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Pain pump, I have one, how about one for you?
I have had an implanted pain pump in my abdomen for about 18 months. It is a miracle. I get a total of 4.764 mgs. of Dilaudid, If I administer all of the 10 extra micro does I can have in 24 hours. If I don't use those extra doses I get 2.74 mgs. over 24 hours. The effect is 300 times more effective than if I took the same dose orally. I go to my doctors office every 3 months to have the pump refilled. I'm there for about 15 minutes. The actual process of refilling the pump takes no more than 5 minutes and is painless. No prescriptions to worry about, no one wondering if I'm misusing or selling my pain meds, no one making me feel like a drug addict or a criminal. In our current climate this is even more important than it was two years ago. Many Doctors want nothing to do with pain patients or writing scripts for pain meds. I know many of you have been there. This method is especially good for back issues as the drug is delivered via a catheter which runs up my spin. Yes, I still have pain but it's pain I can live with. If your Doctor doesn't know about this or doesn't want to do it contact a pain clinic. The Doctor who put mine in is a Neurosurgeon. If you have any questions please respond.
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There were no restrictions on sleeping position as I recall. Do a search online. After two weeks the stiches should be fairly well set. A month seems like a long period of time.
Did you have the trial first? I had direct injection into the intrathcal space. The firat was morphine, which didn't work. The second injection, about three weeks later, used hydromorphone, brought my pain down to about a two. I wish I could have had the wearable, temporary pump for a few days. Since the permanent implant, I have not had any noticeable pain relief in one year.
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1 ReactionI'm still healing, mainly inside, it is still sensitive. So to reiterate, you sleep on your surgical side? I was told to stay off until the chance of making the device migrate was healed in it's pouch.
Oh yeah, I did the over nite trail in the hospital.
I haven't been able to get a pump yet, but when I had a spinal cord stimulator implant, I was pretty restricted with movement- no lifting, bending or twisting so the leads didn't migrate- but as far as lying on it, it was as much a matter of comfort as anything. Because I'm thin, the battery pack is prominent, so I don't like to lie on it, but I usually sleep on the other side so it's not an issue.
The problem I have is that there's no doctor within 100 miles to maintain it, to refill it. Some day.
Jim
Sorry to hear that...you are out in the boonies, aren't you? Okay. We'll thank...hope you can try this someday....it's really a game changer. Feel well!
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1 ReactionOne problem with a pain pump is if you lose your doctor. It may be difficult to find another doctor to take it over and fill it. With the CDC’s dishonest rules about opioids for chronic pain patients, doctors are afraid of losing their licenses by filling them. There are many cons with them. It’s not all pros. They are a big money maker.
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1 ReactionI heard oral meds may become hard to get due to "shortages". That helped me make my decision, also. The doc who treats my pain is a pain specialist. That is all they do is treat people in pain
All opioids are in short supply. I also go to a pain specialist.
It’s not just opioids that are in short supply. There are hundreds of others. Hospitals are also being affected.
We really have to do our own homework when it comes to medical treatments as well as following the money.
I have a patient I give RA infusions to who also has one of these and swears by it. Says she couldn’t walk without it. Good luck to you.