and the refills.

If you will do a search here at the forum you will find lots of info here on pumps and a lot of it is from me. If you have questions I will try to answer them if I can.

Good luck.

Susie