Lumbar Pain Pump needed. Any Doctors for 65+?

I have severe Adhesive Arachnoiditis & have an eval, by a new pain specialist, for Jan 9th. I have manageable pain, about 70% of the time. The other 30 % my pain gets so severe, i have to go to the hospital & beg for Dilaudid. I am hoping the pump can help, during these bad crises. I have been accused of drug seeking etc. Have waited on a miserable bench for over 6 hours to be seen, Hospital situation in Maricopa county ( Phoenix area) is terrible. have no desire to ever show up in a hospital here for help. Hoping i can get some relief from the pump

Hi I have chronic SI Joint pain and severe sciatica. I injured my self about 24 years ago in the swimming pool and have had a sore pain in my left buttock ever since. I had an operation to see if there was a trapped nerve, but this did not work and when I woke up from surgery I had a 10 inch cut on my left leg. Since I have had 3 fractures in my upper spine in the last 3 years, and I am now very bent over like a very old woman, I am only 70 years old, but 21 in my brain. I asked my Pain specialist if I could have a implanted nerve stimulator fitted, but he said that was not possible due to my fractures. Does a pain pump get fitted the same way, through the spinal cord (i e wires inserted inside the spinal canal and up to the brain, or is it just fitted where you have the pain locally under the skin and next to where you feel your pain i.e SI joint? and how do you get the medication into it? Is this inserted some how outside the body, or is this done at the hospital. Any advice would be very welcome. thanks

Is there a medical school in your area, or another state close by? Another way to find docs that manage drug delivery systems is the manufacturer, in my case it is Medtronic they have a list for your state and nationwide. Look on their website and also other manufacturers of pain pumps.
I know it can be difficult to find somebody who does the work and seeing if they'll accept you. I had to have a clearing by a psychologist and a trial for a week. For me it is the difference between being part of life or a prisoner home bound with pain. I hope you can find what you need. Good luck.

Since I don't know your condition, I don't know if it would help you. Yes, it is implanted around your waist area and hooked up to your spinal cord. I have no access to the calibration of the morphine, the doctors have a handheld device that they point towards the pump as you are on a bed, the dose is determined by the doctors. You can have adjustments as time goes on, I had the lowest dose at first and since 2012 two adjustments. The refills are done by feeling the pump and putting the morphine through the catheter by way of a large needle. It sounds horrible but it is not. The staff is very skilled and make it as painless as possible.

Where are you located? I had mine placed with my UnitedHealthcare ins but I also have medicad.

I found a local pain specialist, who implants pain pumps. I am allergic to morphine, & would need Dilaudid. Have appointment on Jan 9th. However, i also have severe shoulder pain (need a new shoulder, but don't want surgery) So i would need some oral, as well as the pump. My pain varies from not too bad, to needing 1 mg Dilaudud, due to Arachnoiditis. I am starting over with a new PCP, new pain specialist, new psychologist etc. None by choice. Not sure how this will all work out. My current pain NP, not willing to deal with Arachnoiditis pain Thanks for your concern

Guess i am lucky to live in AZ, as a senior. Yes, we do have tons of snowbirds, who take most appointments. Because i am now low income, i get all medical bills paid at 100%. But to get an appointment with a new specialist, U may be waiting for 6 months. I am a retired RN In my humble opinion, if u have a rare or unusual DX, VERY difficult to find a doctor familiar with it, or willing to learn. I have been accused of drug seeking, and god knows what else. Gotten so i tell some ER doctors, what i think of their bedside manner. Only place in AZ, with a university setting, is Tuscon. Doctors in ER, so over worked, u are lucky to to get any help. I can't afford to leave the state.

I had the pain pump implanted back in April of 2023. First, they did the trial. It was an injection into the intrathecal space next to spinal cord. Morphine was first drug. No effect. Second trial was a shot of dilaudid. Dropped pain from 7-8 down to an eight. I definitely opted for the permanent implant. Well, going on two years and I have never experienced any pain relief. Zip, nada, zilch. I hope you have a better outcome than I did.

Keep us updated , I'm in VA and can not find help here either. But praying for help. Would like to know more about pump and diulada. I've not taken it before but will look it up. Morphine didn't agree w me.

The medication is targeted into the spine only after a successful trial test. The dosage is in micro-millio-grams, at the spine only. I have not had this done, but expect by the end of Feb. I couldn’t handle Morphine after lumbar fusions but this goes though out the blood stream. A pain pump pushed 1/3rd of one drop of Rx into the epidural sac that covers the cord. It is heavier than spinal fluid meaning in an upright position, it sinks lower down the spine. Dilaudid, Morphine sulphate, hydromorphone hcl are just some of the meds they may choose to use in the pump. This is the perfect way to mix and match, half & half, or 1/3rd, 1/3rd, 1/3rd can be mixed or tailored to your issue and how it is handled based upon your reporting back. Ultimately, very little side effects because it is small, contained within the epidural sac and can be mixed, changed completely or added to perhaps a steroid to reduce inflammation. Everyone is different but this is my last hope. It’s truly a hail-Mary into the end zone. I had epidurals that gave 100% relief but after 1 1/2 day then wore off. It is an outpatient procedure and with two sizes of pumps (20cc and 40cc) you may for 5-6 months between refills. Ok?
Thanks for your service. DK, Omaha.