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Has anyone else experienced issues with a newly implanted pain pump?
I just want this pain pump out of me!! I've only had it about 3 1/2 weeks and it has been a nightmare. It is pinching a nerve somewhere, and my lower back hurts now. I now have a serious pain in my hip and leg on the side the pump is on when I bend over and stand back up. The pump itself is placed under the skin on my left side near the area of my kidney. I know my doctor doesn't want to, but I want it out of me!! I want to be the one in control of my body! Not to mention I told him 3 times not to use Morphine because of the way my body reacts to it. I came out of surgery and found out although he agreed to use Dilaudid he put morphine in the pump instead. So on top of all the newly added pain and restrictions I'm itching like crazy and nauseous all the time. Can I just insist he remove it? I know he will refuse to help me if he removes it. He has been my pain specialist for several years since my back surgery in 2012.
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I had a pain pump temporarily attached to my shoulder after an in-house operation to clean out the tissue debris from my painful torn shoulder muscle.
The Vicodin injections led to yellow jaundice and I ended up in the hospital with a liver bilirubin count of 12. The normal range is 1-3.
After a liver biopsy and numerous blood tests, it took 3 days to bring the count down to 7 when I was discharged.
Be careful what you wish for.
Really don’t know what you mean by watch out what you wish for.
I’m no Doctor but have one shoulder tied down to my rib after they screwed up that surgery years ago. Had many Vicodin's in my life. Almost sounds like a Doctor is covering his butt. I can’t see how it was the Vicodin that gave you Yellow Jaundice. Sounds like you may of had infection. But, I quest anything is possible. Sorry for your experience. Good luck to you.
Be careful and observant. I had a Medtronic intrathecal pain pump inserted for neck pain and spasticity after I broke my neck. After implantation, I slowly developed worse and worse back pain and the inability to sit. I was dismissed by my pain doctors time and time again. They just kept increasing the morphine dose without evaluating the new onset back pain and weakness. After 6 years, I insisted on having it removed. They balked, but I just kept insisting. It turns out I have arachnoid it is, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the spine. It is either from the pump materials or the medication, despite having the pump removed, the arachnoiditis is not reversible. All I can hope is that it doesn’t progress.
If you feel you should have it removed, it is your right to have this done.
Absolutely you can insist that he removes it. He may want you to wait a little while longer since it’s only been less than a month. There is no excuse for him to put morphine in the pump if your chart states you are allergic to it. Either way, it is definitely your choice!!
Hi- Archie here-
Boy, that’s swell that you have a chance at a better result! I’m super stoked that they listened to you, but this should be our expectation, not the exception! Please complete the circle and keep a journal. If somewhere down the road you need an increase in amount, the ability to give yourself a bolus , or even try a different med in the pump, you’ll have the documentation. This is really good news and an important part of the process.
Best, Archie
@deankay I am sorry that you had to go through all that. Could you clarify a few things for me, please? It might help many of us with pain pumps that are not providing relief.
Did you have any kind of trial before your permanent implant?
Why did they use morphine and Demerol? My trial was by injection was with morphine at first. Since it did nothing, they tried Dilaudid. It dropped my pain from an 8 to a 2.
In reference to leakage, I have read many articles stating that leakage may be a problem with pain pumps. Has to be confirmed with dye test under fluoroscopy.
What is your pain level now. Was it helped by anything?
Sorry for all the questions, buy you may help many of us with pain pumps.
Hello Archie:
Not so good news. They put in Hydromorphon and I was told it’s the same as Dilaudid. Have 3.000 mg a day with 3 bolus doses a day 100 mg a piece. My legs and feet burn and sting bad. I even have it in face with flush. Only thing that helps is the 15 mg of oxycodone three times a day. I can take it every 8 hours. Only works for 6. Then suffer for two hours watching clock. Win I take my bolus of a 100 mg I fall asleep most times after a hour. Don’t know what to do. Feel like I am up the creek without a paddle. Any suggestions? Jeff
Keep pushing to have your pump out and file a grievance with your insurance company against your physician if he won’t do it. My pain management doctor (and I use the term loosely) finally took mine out after I filed 3 grievances with my insurance company. And! I wanted it out because that last time they filled it it caused me to overdose within 20 minutes of the fill. Thank God I had Narcan at home because I teach Narcan use or I would have died before the medics got to me.
I wish the scientific arena, would do studies on what percentage of pain pump patients end up with Arachnoiditis. I bet they would find that it is a high number. I also developed Arachnoiditis most likely from a pump. It started at L-2 and now has progressed to L-1, L-2, and L-3.
@carolynhughes75 here is some info regarding your post about Arachniditis and it causes. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12062-arachnoiditis. Because it is a rare disease occurrence there are no statistics that can help.