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

@ga29 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like you are interested in learning more about pain pumps. You've joined the right discussion. I have linked another recent discussion where members @lisakuehl @cbrackle @julrice1 @ess77 are discussing the same/similar topic. You may want to scroll through the previous comments.

- Does anyone know or have a INTRATHECAL PAIN PUMP? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-anyone-know-or-have-a-intrathecal-pain-pump/

May I ask how long you have been considering a pain pump?

Hi, I am going to Mayo in Florida now to see if they can help reduce my pain. I'm in the beginning stages, getting testing done. If nothing can be done, I am interested in finding out more about it. But it would be a last option.

The main question is are you expecting to be in pain for the rest of your life? Pain clinics are great at helping you heal if your healable, not so much at dealing with life long palliative situations. For more info search this site under wsh66. That's me and I've written a ton about the pump.

Thank you! I’ve been reading your posts and it gives me hope where I had lost any. The neurosurgeon is running testing next week, after he looked at my most recent mri that my neurologist ordered in September. Mayo has given me some hope they can help. I have been to consults with three other NS and they had different opinions on the cause of my pain. One said it was a Tarlov cyst at S2, 1.9 cm. Inoperable, suggested a spinal cord stimulator. The next one is sure it’s my SI joint and suggested more PT then a possible fusion.

But this doctor was the only one who sat and looked over my mri with me, showing me the damage in my L4-5 area. Then he actually examined me, asking me to walk back and forth, on my toes, on my heels, etc. Doctors write in my notes I have a normal gait, but never saw me stand up, let alone walk.

So a fusion may be what I end up with.
I have been reading this forum a lot lately, and listening to all of you kind people, who share your stories with the rest of us. I thank you!

It's probably worth being tested for a spinal stimulator first. It had no effect for me. I was also tested for the pump by having a small amount of meds deposited via a spinal tap. Make sure they do this. Morphine doesn't work for everyone nor does any other drug work for everyone. Mine uses dilaudid. Very good, very clean.

Hi rjs, I'm sorry to report that my doctor knows no one in your area doing the pump. He did say that is not uncommon for doctors who put them in to not be the ones to service them.

I would encourage you to keep looking. This is a fairly common procedure that's been around a while. My path started by being accepted into a Pain Management Clinic at the U of MN. At the time I had cancer but that wasn't what brought me there. I had been in more and more pain for about 20 years and I needed large doses of pain meds to function.

There was a process. I had to see a Psychiatrist as well as a Palliative Care specialist before I was accepted. I know they were looking to see if I was suicidal as they were going to give me large amounts of drugs. They also wanted to know if depression was going to be an issue as it is often a comorbid factor with prolonged pain and if I hadn't been willing to acknowledge and treat it that would have also been a red flag. They also wanted to know about my history with PT and other non-drug therapies. They want to be sure that you are willing to do everything you can to participate in your own treatment and of course they want to weed out folks who just want to get high. That wasn't me and I'm sure it's not you either. Developing and keeping a positive outlook is essential in most health matters and doubly so with issues around pain. The "placebo effect" of one's own attitude is not to be ignored. I am also a Qigong healer and have been for some time and I know just how much control over our health we have via our brains. I would never have been such a fool as to try to heal my own cancer with Qigong but I am also quite sure I am alive today because of it. By the time I had my surgery after chemo and radiation, my tumor was no longer malignant. None of the surgeons at the Breast Center at the U of MN had ever seen that happen before and were quite amazed. My Oncologist had only heard of one such case in his long career and he too, was amazed., But forgive if I digress.

I also considered letting my cancer give me aa easy way out of my pain situation without actively ending my life but I couldn't do that to my family or myself. No matter how bad it gets, living beats the hell out of dying. When I start to slip on the attitude I know it is time to get back to dealing with my depression which I believe too many pain patients don't want to fathom, might be part of their predicament. It's a disease, it's treatable in almost all cases just like most disease.

Keep on looking. You will find the help you need. Life is precious and this is our only shot as far as we know. I don't know what happens after this but I imagine it's somewhat like things were before I was born. I hope and believe that Jesus is my Saviour but I'm in no hurry to confirm that. For the mean time Jesus is a wonderful role model and I'm sure he wants you to live on. Love and Blessings

Thank you for your advice I am grateful. I have acknowledged my depression after going for testing on my memory. I believe it’s due to the level of pain I am dealing with every day, getting worse every year. Now I am feeling hopeful there’s light at the end of the tunnel!
I had many tests at Mayo, met via video call with the doctor, and we have decided a fusion of L4-5 is the best way to reduce my pain, he thinks from a 7-8 without meds to a 4. Now my next issue to tackle is my meds, as the morphine only reduces it to a 5-6, depending on the day. If I don’t try to do anything like walk I’m not hurting too much! That’s no life. I will be discussing this with my pain management doctor. And like you, Stephen, I’m not looking for a high, just relief. They tried a fentanyl patch 5 years ago, but it gave me a rash, so I asked to go back to the ER meds. Your information about testing which meds work best is very interesting!

@ga29 It sounds like you are getting you medical concerns addressed one-by-one and moving in a positive direction. I'm wondering if you'd be interested in any of the groups have I linked below?

- Spine Health https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/spine-health/
- Depression & Anxiety https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/depression-anxiety/
- Mental Health https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/mental-health/

You said right now you are looking to address your medications. Are there any particular questions you have about specific medications?

<p>intrathecal pain pump</p><p>Does anyone know if this pump can be implanted if you are pretty overweight and have a large abdomen?</p>

@candysmommy Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.

You will notice that I moved your question to a previous discussion related to intrathecal pain pump. I did this so you could connect with members like @ess77 @julrice1 @lisakuehl @jesfactsmon in a central location.

In order to better connect you with members, may I ask where you are in the process of obtaining a intrathecal pain pump and what is your condition regarding why a pain pump is needed?