Pain Pumps Anyone

[MakinIT]

I just wanted to know if anyone on the board has used a pain pump or had one installed? I'm going over options with pain doc this week...My reading on that hasn't thrilled me to this point. (infections, pain in your back, other such dilemmas. Let me know what your feeling is. The other option he's looking at is a permanent pain block. But the temp one wasn't rreally that terrific, and it hurt like hell to do it. (I know people have had success, and most people don't suffer anypain, I seem to be lucky and have hyper sensitive nerve receptors!!!):cussing: oh lucky me!!!
wish Icould stop peeingall night. I'm really up and down on this problem, I cut my atarax dosage and I wind up peeing all night. I increase it, I can't stay awake the next day.

Thanks mucho::kiss:
Tracey

[Dixiefireball]

Tracey i have hear some people say they had the t.e.n unit but i'm not sure if that is the same thing or not i'm glad your doctor is going to over things with you to help you out let us know how things go okay hon
sending you hugs and prayers
:pray: :grouphug: Rhonda :kiss:

[ICNDonna]

I know we have at least one person who has a pain pump and is having some success with it. Hopefully, she will see your note and respond.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[MakinIT]

Dixie: It's not a TENS unit. I have one of those. It's ok but doesn't do it for me, cause the pain is too intense. I'm talking about one that's inside your body and is filled with morphine and programmed about 1x /month.

Donna: I hopeyou are right...maybe someone will see it. I did an IC/morphine pump search on google. There was a lot of info but mostly negative stuff from patients who had been on it. (spinal damage, nerve damage, pain pump doesnt'give enough relief, infection...) Of course, I realize folks who are happy don't usually post.

I guess from what I've read the surgery and subsequent care is about $50,000:dizzy: but that doesn't seem right. It's installed with a local..must be partially to pay for the technology...if they are correct or that was just a couple people who got ripped off. AAAGHHH I'm back to being confused...!!! I hate that. :hmm:

Thanks so far...I hope someone sees this who can help me.

T

[ICchell]

Hope someone sees your post with some info soon Im sorry that you are in so much pain.
:grouphug: Michelle

[Babs RN]

Tracey,
Saw your post about the pain pump...I don't have one myself, but one of the the hospitals I worked at in Nashville put them in all the time...they were put in under general anesthesia and they kind of make a pocked like a pacemaker but in your lower abdomen. To control dosing, they use a controller similar to programming pacemakers, and to refill just a small bore needle. I saw some great results...not too many complications. PM me if you want more info.

Hugs,
Barb:kiss:

[MakinIT]

Thanks Barb, for the info.....Like I said, most stuff I've read hasn't been positive, Good to hear a medical person say something good.

I'm going to talk to him tomorrow.

[sue041]

Hello, I am sorry I have not been on here sooner, I have a pain pump implanted since the year 2000. It is wonderful I would not be without it. You can do anything you want there are very few times that I have flares from the IC and when I do I take oral medicine. I go and get my pump filled about every three month give or take a week. My pump is filled with Morphine and Bupivicane, there are thousands and thousands of other drugs that are used in these pumps.
You can go to the Medtronics web site and find out all kinds of information. My pump is from Medtronics they have a list of all my allergies and what type of medication is in my pump. They are there 24/7 and are very nice. I wear a necklace with a emblem on saying I have a implant incase I am in a accident and cannot speak for myself. Please check it out, I have nothing but good things to say about it.
I have tried the ( SCS) Spinal Cord Stimulator and the Interstim but I have too much arthritis in my spine and they could not get the leads down to where they were to go.
If you have questions please send me a pm or if you want I can send you my number. I truly believe in this device.

Good Luck in whatever you decide, before they implant the device like mine they will do a trial in which the wire is on the outside of your body and you stay in the hospital over night to test it out or depending on how far you live from the hospital you may be able to go home.
Take care.
Sue

[MakinIT]

Hmmm almost sounds like how they implant the interstim, which is what my doc wants to do...I'm not so sure because I know it's not approved for pain relief. He is a pain doc and knows his stuff....They don't want me having anymore morphine type stuff because I've been on Narcotics for so long. Do you have any sedating effects from the medication, or have you become accustomed, SUE041? Where do the implant the leads (not the box but where does the medication start out in your body once it leaves the pump?)

"sigh" Been a bad day today. I actually double dosed my pain meds this afternoon because I hurt so damn bad I couldn't take it anymore. I know this is a no-no but I feel much better. :tsk: As they poop around trying to figure out what to do with me, I'm slowly slidding down the hill. At least I see my urologist on Monday...maybe she can help.

Thanks: Tracey

[sue041]

Tracey. Ok you don't have to have Morphine, there are other drugs they can use. These drugs go directly into the nerve that leads to the bladder, I am not zonked out of my head not at all. Listen now you know the pump is implanted in your side (you decide which side you want it in) and the catheter then comes from the pump and goes around your back and hooks on to the nerve that leads into the bladder and the medicine goes into that nerve to keep your bladder from having pain at all. Now when I first had it done I went back say about every two weeks to have it adjusted(the amount of medicine) so I had no pain what so ever. Now when I go now every three months or so they ask what is my pain level and then I tell them they say do you want to go up a little. The doctor or nurse just puts a (hockey puck) type thing over your pump and gets a reading and then programs it up to what the doctor thinks it should be. No I can honestly say this medicine is not going through my blood stream and makes me goofy or sleepy or crazy none at all. Please go to the Medtronics site and check things out or call them they have a 800 number and are always glad to answer your questions.
Now I have heard many stories about the interstim and other devices, that they are not for pain, some are for it and some against it. You must decide what is best for you. But I can swear on a bible that I would not be here today if I did not have the pump. Please check things out do the trial if it is not what you want to feel like go for something else. You be the judge what makes you the most comfortable.
Good Luck,
Sue

[MakinIT]

thanks sue...after I read your prior post I did look it up some more and they said because the drug doesn't have toenter your bloodstream, it is much better. (side effects) Was your perm. implant any time in the hospital...(like, overnight? or was it outpatient.) Sounds like a very good option and I like it better than what they are talking about for me. (The interstim) because pain is a bigger problem for me than the frequency.

Thanks, I appreciate your insights!:D :bow:
Tracey

[peealot]

I am getting a pain pump very soon. I had to take a psycological test before my doctor would even discuss it. They want to make sure that you are not crazy before they agree to put it in. My pain management dr. said he does this with every patient before he will have it put in. I am nervous but excited at the same time to think that maybe finally I may have relief. I have the interstim and have had it for a little over a year. It doesn't work at all and never has. The temporary seemed to help. I don't understand why the permanent doesn't. I am on 50mg of fentynol in a patch. I change it every 3 days. It doesn't even touch my pain. I would like it if someone who has this pump would call me at your convience to tell me more about it. I live in Montgomery, AL. My phone number is 334-613-6890. I should be getting set up for this surgery within a month. Thanks for listening.:kiss:

Kristi Dickens

[MARK0325]

http://boards.webmd.com

chronic pain board has some answers there for you.i have one and have trouble with my teeth,prostrate,and bladder now but the pain is better.

[sue041]

Hi Mark, I just sent a message to the webmd. Yes the pain is much better now I would not get rid of my pump for anything. It will be six years on the 22nd of February for me to have the pain pump. I have other problems too, but it is not from the pain pump it is just other problems that came along from other things getting old in my body. Yea what is it about the teeth, my teeth are giving me problems, but that just happened lately, My doctor said he woud rather bump up the pump than me keep taking so many pain medicine. I am not the least bit sorry I got one. Nothing and I mean nothing else helped me like the pump did. I am having problems holding my urine, but that is another matter, OLD Age. Ok here is my email address if you want to send me a private message.
meemee@nmax.net
Take care, I will keep you in my prayers.
Sue, for Pennsylvania.