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Pain pump failure
I had the Medtronics pain pump implanted a year ago. Nothing else had worked to relieve my severe lower back pain which radiated down to my buttocks, legs and feet. My spinal cord stimulator also stopped providing any pain relief. I had the pump output increased six to eight times with just a few days of decent relief. Then we moved to another state. New pain doc has increased the output 5 or 6 times. With my pain still hovering between a 7 and a 9, I was desperate. I took an old oxycodone which actually helped. But the pain amped up after a few days so I went back and he upped the dosage by 30% (quite drastic). By the end of the day, The pain had turned into a numb feeling. That night I could not sleep. I was on the verge of nausea and felt like a zombie. How much dosage is too much? I am still in bad pain unless I give myself a bolus, which sends me back into the numb, zombie state. I am afraid that I am in an overdose situation. My voicemail to the doc with these concerns has gone unanswered. How can a pain pump not relieve pain at this level? Really looking for someone with similar expereince and what you ultimately did.
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That’s all my printout says.
@mina2021 Then ask your doctor.
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1 Reaction@mina2021 Thanks! It's difficult to compare morphine to hydromorphone since it's about five times as strong as morphine. Wow, it's great that you only need to refill once a year. Keep well and pain free.
Hi my friend. I was going to call you. I just read about "Radiofrequency Ablation for Pain Management". The article was from the Cleveland Clinic. I still pray for you buddy. I have to speak to my pain management and my hand specialist doctors. I want to try it on my arthritic thumb as the steroid shot does not work for long term. Then I might give it a try on my neuropathy. Have a great New Year's buddy.
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1 Reaction@julkun So, I had RFA treatments early on for my back pain after steroid injections did not work. They did not help either. Apparently it helps quite a few people. I guess your stimulator has still not given you any relief. There was a gal here on Mayo Connect who said she had to have it tweaked for almost a year before she was able to get any relief. Hope this works for you, amigo.
Unfortunately, my pain pump as still not helped me. But the stories from other pump patients give me hope that if I keep upping the output, I will reach a point where it will help. I hope it's soon as my neuropathy is really ramping up
Have a blessed New Year!
@heisenberg34, we have to keep trying. I think I have multiple nerve issues in my legs and feet. As for RFA, I also have arthritis in the base of my thumb, and I will ask my hand doctor if RFA could help. He doesn't want to operate because he says it's a long recovery. You can't win these days.
Wishing your family a blessed New Year too.
@julkun Back at ya! Let's pray that 2026 is a better year. So far, not so much. Yesterday I threw up three times. Felt like the flu coming on. Hopefully not related to the hydromorphone in my system from my pain pump, or my recent dips in our community hot tub.
@heisenberg34 My friend the flu is going around. My wife and I had Covid during Thanksgiving and then when we recovered in December, we both got the Flu. I will pray for your speedy recovery, my friend. Seems like we can't catch a break. Maybe 2026 will be better!!!! Get well soon.
@julkun Thanks for the kind words. Fortunately my flu was only for 24 hours. I took theraflu at night. Had one of the best nights sleep in a long time. Felt better. Yes, we can’t seem to catch a break. We shall see. Be blessed.
I am so sorry for you. I have butt and back pain all day long. And 6 months ago I broke my hip ( more pain). I feel like I am going crazy. I had a medial nerve block yesterday . I was in severe pain. A little better today. Maybe this will work
All the best to you.