Has anyone else experienced issues with a newly implanted pain pump?

I had a pain pump temporarily attached to my shoulder after an in-house operation to clean out the tissue debris from my painful torn shoulder muscle.
The Vicodin injections led to yellow jaundice and I ended up in the hospital with a liver bilirubin count of 12. The normal range is 1-3.
After a liver biopsy and numerous blood tests, it took 3 days to bring the count down to 7 when I was discharged.
Be careful what you wish for.

Really don’t know what you mean by watch out what you wish for.
I’m no Doctor but have one shoulder tied down to my rib after they screwed up that surgery years ago. Had many Vicodin's in my life. Almost sounds like a Doctor is covering his butt. I can’t see how it was the Vicodin that gave you Yellow Jaundice. Sounds like you may of had infection. But, I quest anything is possible. Sorry for your experience. Good luck to you.

Be careful and observant. I had a Medtronic intrathecal pain pump inserted for neck pain and spasticity after I broke my neck. After implantation, I slowly developed worse and worse back pain and the inability to sit. I was dismissed by my pain doctors time and time again. They just kept increasing the morphine dose without evaluating the new onset back pain and weakness. After 6 years, I insisted on having it removed. They balked, but I just kept insisting. It turns out I have arachnoid it is, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the spine. It is either from the pump materials or the medication, despite having the pump removed, the arachnoiditis is not reversible. All I can hope is that it doesn’t progress.

If you feel you should have it removed, it is your right to have this done.

Absolutely you can insist that he removes it. He may want you to wait a little while longer since it’s only been less than a month. There is no excuse for him to put morphine in the pump if your chart states you are allergic to it. Either way, it is definitely your choice!!

Hi- Archie here-
Boy, that’s swell that you have a chance at a better result! I’m super stoked that they listened to you, but this should be our expectation, not the exception! Please complete the circle and keep a journal. If somewhere down the road you need an increase in amount, the ability to give yourself a bolus , or even try a different med in the pump, you’ll have the documentation. This is really good news and an important part of the process.
Best, Archie

I had a pain pump implanted then filled and dosage set May 16th 2025. After 4 lumbar fusions starting in 1987, I’ve exhausted all other treatments, so pain pump. The Dr must default to morphine as that’s what they used and the next day, I started with diarrhea & gas. I waited 2 weeks wishing for the best but no. I called the anesthesiologist and got in the next day. He was shocked, claimed it can’t leak out or affect the body. I was given morphine after my first lumbar fusions and couldn’t eat. They switched to Demerol injections and that fixed it. Each person is different but we all agree pain is bad when it’s constant! But I was dismissed as the Dr would phone a friend and call me. Nothing yet in 6 days. Living 20 ft from a restroom for 3-5, even 6 times a day is no fun. I have no clue, just waiting.

@deankay I am sorry that you had to go through all that. Could you clarify a few things for me, please? It might help many of us with pain pumps that are not providing relief.
Did you have any kind of trial before your permanent implant?
Why did they use morphine and Demerol? My trial was by injection was with morphine at first. Since it did nothing, they tried Dilaudid. It dropped my pain from an 8 to a 2.
In reference to leakage, I have read many articles stating that leakage may be a problem with pain pumps. Has to be confirmed with dye test under fluoroscopy.
What is your pain level now. Was it helped by anything?
Sorry for all the questions, buy you may help many of us with pain pumps.

My pain pump trial was a quick morphine injection. After a week, I reported a 50-60% improvement but I wanted to create 8 categories of activity to break down each (getting out of bed, sitting up from prone position, up / down stairs, walking, etc) they were not interested. I have exhausted all other known treatments, Epidurals, RFA, SCS, Rx and they failed to help.
The pain pump was filled with straight morphine, they never asked or told. My first two fusion were 30 yrs ago, I couldn’t tolerate morphine then to hold food. They switched to Demerol in 2 days as injections into my thigh. After the pain pump was filled and turned on, I began to have lower GI distress, gas and diarrhea. The anesthesiologist claimed the morphine could not migrate from the spines Epidural sack to my GI tract. Being concerned for constipation he would not increase dosage. My thoughts are, shut off, reduce dosage or increase it and see if change occurs. Because, not changing meds or anything is doing the same thing over & over, yet expecting a different result is the definition of insanity! No response except he would phone a friend to ask around, then called me. That was almost a week ago and no call. The nurse said he was aware and would call tomorrow. We’ll see.