Had pain pump implanted. No relief. Anyone have similar experience?

As of December she has a new pump. During surgery Dr. nicked her lung. Had to wait in the hospital till healed before she had second surgery for fractures in her spine. That was supposed to be a 2 hour surgery that ended up 10 hours. She was sent home with a hematoma at the site of old pump. Went for adjustment on pump and doctor could not believe the amount of swelling. He doesn’t test anything but at another hospital they find a massive infection. Now her left leg can’t move and her foot is twisted. Again they send her home after a spinal tap which she was jabbed 3 times and 3 MRIs. I think they are just running up bills and she is dying. I have lost all faith in the medical system. They sent her home with no new hospital bed or wheelchair.

@jade2020 That is so terrible. No one should have to undergo that kind of treatment! I hope you have everything documented. I am not one to jump to a lawsuit, but your experience seems to warrant one... and fast. So sorry for your daughter! I hope and pray that she will come out of all this okay. In my prayers.

As of December she has a new pump. During surgery Dr. nicked her lung. Had to wait in the hospital till healed before she had second surgery for fractures in her spine. That was supposed to be a 2 hour surgery that ended up 10 hours. She was sent home with a hematoma at the site of old pump. Went for adjustment on pump and doctor could not believe the amount of swelling. He doesn’t test anything but at another hospital they find a massive infection. Now her left leg can’t move and her foot is twisted. Again they send her home after a spinal tap which she was jabbed 3 times and 3 MRIs. I think they are just running up bills and she is dying. I have lost all faith in the medical system. They sent her home with no new hospital bed or wheelchair.

@jade2020 as a retired nurse and Medicare compliance reviewer you have a medical malpractice case. If your description is accurate the doctor and the hospital screwed up. I encourage you to contact a malpractice attorney for a consultation. I am so sorry for the illness that has occurred due to negligence.

@trm70 I Trial with morphine did not work. Trial with Hydromorphone dropped my pain from and 8 to about a 2. Pump implanted in April of 2023. They started a very low dose. After all this time of going up, then down, now back up, I have had exactly one day of decent pain relief. I feel confident that I will eventually find that therapeutic dosage, if I don't kick the bucket first. lol. If you feel like you are out of options, try the pump trial. Try differ4ent meds. I wish you well.

@heisenberg34 I am on my third pump, initial implant in 2008. I too had the same issues, little pain relief, was pushed to ablation (worked great until nerve regrowth), countless steroid injections, and was told that my dose was high. I started out on hydromorphone, which made me swell up like a balloon, to Fentanyl, that I am currently on. I didnt receive much pain relief. I tried to live with it thinking a little relief was better than nothing. In 2022 went for my third pump (baterry was dying) with a new doctor because PM practice didn't have a surgeon to place new pump. It was the best thing that could have happened!! I went for a surgical follow up with the practice that placed the pump and the NP asked about pain level, I gave her a look and she said be honest. I told her that it runs between a 5-6 most days and other times it's higher. She asked if I wanted an increase because the doseage was very low. Of course I said yes! I felt a lot of relief all most immediately. It was a 20% increase. I couldn't believe how much better I felt. I never went back to the other PM practice. They tell patients their dose is high when it's almost at nothing. Whole other story. I have had a few more increases since then.
Do you have a PTM? I am allowed 3 bolus a day and that was another game changer for me. I use a bolus when pain gets worse. The pump can also be programmed to increase doseage at specific times of day when pain is usually at its worst if you dont have a PTM. I am not 100% pain free, maybe closer to 60-70%, and I just deal with the rest.
So what I am trying to say is please consult another physician. I think you said you were going to a neurosurgeon, I would try a pain management clinic or other neurosurgeon that takes your pain seriously and will help you find relief.
Best of luck to you!

@heisenberg34 I am on my third pump, initial implant in 2008. I too had the same issues, little pain relief, was pushed to ablation (worked great until nerve regrowth), countless steroid injections, and was told that my dose was high. I started out on hydromorphone, which made me swell up like a balloon, to Fentanyl, that I am currently on. I didnt receive much pain relief. I tried to live with it thinking a little relief was better than nothing. In 2022 went for my third pump (baterry was dying) with a new doctor because PM practice didn't have a surgeon to place new pump. It was the best thing that could have happened!! I went for a surgical follow up with the practice that placed the pump and the NP asked about pain level, I gave her a look and she said be honest. I told her that it runs between a 5-6 most days and other times it's higher. She asked if I wanted an increase because the doseage was very low. Of course I said yes! I felt a lot of relief all most immediately. It was a 20% increase. I couldn't believe how much better I felt. I never went back to the other PM practice. They tell patients their dose is high when it's almost at nothing. Whole other story. I have had a few more increases since then.
Do you have a PTM? I am allowed 3 bolus a day and that was another game changer for me. I use a bolus when pain gets worse. The pump can also be programmed to increase doseage at specific times of day when pain is usually at its worst if you dont have a PTM. I am not 100% pain free, maybe closer to 60-70%, and I just deal with the rest.
So what I am trying to say is please consult another physician. I think you said you were going to a neurosurgeon, I would try a pain management clinic or other neurosurgeon that takes your pain seriously and will help you find relief.
Best of luck to you!

@heisenberg34 I am on my third pump, initial implant in 2008. I too had the same issues, little pain relief, was pushed to ablation (worked great until nerve regrowth), countless steroid injections, and was told that my dose was high. I started out on hydromorphone, which made me swell up like a balloon, to Fentanyl, that I am currently on. I didnt receive much pain relief. I tried to live with it thinking a little relief was better than nothing. In 2022 went for my third pump (baterry was dying) with a new doctor because PM practice didn't have a surgeon to place new pump. It was the best thing that could have happened!! I went for a surgical follow up with the practice that placed the pump and the NP asked about pain level, I gave her a look and she said be honest. I told her that it runs between a 5-6 most days and other times it's higher. She asked if I wanted an increase because the doseage was very low. Of course I said yes! I felt a lot of relief all most immediately. It was a 20% increase. I couldn't believe how much better I felt. I never went back to the other PM practice. They tell patients their dose is high when it's almost at nothing. Whole other story. I have had a few more increases since then.
Do you have a PTM? I am allowed 3 bolus a day and that was another game changer for me. I use a bolus when pain gets worse. The pump can also be programmed to increase doseage at specific times of day when pain is usually at its worst if you dont have a PTM. I am not 100% pain free, maybe closer to 60-70%, and I just deal with the rest.
So what I am trying to say is please consult another physician. I think you said you were going to a neurosurgeon, I would try a pain management clinic or other neurosurgeon that takes your pain seriously and will help you find relief.
Best of luck to you!

@3goodeggs Had trial NALU inserted a week ago. PAIN FREE. Yay! Looking forward to permanent implant

@3goodeggs Had trial NALU inserted a week ago. PAIN FREE. Yay! Looking forward to permanent implant