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Intrathecal Pain Pump

Chronic Pain | Last Active: Dec 24, 2025 | Replies (120)

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@bilt4pain I have been searching for information regarding my pain pump. Many out there have been a great help. More recently I have been increasing my pump by 15% every three weeks. I had one good day of pain relief back in September, but nothing since. After my most recent visit, the doc put it up to about 2.3 mg/day of Dilaudid with six boluses. No help. I am getting a bit discouraged. I know that some of you have reported getting to 4,5, or 6 mg/day. Can you please share how you felt, trying to get to a helpful dosing from your pump? Were you discouraged along the way? Thank you.

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Replies to "@bilt4pain I have been searching for information regarding my pain pump. Many out there have been..."

@heisenberg34 I was constantly discouraged for most of my first year and a half. My Doc was very conservative. And started me with true micro dosing after my trial. Keep in mind I’ve been on morphine. It was very frustrating. So, I kept complaining of no real relief. I was at 1.3 mg of morphine when she sent me to an associate for a surgical procedure to check if the catheter was clogged. It wasn’t. So he boosted me to 3.0 milligrams. Finally some relief. I guess he crossed a boundary she was to cautious of. After that I might get two, 15% increases a year. I was limited in that I had the 20ml pump. So concentration had to be adjusted too. I just got my pump replaced in September 2025. Now I have a 40ml and I’m at 12.47mg of morphine per day. Four 2.3 mg. Bolus flex dosing and 1.99 mg for 24 hour continuous. It keeps me at steady 6 level pain. I too enjoy a 3 month stint of level 4 pain. I’ve never been able to get there again. I have a lot of back issues that require interventional pain management, injections and ablations. When they are done on a regular basis I’m good unless it rains. Had fentanyl in the pump for 1 weekend, thought I was losing my mind. I’ve never been given dilaudid. But I’m getting ready to ask. I’ve attached some photos of what’s inside me. I’ve had 14 back surgeries, and a hip replacement. I also have a 16 lead SCS that I use on Tingle every night to help with the pain. My pump philosophy is that having it can be real frustrating nuisance. But without it, I’m a deadman walking. So I’ve learned to live with my discouragements, as they are temporary. It’s a forever thing inside us. And docs are afraid of going to far to help. At 67, disabled since 2005, I’m not afraid of going to high. What good is retirement if I can’t enjoy it. Hang tight, maybe interview a different doc if yours doesn’t listen. I should have answered this earlier in the day when my pain is lower. If I didn’t give you the message you needed, ask again, I have it. Wrong time for my response. Good luck 👍