Pain pump, I have one, how about one for you?

You should ask about Lyrica, (and Gabapentin), and amitriptyline for bone pain or nerve pain Narcotics can only do so much and large doses make you numb, not high but numb.

U of M, Dr. Park. You have jump some hoops before you get the pump. However It's a great learning experience, the intake process

I FORGOT TO ASK IF ANYONE HAS "ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS" IT IS A CRONIC DEBILITATING PAIN THAT NEVER STOPS. LUMBAR SPINE. I HAD A SPINAL STENOSIS SO DR. SAID. WHEN HE OPERATED OR REPORT SAID IT WAS WORSE THAN HE EXPECTED SO HE DID A WIDE LAMINECTOMY REMOVING: S-1. L-2. L-3. L-4. L-5. NO FUSION. I WAS UNEDUCATED AT THE TIME. THAT STARTED MY ROAD TO TO ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS SINCE SURGERY 2008, 2015 ANOTHER PROCEDURE, COULD NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. I CAN ONLY LEAVE MY HOME WITH MY HUSBAND. NEUROSURGEONS WHEN BACK SURGERY FAILES CALLS IT "FAILED BACK SURGERY" THIS IS "ONLY" MY EXPERIENCE!!!!!! THERE IS NO RESEARCH FOR PATIENTS LIKE ME. MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS NEVER HEARD OF THIS??? FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THE SAME THERE ARE MANY SITES HERE AND ABROAD TO SPEAK WITH FOR GUIDANCE. IF ANYONE HAS WHAT I DO PLEASE REPLY. THANK YOU.

HELLO ERIN, YES I HAVE A PUMP. I AM IN NJ SO IMPLANTED HERE. I HAVE A MEDTRONIC PUMP A WELL KNOWN MEDICAL COMPANY. PERHAPS YOU CAN SEE IF YOU LOOK THEM UP BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION, IMPORTANT. THE PUMP IS THE SIZE OF A PACE MAKER IMPLANTED IN THE STOMACH AREA. IT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH ANYTHING. CATHETER IMPLANTED NEAR THE TALE BONE, CAN'T FEEL IT AT ALL. EVERY MONTH I SEE MY PAIN MANAGEMENT/ANESTHESIOLOGIST. [RESEARCHING A DOCTOR IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] EVERY MONTH MY DR. FILLS THE PUMP WITH MEDICATION FOR PAIN AND THAT IS GIVING YOU CAREFUL DOSES 24 HRS A DAY. THAN WHAT YOU WILL BE GIVEN SOMETHING LIKE A REMOTE, SMALL CALLED A BOLUS. THAT IS PROGRAMED FOR ME TO PRESS FOR AN EXTRA DOES IF NEEDED. IN MY CASE IM ALLOWED 7 TIMES A DAY. I ALSO TAKE 4 MG HYDROMORPHONE WISH I USE VERY CAREFULLY! DR. HAS STARTED ME ON NALTREXONE VERY VERY LOW DOSE IN A DROPPER. IT'S HAD TO EXPLAIN PERHAPS YOU CAN RESEARCH IT AND ASK YOUR DR. AS FAR AS THE PUMP GOES NOT A BIG SURGERY, SAME DAY. I HOPE THIS MAY HELP WITH YOUR DECISION.

Ok perfect, getting a referral there. Wanted to know the doctor you used. Is he strict or does he kind of let you give your opinion on what you think would work. The doctor I saw here said it only works if you get off all opiods for months prior to the trial. There is no way in hell. I have a spinal cord stimulator so I'm sure it's kind of the same hoops right. Me talking eval, trial ect. If you dont mind how did they do your trial, did they make you quit your pain meds prior and were you hospitalized for the trial or just given the injection to see how much it helped. The guy here was just going to inject morphine in my intrathecal space and I would just sit there 3 hours. Does that doctor also take care of your oral medications?

@kimspr3
Normally arachnoiditis is a condition caused by surgeries, injections, etc., a side affect I guess. I'm surprised that none of your doctors mentioned that to you. Do you mean you are unable to find anything that explains your condition or that doctors are not educated about it? I know arachnoiditis is rare and so are Tarlov cysts (perineural cysts) which is what I have. Don't give up. There has to be some doctors that specialize in your condition. I found only 3 neurosurgeons that specialize in my cysts. I live in Wisconsin and had to travel all the way to Dallas, TX. The worst thing you can do is settle for just being a chronic pain patient and thrown into pain management. Keep pushing and asking questions!!! Best of luck to you!

@kimspr3
Normally arachnoiditis is a condition caused by surgeries, injections, etc., a side affect I guess. I'm surprised that none of your doctors mentioned that to you. Do you mean you are unable to find anything that explains your condition or that doctors are not educated about it? I know arachnoiditis is rare and so are Tarlov cysts (perineural cysts) which is what I have. Don't give up. There has to be some doctors that specialize in your condition. I found only 3 neurosurgeons that specialize in my cysts. I live in Wisconsin and had to travel all the way to Dallas, TX. The worst thing you can do is settle for just being a chronic pain patient and thrown into pain management. Keep pushing and asking questions!!! Best of luck to you!

I don't remember the entire process but I believe I saw a neuropsychologist or neuro psychiatrist as one of the first steps. No they did not make me stop taking medications prior to the trial. This all took place in 2016 before the opioid Hysteria grabbed a hold of the medical community. Yes doctor Park manages my oral medications which are minimal to say the least and our continued at least in my case as a perceived placebo. Whatever the process was I didn't find it overly evasive or too time consuming. You start by getting an appointment at the pain clinic, it might help to let them know you're not looking for a doctor to prescribe opioids that you're interested solely in the pain pump and or stimulator.

I WENT TO HOLY NAME IN HACKENSACK, NJ. FROM WHAT I HEAR UNIVERSITY OF MINN. IS A GOOD HOSPITAL BUT DO RESEARCH ON YOUR DR AND FIND OUT HOW MANY PUMP IMPLANTS HAS DR. DONE. GOOD LUCK.

HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS IS ALSO CALLED A.A. EAISER TO WRITE. IT IS CAUSED BY SPINE SURGEONS, NEUROSURGEONS, TEARING OF THE DURA, EPIDURAL'S, AND MORE. THEIR DIAGNOSIS TO THEIR PATIENTS, FAILED BACK SURGERY. IT STARTED IN 2008. I WAS NIEVE, UNEDUCATED, NO RESEARCH BEFORE MY LAMINECTOMY. HE CLAIMED I HAD SPINAL STENOSIS! I LATER FOUND OUT WITH SPINAL STENOSIS SITTING DOWN HELPS. IT THAT NEVER HELPED ME! I DID NOT ASK WHY. HE REMOVED, S-1 L-2 L-3 L-4 L-5 NO FUSION. FOR PATIENTS PRYER TO SURGERY YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SEE THE SURGEON IN THE HOLDING AREA, NOT ALL BUT MOST IN THE OR, RECOVERY. I DID NOT. EVERY TIME I HAD A PROCEDURE I BECAME WORSE. TO MAKE IT SHORT. LUMBAR SPINE, SCAR TISSUE IS STUCK AROUND THE NERVES WHICH CAUSES DEBILITATING PAIN. MY HANDS, LEGS, ARE JUMP AT TIMES FROM NERVES. SITTING, STANDING, BENDING ETC IS PAINFUL. DON'T DRIVE ANYMORE. LIFE AS I NEW IT IS GONE. I HAVE TRIED TO GO TO THE SENATE, CONGRESS, TO PASS A BILL THAT PATIENTS MUST BE TOLD POSSIBILITIES. I AM NOT SAYING IT WILL HAPPENED TO EVERYONE AT ALL. INFORMATION ABOUT A.A. IS ON THE INTERNET HERE AND IN EUROPE. MAY I SUGGEST BEFORE SURGERY BRING UP ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS. LET THE MANY ARROGANT NEUROSURGEONS KNOW THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF A.A. THEY "DO" KNOW WHAT IS IS! I HAVE A WONDERFUL PAIN MANAGEMENT/ ANESTHESIOLOGIST. STARTED ME ON SOMETHING NEW FOR PAIN I JUST STARTED. MY SITUATION IS VERY COMPLEXED. MY SPINE CAN NOT BE TOUCH ANYMORE WHICH I WOULD NEVER DO ANYWAY. ALL IM SAY IS TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK, ASK QUESTIONS. I DID NOT.