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I have chronic back pain for 2 + years. We have tried everything with no success. My Dr is now s

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Posted 2/17/2022 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have chronic back pain for 2+ years. I have spinal stenosis, herniated disc and bone spurs. We have tried everything. My Dr is now suggesting I get a pain pump. I am a person that hates taking pain meds as it is. Now they want me to be on them for the rest if my life. It sounds scary to me. Does anyone have any information for me good or bad?
Posted 2/18/2022 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Marylandgirl, have you had surgery, or consulted with a neurosurgeon for your back issues?

Pain pumps can be an excellent tool to help get the pain at a more tolerable level. The delivery method of the medication goes directly to the source of pain, unlike oral medications. With oral medications you are chasing the pain until the next dose. With a pain pump it is a very small amount of continuous medication, less than what people take orally on a daily basis.

The pumps are for people that are going to have long term chronic pain that will not improve. In time, most patients require increases with their oral pain medications. Due to the restrictions in what a dr can or cannot prescribe, pain pumps use less.

A trial has to be done to see if a person is a candidate for a pump. A psychiatric evaluation is also required, it's to determine if a person has a realistic view of what a pump can or cannot do, can the person live with the idea of an implanted device & is the person suitable in other ways for one.

Two good places to read about the pain pumps are, Medtronics.com & TameThePain.com.

Remember, ultimately it is your decision, no dr will force you to have a pain pump implanted.
Posted 2/22/2022 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Straydog, I have gone to physical therapy, chiropractor and have received furious injections and burning the nerves with no success. In July of this year I had a trial for a medtronic spinal chord stimulator, best 5 days of my life in years. In September I had a neurosurgeon impact the stimulator. He told me that I had to much scar tissue to place the stimulator where he wanted it. He had to go higher, after meeting with several reps from medtronics and trying many various programs, we just couldn't get it to help even a little. Then in January they did a trial with what they called lead wires. (Disconnect the paddle and run wires from battery to painful area). Did not work as well but did get some relief so on February 14th I went for surgery to implant the wires. The Dr opened my back but said he had to abort the surgery, to much scar tissue to implant wires. Imagine my disappointment and aggravation when I woke up and was told it didn't happen. Now they are talking about doing a trial for a pain pump. I really hate the idea of being on pain meds the rest of my life. Just don't know what to do. Any information I can get will be greatly appreciated.
Posted 2/22/2022 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to read about the problem with the stimulator. Most chronic pain people do not want to have to take pain medication long term. You've done prior treatment like most of us that ended up going the pain pump route. It comes down to quality of life. With a pump it's a different delivery system & less medication.

If you don't want to do a trial or have a pain pump implanted, now is the time to speak up with your drs. You seem to be against it & I can't imagine agreeing to doing the trial.

Keep us posted.
Posted 2/22/2022 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm honestly not sure if I'm against it or for it. I need relief. I just want to have as much information as possible before deciding. I'm definitely not going to let anyone talk me into it if I don't want it. Just trying to be as informed as I possibly can.
Posted 8/29/2022 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Just my two cents
I've been on just about every pain medication from codeine to morphine and even methadone.
They all worked great! For a while..then I'd build tolarence. My body just needed more and more. The day before I entered a clinical trial for buprenorphine for pain patients, I was going into withdrawals two hours after my last dose. Scary as heck.
Anyway the trial worked. Buprenorphine helped my pain and since it's so long lasting, my tolerance is much much slower.
I also don't feel drugged up at all.
Just a FYI to at least ask about buprenorphine for pain..they have low dose patches or sublingual tablet in 2mg which may be a little high to start with seeing how you must be opiate naive.
Pretty much saved my life.

Glen
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