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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Chronic Pain | Last Active: 15 hours ago | Replies (7067)

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@heisenberg34

So, have you gotten any pain relief from your pain pump? 've had one for a year and a half with no relief. I've had it's output increased more times than I can remember. I stopped having it increased when it started giving me bad side effects. Now, I am having it dialed back, with the intent of having it removed. I had the first trial with morphine. No relef. The second trial was with hydromorphone. Pain dropped from an 8 to a 2. I was certain that I was going to have this amazing relief...but no go. Pain is daily at a 7-8, except when I try to do ANY exercising. Then, it ramps up to 8-9.
I tried to get a trial of a different, updated SCS, but the scar tissue would not allow the paddle leads to be placed in the sweet spot. Whar drug iin your pain pump currently. Hope you have success with your SCS trial. Keep us updated.

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Replies to "So, have you gotten any pain relief from your pain pump? 've had one for a..."

Hi--Heisenberg is an interesting name in science--the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle-- the subject stays in a state of "possibility" until observed. Then the state is determined--sometimes called the "cat in the Box" experiment. Our lives are often similar--no reality until we experience relief or failure.
I just had a caudal injection that helped with overall leg pain a great deal. There are always modalities of treatment to give us hope. I have Dilaudid (Hydromorphone) in my pump. Morphine has a number of downsides as a primary pump drug, flushing, gastrointestinal distress and the formation of growths (granuloma) at the termination of the catheter the impede drug flow. I have had Dilaudid in my pump (Medtronic 40ml intrathecal) since 2007 and have been more than happy with it. Had a Flowonix Pump for 2 years but the performance and support were substandard. So happy when replaced. Also, the Medtronic pump restarts automatically after an MRI, which is a HUGE benefit, given our imaging needs.
One last serious thought. AA is a life-long sentence. I will never be out of pain again. I will never know a good night's sleep. I will never be completely comfortable at a party. I will never be able to stand online for meals or tickets. My sex life has changed. and yet, my core has not changed. My values remain in place. I love my wife and family and feel grateful for what changes they have made in their lives to accommodate my changes.
I am 80 years old next year--and yet still hopeful. I am not delusional, just focused on leveraging medical advances to improve quality of life. My pain management guy says the Boston Scientific SCS has lapped the field in performance. Heisenberg Principle right?? I'll never know until I experience the trial--open the box--as it were. I hope all of us who suffer daily from AA can take this ride together and share, learn, and grow through our community.