The meds in a pain pump don’t need to cross the blood brain barrier as they are placed directly into the central nervous system.

I had a Medtronic pain pump and developed arachnoiditis because of it. This is a terrible disease causing inflammation of the thin lining around the spinal cord. The pain is much worse than the pain that led me to the pump and I can’t sit for more than 20 minutes. There is no treatment and little research is ongoing. It is progressive with advanced cases confined to wheelchair and in agony. It’s been 5 years and I have yet to find a doctor with any experience.

It is a rare complication, but becoming less so as spinal procedures become more common. Had I known, I never would have had one placed.

And by the way, when the pump was removed, went through 3 weeks of terrible opioid withdrawal.

I would discuss this complication with your doc. They didn’t even list it on my authorization sheet