Intrathecal Pain Pump

@dcanada54
I’m facing a TKR as soon as I schedule it. Not ready for an overnight hospital stay. No complications at all from first or second pump. Anytime you have your abdomen sliced open, pump, appendix, hernia etc they caution you against lifting heavy objects, especially in front of you for fear of busting I stitch inside.
However, after rereading your post it seems your pain is from your knee? And will be worse after surgery. I’m guessing your pain doc said no and has told you the pump is for spinal related chronic pain and doesn’t give you systemic pain relief. I don’t think they make localized pain pumps, like they do with Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS). Got one of those as well. I do believe they have very small units that (I believe go in the back neck and connect to the brain) that can be implanted in various areas. I think they have one for neuropathy. So there might be a knee version of an SCS, but only used for moderate to severe chronic pain, not post operative pain. Hope that helped?

@bilt4pain Unfortunately I’ve already had my left done. It left me in more pain than before surgery, three years out my primary physician referred me to an allergist for metal and resin testing. My results were an allergy to the bone cement. Trying to find an orthopedic with any knowledge concerning this allergy is dang near impossible. Current orthopedist is a professor of orthopedics at Duke University. He did not do my original TKR but he’s the only one who’s tried to help me. If I have the revision it will be his first surgery in someone with the allergy, he’s also told me I may be in more pain than I am now. When they go over problems that occur with TKR surgery never was an allergic reaction to the metal or bone cement mentioned. It’s very rare or people just aren’t aware that testing is available. I spoke with the pain management doctor yesterday, he doesn’t do the procedure but said all methods for pain relief has to be exhausted before a person can have this done. Been in pain management for years but don’t know the criteria for being considered. Hope your TKR goes well, most have no problems.

@dcanada54
Had no idea of the allergy or that testing can check if you are. You’re in a tough position right now, may God guide your decision. I’m not ready for the TKR yet. After all my surgeries I’ve developed a strong fear of overnight hospitalization. Especially if it involves serious pain management.

I have commented several times here regarding my intrathecal pain pump. As I have mentioned, the trial went great, but I have had only one day of decent pain relief in two and a half years. My pain is becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate. I have to wait until Dec. 29th to get my pump's output increased. The current output is 2.31 mg per 24 hours with about 0.17 bolus 6X daily. Right now my meds don't seem to help and the pump is still not helping. It's so difficult having to wait two or three weeks in-between adjustments. The measly ten or fifteen percent increases hardly move the needle. I wonder if others have had to wait like this, or have been able to have it increased more significantly? And to what level that eventually helped with your pain. I just spoke with my wire about how it is becoming more and more difficult to walk, and she should be ready for possible bad news regarding my condition. Thanks for all of you. I feel blessed. May you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

@bilt4pain My retesting for the metal and resin is scheduled for 02/03/2026. My surgeon wanted it done. I am terrified of the thought of a revision.

This might sound a bit crazy, but I think it's worth sharing. About a month ago at night when I got in bed all my joints caused pain, even the bones with replacement joints. Long story short, my family doctor had a blood tests done measuring Vitamin levels. My Vitamin D was 8, the grid started at 30 so I take D3 50,000 units once a week.
On my next appt I had more blood work done and my B12 was low, so I take liquid B12 every five days and all the pain goes away. I was stunned by the results and quite happy. On my 20+ year journey with my DDD and other things wrong I'll try anything that might help.

@dcanada54
That seems so far away, but really isn’t. I’m sure you are terrified of a revision surgery, anybody would be too. I need notebook page for my prayer list. Sticky notes are not viable anymore.

I've been admitted at Mayo clinic for 19 days. They cannot find out the cause of my pain. Left untreated the pain sends me close to fainting and cardiac arrest. Mayo wants to send me home, blames the patient for things they can't answer and kicks you to the curb. THE HEALTH CARE IS NO BETTER THAN THE 5 WORST HOSPITALS IN METRO PHOENIX. I WILL BE SEEKING HEALTH CARE OUTSIDE USA

@maricopajoe2 , I'm sorry to read of your experience. And I have read where you posted that the Pain Rehabilitation Program is not something for you. I know many have had success with this program when other pain approaches fail to find causes or solutions.

Read more here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/chronic-pain-symptoms-rehabilitation/

If you would like to share about your experience at Mayo Clinic, please contact:
Office of Patient Experience
Phone: 844-544-0036 (toll free)
Email: opx@mayo.edu

Living with pain and fear of fainting or cardiac arrest must be unbearable. I hope you are able to find solutions outside the US.

@dcanada54 please discuss arachnoiditis with your doc before having the pump placed. It is a complication I suffer from because of my pump. It is an inflammatory condition of the thin layer around the spine. It is progressive and there is no treatment. It causes pain and motor dysfunction and is much worse than the pain necessitating the pump. I wish someone had warned me about it before I had it placed