What was your experience with a pain pump?

I find it interesting that in doing a search, the pain pump supposedly has a 94% success rate. That's the primary reason that I had it done. Now I have heard from many people on the Mayo Connect site that the pump did not provide any relief. I am more than just a little suspicious. I hope you are able to get the pump removed and get back on your meds.
How effective on the infamous scale of 1 to 10 would you say that the meds are in giving you relief? Thanks for your reply.

The pump was the next step suggested by my pain clinic. I opted to not go that far and I’m glad I made that choice. Chronic pain is just that-chronic Getting old just stinks. I think most of the doctors just don’t have any other answers

Yes, getting old stinks, but it's better than dying. Lol!
The pain pump was my last resort to getting my life back and I'm still not living. It just doesn't work for me. I had my hopes too high so the disappointment of no relief has made me worse mentally.
I've done everything they have suggested...nerve oblation, spinal cord stimulator, and now the pain pump. This roller coaster has drained me. I've got to the point I just want to give up and accept that my normal life is over. I'm tired of being poked, cut, and getting my hopes up.
Anybody else feel that way?

Totally agree with your feelings. I also have arthritis up and down the spine, so somedays I just hurt. However, I do try to stay busy and ignore as much as possible, because I don't want to depend on pain relievers either. Having a sense of humor does help. Somedays I just give myself permission to leave the laundry for another day! Stay positive.

I've had my Medtronic's pain pump for 3 years now. When they did the trial, they used Fentanyl, which didn't go very well. It worked great for the pain, but I was highly allergic! My doctor said I didn't need another trial, just schedule the surgery and told them to put Morphine in. Because I'm a back sleeper, I asked them to put the pump in my abdomen. They said no problem. I woke up from surgery with it on the outside of my ribs, sticking out like I had a bomb planted inside me! I was in so much pain I could barely breath! The doctor had said he only made 2, 2" incisions. I don't know how he learned how to measure because my incision in my rib cage was 5" and the one, he made in my back was almost 10"! I really didn't understand any of it. Putting that pump there was never even one of the options discussed. Anyway, it took me a minute to get over the surgery. I looked like I had been run over by a Mac truck! I have never seen those color bruises before in my life! I was on probably the lowest dose of Morphine you could get. When I started getting my pump filled, my nose started itching all the time. I kind of ignored it at first, but then they increased the amount a little and the itching got worse. Not to mention, every time I went to get a fill, my pump was facing a different direction or was hiding under my ribs. Talk about miserable! After about a year, I wanted to try to lower the dose because I didn't want to be hooked on the medicine. The doctor said I was not like most his patients; my dose was down at the floor and everyone else was up to the ceiling. I don't tolerate pain meds well. So, he backed it down some, and that weekend, I had the shakes, sweats, talking a mile a minute, couldn't get my words out right, I was having withdrawals! I went back that Monday and told him to turn it back up. He said I wasn't having them, but I know I was.
Needless to say, I switched to Dalatiid, which I haven't had any real side effects from. My biggest issue with all of them is bladder retention, which caused me to have to get a bladder stimulator put in. it doesn't work great either. The pain pump definitely has helped with the pain; however, I don't know if I would do it again. I've been fused in my back, neck SI Joint, knee replaced and now need another fusion in my back. I've taken all the shots, had the ablations, done everything they told me to do, including physical therapy, acupuncture, needling, I've tried it all. There are still days I end up not being able to walk because of the pain, I end up in a wheelchair. So, for me, it was about 50/50

My sister got her pump in 2020. Her trial was fentyl that worked great. Then she had the pump put in. She really didn’t get much relief. He told her he was putting fentyl in her pump but he put hydro morphine. Her doctor never upt the dosage. 4 years staying with this poor excuse for a doctor. He gave her no help and was never there for her fill. She asked for a consult and he didn’t show. She continued with him until we tried another doctor. Now she is in severe pain hunched over hard time breathing and hurting head to toe. This new doctor is very understanding. He tested the catheter and told us it was blocked. He has filled twice in the meantime we want to shut the pump off and go on oral meds. We have been able to find any pain doctor who will see her and get her on oral meds. She is suffering and it’s very difficult trying to help her and getting no where. We are in Massachusetts and I am totally disgusted that she has been treated so poorly. HELP PLEASE

Sounds like you really got the short end of the deal. I can't imagine how they got so many things wrong. I had a great trial with my pump, using dilaudid. Morphine was no help. Since I lost about twenty pounds, the pump bulges out a bit from my abdomen, but nothing like you are describing. Now that you are getting some relief from your pump, Please stick with it. How has it impacted your pain level?
I am still having my pump output adjusted, so I am not at a point to say how it is affecting my pain. I wish you well.

If the trial worked well, the permanent implant should work as well. Hydromorphone is a great choice for a pain pump. It's five times as powerful as morphine. Please let your current doctor adjust your pump output. You may eventually get decent pain relief. Has de discussed clearing the tip of the catheter? I wish you well.

Not getting any relief from the pump. I did find a doctor who listens but I’m now trying to shut the pump down and get on oral meds. I know they aren’t the best but I have no quality of life. I am in extreme pain and the pump is painfull.

The doctor I stayed with for over 4 years didn’t seem to have any interest in the amount of pain I was in. Over the time he was filling my pump he never used the dose and he never checked to see if the catheter was blocked. I made an appointment with him and he didn’t show. I started with a new doctor. He tested and found the catheter is blocked. I have lost a lot of weight and the pump is extremely painful. I want to shut down the pump and get on oral meds. At this point I have a hard time eating and sleeping due to pain. My problem is I can’t find a pain center who will give me the oral med.