Connect
Pain pump failure
I had the Medtronics pain pump implanted a year ago. Nothing else had worked to relieve my severe lower back pain which radiated down to my buttocks, legs and feet. My spinal cord stimulator also stopped providing any pain relief. I had the pump output increased six to eight times with just a few days of decent relief. Then we moved to another state. New pain doc has increased the output 5 or 6 times. With my pain still hovering between a 7 and a 9, I was desperate. I took an old oxycodone which actually helped. But the pain amped up after a few days so I went back and he upped the dosage by 30% (quite drastic). By the end of the day, The pain had turned into a numb feeling. That night I could not sleep. I was on the verge of nausea and felt like a zombie. How much dosage is too much? I am still in bad pain unless I give myself a bolus, which sends me back into the numb, zombie state. I am afraid that I am in an overdose situation. My voicemail to the doc with these concerns has gone unanswered. How can a pain pump not relieve pain at this level? Really looking for someone with similar expereince and what you ultimately did.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.
Connect
My name is Jay. My pain management doctor has recommended I try a spinal cord stimulator. But I think I am more interested in trying a pain pump. Since you had a good experience with yours, I inquired about the doctor who implanted your pain pump. I understand if you are not comfortable sharing this information. Thanks.
Hi I've had my pain pump about 7 years they've done the same thing up the medicine change the medicine has never given me any pain relief. The trial was like a miracle and then when I got the true pump in did nothing. It's almost like a scam
Have you considered having the pump taken out? As soon as I get the output lowered to a safe level, I am getting this thing removed. It supposedly has a 94% success rate. How is that possible when so many people report having no relief?
Have you considered a trial of a SCS. Spinal cord stimulators also help a lot of people.
One year later and I am still searching for answers. I began having my pain pump output gradually reduced with the goal of having it removed since it has not given me any pain relief. Now I am thinking that perhaps I did not go high enough to get the same relief as I received with the trial(8 down to a two). I have had difficulty getting the dosage of hydromorphone that was injected into my intrathecal space. If I could find that out, perhaps we could start taking my dosage up to that point. Of course, now I seem to have developed peripheral neuropathy, so I'm not sure if the pump will help that. What think ye, fellow contributors?
Do you have bupivicaine in your pump, along with your narcotic ? If so, that could be why you are having numbness.
I have a pump and no, it will not help your peripheral neuropathy.
No, just hydromorphone. I am trying to find out how much they injected into the intrathecal space in the trial. Perhaps I can get that amount replicated in the implanted pump.
Thanks.
Good idea. Hope you get relief soon.
Do you have a spinal cord stimulator for peripheral neuropathy?
I had a spinal cord stimulator. It didn't help my neuropathy.