Patsy's Pain Pump Implant

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Hello Everyone: So many of you have expressed an interest in my pain pump

implant for the brutal pain I had suffered with from Neuropathy.

I will try to answer all of your questions in this post.

In June of this year I had my pain pump implant and it has literally saved my

life! Pain pumps are the last resort for pain treatment. When all other

treatments have failed then you should consider a pain pump implant.

The pain pump is about the size of a hocky puck and is implanted just under the

skin in your side just below the ribcage and your waist. A resivoir holds the

pain meds, usually morphine but I can't take morphine so I have diladuid in

mine. A catheter is tunneled under the skin to your spine and is inserted into

the intrathecal space. The pump drips a very small amount of pain meds over the

spinal cord. It is a constant drip and the Doctor sets the pump on how much to

deliver in a 24 hour period. Because the meds go directly to the spine where the

pain receptors(sp?)are and not through your system doses are in micrograms.

Because doses are so low most side effects are avoided.

Before you have the permanent implant you have a trial. My trial was in Hospital

for 3 days. Each day I was given a shot of diladuid through a temporary catheter

in my spine. My Neurosurgeon started me out on the dose that helped my pain the

most. Some Doctors send you home with a temp. pump for your trial and some just

do one shot. I wanted to be in hospitsl for my trial so I was lucky because that

was how my Neurosurgeon does all his trials.

Because my trial was a success I had my permanent implant about 3 weeks later.

Yippeeeeee Recovery time was short for me although I did have some surgery pain

but it was under control with oral meds. I was restricted from bending,

twisting, lifting and reaching over my head. A reacher/grabber came in very

handy and still does although I am no longer on restrictions. A binder was put

around me to hold the pump in place until it scared in good and to reduce

chances of fluid building up around my pump. Once everything is scared in

restrictions are lifted and the binder was removed. I believe it was 6 weeks.

Now I can do everything I did before my chronic pain set in.

Your Doctor will decide just where to place the catheter so it will do the most

good for your pain.

Now about the risks. Just like with any surgery there are risks involved.

Infection can set in but your Doctor will give you antibotics through your IV. A

spinal leak can occur and they are treated by laying flat and caffiene or a

blood patch to seal the leak. My biggest fear was a spinal leak headache but I

did not have one, not everyone does, but a few do.

Problems can develope with the catheter. It can become twisted or split or in

rare cases become disconnected from the pump. You will know when there is a

problem because your pain will return. The catheter can be replaced. A granuloma

can develope at the tip of the catheter. That is a mass that can form at the tip

of the catheter and the catheter must be removed but this is rare. Your Doctor

will moniter your catheter. You must tell your Doctor of any changes in your

pain pattern.

Overdoses have occured because of human error and these are rare.

When people learn I have a pain pump they say...But arent they dangerous?? NO,

the pain pump is NOT dangerous. Saftey features are built in. Problems can

develope from the surgery just as with any surgery and problems can develope

with the catheter.

The pump will beep when the meds are getting low but you will know when you are

due for a refill from the print out from your pump. A computer chip in the pump

tracks your daily dosage and can tell you to the day the alarm will sound. Your

Doctor uses this print out to let you know when to come in for a refill.

After your permanent implant you may have to go for increases in your pump meds

until you reach your " magic number " that reduces your pain down to a level you

can live with. I am still taking a few oral pain pills for BT pain and flare

ups. I am down to 3 15mg Oxycodone a day now if needed. I am also getting tiny

increases every 2 weeks but I will only need about 5 more and I will be at my

" magic number " .

My pain is so much less than it was. Chronic pain had wrecked my life. Actually

I had NO life. It was a nightmare. Constant pounding, throbbing pain 24/7.

I now have NO pain when sitting or laying down but I still have some when on my

feet. I still have flare ups when the weather changes but now with my pain pump

and 1 oral pain pill I am good to go. I have my life back!!

Here are 2 links for more good information about pain pumps.

eorthopod.com

This link also tells you how a Doctor decides if a pain pump is right for you.

mayfield clinic.com/pe-pump

This is another good site.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask.

Cheers

Patsy W