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Posted 7/20/2014 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
        i started with a ms specialist at the begining of the year. she is sending me for a test run for intrathecal baclafen. my dr will inject my baclafen into the intrathecal space.(think epidural)

after the injection a physical therapist will monitor my reaction to the procedure for the next 4 hours. 

      if there is signicant improvement, the dr will schedule surgery to place a pump in my low right abdomin, with a picc line and catheter that is placed in the lower spinal canal. 

      The procedure has been very successful for many, however it has its downside.  the technique can leave you too loose.  it can take a few months to get the dose right.

barry

Posted 7/20/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry,

Seems like you have all the risks and info. I hope this helps. I have taken oral baclofen and you described it perfectly! If you take too much then loose and unstable.

Please keep us posted. I am hoping to hear that this helps you. Best of luck!!!
Posted 7/21/2014 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
my ms specialist is taking a proactive approach. she feels that waiting too long will not help my mobility, it will just become a comfort tool. she wants to try now, while i am still strong enough. she wants to place the catheter low enough, to impact my legs more.

she is also using mri to check my spinal discs, and arthritis level. she found 4 bulging cervical discs,and an alarming amount of arthritis. i will have a consult with a spinal surgeon next month.

i will let you know wednesday on the baclafen test. kind of excited, for a change.
barry
Posted 7/22/2014 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'll be sending good thoughts! Your doctor sounds fantastic!!! I'll be looking for a post on how things went.
Posted 7/22/2014 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry, I am from the chronic pain forum & have a pump. I have pain meds in mine for back issues. I do know that Baclofen is very effective in pumps. I imagine if your trial is a success, then after the surgery to implant the pump, the dr will start with a low dose & then increase the dose to get it where the dose needs to be. My first pump was implanted in 2005, the battery finally died last year & they had to implant a new one. My PM dr is considering adding Bacofen to my pump for reasons stated above. I have been on Bacofen several years. Good luck with your trial.
Posted 7/25/2014 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
      hi everyone,  my itb pump test went ok.  a pt checked my range of motion on all my moving joints be fore the test.  one hour after the injection the pt did the same. she said i had a good improvement, every where. then they got me on my feet and walked a bit. i thought the improvement was moderately good.

      so my ms specialist, and pt will talk next week, and try to get the surgery approved. 8 hours after the test, my legs became useless. my legs crumbled under my weight. the dr who did the injection had to poke me twice. the lowest lumbar joint was too tight, and required more pressure than the doc wanted to apply. so he went to s-1 and got in easy. he said that there was blood at the 1st inj site. the next day the dr did a mri and said there was a hematoma. my right leg came back to full use yesterday, and today my left leg is starting to respond. that was a scary 2 days. so all is cool for now.

barry

Posted 7/26/2014 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Wow. That sounds scary! I'm glad everything has returned to your normal. Thanks for keeping us posted!
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