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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 wish so also
@jeffspain. Did they start you out at 3 mg per day, right off the bat? I would hope not! I had a really low dose to start(can't remember exactly, but probably around 0.5 mg). Each visit saw it increased by ten percent. It seems to take a while to reach each patient's unique therapeutic dose. I have seen some as high as 5 or 6 mg per day to get pain relief. Others get relief at less than on mg per day. 3 mg may be too high for you. I am at 0.9 mg per day and rising. Doc won't increase more than ten percent per month.
Hello. I would not know what is high. Thank you for your reply. My papers in front of me here read 24 Hour Dose 3.002mg/day. 24 hr 0.125mg/hr. Hydromorphone. Monday-Sunday: Simple Continuous. 12:00 AM -12:00AM. All I now is my Groin,Hip, Legs and Feet along with Toes burn. When I feel cold and cover up I burn more. Wear socks my feet burn more. Still have the back pain. Was worse when they had me on Fentanyl or just as bad. Before Hytromorephone I had Methadone at around the same 24 Hour Dose 3.000mg/day. That made burning so much better but had some stomach upset and felt a a little strange. That was given to me after being on Fentanyl at 4,800.00 mcg/ml.) Now I think I want to go back to Methadone because of burning but a Tad Weaker Dose. Can’t talk to Doctor or PA on phone. Have to make an appointment. Nurse is a very ugly person inside and won’t give you the time of day. A week ago she said she would call me back maybe in a few days. All the money they made off of me in 20 years and they just seem like they have no time for you because they’re on to the next person. I know they are busy but I wish I would of never put in the pump in the first place. Was never the magic wand they made it out to be. Twenty years of chronic pain has had a toll on me and you can’t even talk to the Doctor even after he put in my third pump. If you want to see him you get at least a shot. Same with PA. They always want to stick or poke you in some way. Won’t give you a couple of minutes even on the phone. Drive 75 miles in pain at 70 years of age. It’s all about the money. Sorry I’m frustrated and feel used and not very well taking care of. Years back I even tried to come up to the Mayo Clinic and they turned me down after two failed back surgeries in 2001 and around 2004. I thought these Doctors took a oath. I seen many years of wasted insurance cost and me being the Guinea pig. In all them years I never received a phone call to see how I was doing. Would be nice if they really cared after the door hit you in the ass. Thank you so much for your reply.
Yes, I just want to add I used AI on my dose and they said they considered it a low does not a high one. 3.002mg a day Hydromorphone. Just saying. Thanks again.
I guess 3.0 mg per day can be a low dose for some. I have seen some on as much as 5,6, and even 10 mg a day. Did you have that dosage administered for your trial. I had 4 mg which worked well. I am trying to get back to that level, ever so slowly. Very frustrating trying to deal with this pain every day.
Yes that is what the started me on because I was on that amount of Methadone when they transferred me to the Hydromorphone. So no I will go back to Methadone at the same rate in September. I called and found out today instead of waiting for them to call. I seemed to have less burning then. I also have been on 15 mg of oxycodone three times a day. That is what helped me get by the best. But with the Methadone. I could get by with taking two a day. Worried more about the constipation and tiredness along with stomach upset issues but the burning from the waste down and the flushing wipes me out at times with a mood. Oxycodone only last six hours and I am back to fire again. Only allowed to take oxycodone every eight hours. None of this did my colon any good either. Lot of things they do not tell ya before you get into all of this. I tell everyone take care of your back and don’t ever have back surgery because 99% of them don’t last or even work. Now I’m 70 and now they want to cut me again. Really don’t want to leave my wife alone now in this world knowing it will take at least a year if and a big if -if it works out. LOL Anything else I can say I will be glad to reply. Thanks again. Jeff
Man, you hit the nail right on the head. They really seem to like keeping you in the dark. It’s a shame we have to keep digging and digging to get any information.
I had fusion surgery back in 2017. Didn’t do a thing. Unless they can guarantee me results, no more cutting.
Do you find that methadone works better in your pump than hydromorphone? I read in a few places that only morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl are allowed to be used I pumps. Guess not. Why methadone? Morphine did nothing for me.
All the best to you, my friend. My God’s grace be on you.
Yes I seen that too where Methadone was not one of the drugs that they used. I had to word it differently and then found it. Also AI said it was used in Medtronic Pain Pump. Use to be used in the wars a lot. Yes you also have a great one and a wonderful weekend also. God Bless. Jeff
Jeff, I hope you are taking stuff to keep your constipation under control. I use a combination of daily Miralax, sometimes MiraFax gummies which are magnesium and occasional Colace. Plus lots of water.