I hope to cut back on a lot of meds once I have my surgery. My doctor told me that even having the pain pump is not a cure- all but they hope that it will work better than all that I've done to manage chronic back pain and nerve pain. I've tried meds, PT, ESI's, tens unit, 2 surgeries, and a stim trial in the past, as well as ice packs, heat, massage, etc. I was also told that I will still need to take oral pain medications even after having the pump implanted. How much will I still be on? It's hard to say but at least I know that they are prepared to help me function better.

From what I know, a pain pump won't be offered unless you've already tried an SCS and it didn't work out for you. It is considered a last resort measure and there is a lot of commitment and risk involved. They say that once you have one put in that you're "married" to the doctor who installed it. I was offered the biggest size which holds 40cc of medication and this should cut down the number of refill visits.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and I'll try my best to help you. Take care

I read somewhere that a pain pump has to be refilled every 6 weeks..I guess it depends on how much you use it. If the pump is implanted, how do they do the refills? I know they inject it in, but I still don't understand how this is done. I hope you're able to eliminate taking oral meds...or at least cut down on them considerably.

The number of refill appts will be more frequent initially because they have to increase the dose until you reach a level that you're comfortable with and can tolerate. I also heard that you will go for an appt around a couple of weeks after the pump is implanted in order that the doctor can do some adjustments. After that it may be another 6 weeks, and then over time you will go in 4-6 times a year if everything is going right. It all depends on what's going on with you. A nurse will inject the medication into a portal on the pump. No, they don't play darts with you They are specially trained to do this so don't worry. There is great info on the Medtronic website and it can explain things better than I can

That doesn't sound bad at all...I would be more than willing to see my dr 4 or 6 times a year if this would work for me.

Hi lynn, i am also alergic to morphine, if they install a pain pump for you what type of medication would you have them give you? Lynn is the sacrum area the bottom of your bottom, i cant sit for long period of times because it irrates my right side and right leg. thank you.

There is a medication that is used for those allergic to morphine...not sure, but I think it's called dilaudid. My dr hasn't discussed having a pain pump implanted yet and don't know if it would help my pain or not. The sacrum is the very bottom of the spine, with the coccyx (tailbone) being right below it. Not being able to sit is really bad. I sit only long enough to do some work on my computer and then I use a special cushion. I have to get up every so many minutes and stand for awhile because the pain keeps increasing if I sit too long...it becomes unbearable.

I am going to have the pain pump implant and will talk to my pain Doctor about it again when I see hem next month. After my SCS implant he wanted me to have the pump implant but I did not think I wanted my spine messed with again but need to do something for my pain. Oral meds are not helping much.
I also have problems with Morphine but because it goes directly into your spine it takes much less medicine to treat your pain reduceing the usual side effects you get from oral meds. It does not have to go through your system and that too will reduce the side effects.
Morphine dries my mouth out so bad even my tongue feels lke a slab of wood and I itch like crazy!! I hope I do not have these problems with the pain pump.

Lynn and Teri ...I do hope you both find some relief.
I hope we all find relief.
Hugssss all around...
Patsy W

Pasty,

I thought you were vastly improving? Your still going in for the pain pump? Did things go south again. I hope not. Hows the shoulder?

Michael

Really!!! I was told the scs was a last resort???? Go figure!

I believe they also use fentynal in pain pumps for those, like me, who are allergic to morphine. I think the pain pump just may be the "last resort", so to speak, for pain relief. I've done a little research on this and, from what I understand, it is done similar to the scs, whereas you go through a trial first, and if you have relief from your pain, you go in for the permanent implantation.

I too was told by my Dr. that the pain pump was the last resort. However he also shared with me that part of that is due to regulations placed on Dr's. by the FDA, and the Dr'. having to "proof" that the pump is warranted.

Beth, that is correct- there are certain criteria you have to meet in order to have a pain pump implanted. You have to have exhausted all other measures such as oral meds, spinal injections, PT, surgeries, and probably a stim trial. I saying this from what I've researched and also from what my doctors have said.

Lynn, I read they can use either morphine, fentanyl, dilaudid, a newer medication called Prialt, and there are baclofen pumps for people who have severe spasticity from conditions such as MS.

Patsy, what are they going to do with the SCS if you qualify to have the pump surgery? I know there are patients who use both stim and pump to manage their pain, although it's not really common. Have you had a trial yet?

You don't have to have had the scs trial before they will do a pump implant. Both are considered to be "last resort" pain management options. For those who don't want or who may not have neuropathic pain, the pain pump is the option for pain management when oral meds are either too high a dosage or when your doctors believe that you will get better pain relief from an intrathecal dose, rather than oral pain meds. With the pain pump, the medications used are given in micrograms rather than milligrams because so much less is needed to give good pain relief because it is directly given into the intrathecal space.
I have never had the scs and won't, and am considering having the pain pump trial instead, which my PM doctor suggested.

I have not had a trial yet....only considering it. My pain Doc reccomended one but I did not think I wanted my spine messed with again.
If I could get a Doctor to work with me on my pain management I would rather use oral meds. My PC Doctor refuses to work with me....he says he is not qualified to treat chronic pain and my pain Doc says he will not take over anyones pain management who is on anything stronger that say Lortab or something along that line!!
It is so flusterating for me. I am between a rock and a hard place.
Doctors here in this small town where I live are few and far between and driving 50 miles to see a Doctor when I need one is not an option for me.
Patsy W