I've had my Medtronic's pain pump for 3 years now. When they did the trial, they used Fentanyl, which didn't go very well. It worked great for the pain, but I was highly allergic! My doctor said I didn't need another trial, just schedule the surgery and told them to put Morphine in. Because I'm a back sleeper, I asked them to put the pump in my abdomen. They said no problem. I woke up from surgery with it on the outside of my ribs, sticking out like I had a bomb planted inside me! I was in so much pain I could barely breath! The doctor had said he only made 2, 2" incisions. I don't know how he learned how to measure because my incision in my rib cage was 5" and the one, he made in my back was almost 10"! I really didn't understand any of it. Putting that pump there was never even one of the options discussed. Anyway, it took me a minute to get over the surgery. I looked like I had been run over by a Mac truck! I have never seen those color bruises before in my life! I was on probably the lowest dose of Morphine you could get. When I started getting my pump filled, my nose started itching all the time. I kind of ignored it at first, but then they increased the amount a little and the itching got worse. Not to mention, every time I went to get a fill, my pump was facing a different direction or was hiding under my ribs. Talk about miserable! After about a year, I wanted to try to lower the dose because I didn't want to be hooked on the medicine. The doctor said I was not like most his patients; my dose was down at the floor and everyone else was up to the ceiling. I don't tolerate pain meds well. So, he backed it down some, and that weekend, I had the shakes, sweats, talking a mile a minute, couldn't get my words out right, I was having withdrawals! I went back that Monday and told him to turn it back up. He said I wasn't having them, but I know I was.
Needless to say, I switched to Dalatiid, which I haven't had any real side effects from. My biggest issue with all of them is bladder retention, which caused me to have to get a bladder stimulator put in. it doesn't work great either. The pain pump definitely has helped with the pain; however, I don't know if I would do it again. I've been fused in my back, neck SI Joint, knee replaced and now need another fusion in my back. I've taken all the shots, had the ablations, done everything they told me to do, including physical therapy, acupuncture, needling, I've tried it all. There are still days I end up not being able to walk because of the pain, I end up in a wheelchair. So, for me, it was about 50/50