I'm getting my pain pump tomorrow, 6/13/24. I've been in pain management since 2001. My trial went great - felt almost no pain for the first time in 23 years. Suffering from spinal pain and cancer pain. I've had 12 operations on my spine and am battling advanced stage prostate cancer. I know it's not going to eliminate my pain but, I'm hoping to get some relief.
Hello mate. Could you share an update in a few weeks? I am very interested to hear how it goes for you and others here. I'm also a chronic pain patient here in Australia. I've also tried everything and had many surgeries. Hope to hear from you if you have the time. Cheers and all the best to you 🙏
@@JakkleRunnerCashman-mk8jm It’s been 19 days since getting my pump. I am extremely pleased with the results. I’ve had 2 visits with the doctor. The first was one week after surgery to remove the staples from my back. The second was today for a slight increase in my dosage. I’m happy to report that I’m getting just barely over 0.5 milligrams of morphine every 24 hours and my pain level is less than 1!! My worst pain during these first 19 days has been around the incision in my left abdomen where the pump was placed. Fortunately, that pain is down to about a 2 now. I have 30 more days of wearing the abdominal binder and maybe will wear it for another week or two to make sure the pump has scarred in really good. I haven’t had any issues or side effects with the pump or medication. I am following my doctors’ instructions closely, yes, I had my pain doctor and a general surgeon do my implant. Pain doctor placed the catheter and general surgeon placed the pump. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had gotten a pain pump years ago.
Had my intrathecal morphine injection trial 5/9/24 and a couple hours later I felt ZERO pain. I suffer from protruded discs & nerve impingement & post laminectomy syndrome. Had my laminectomy done on my L4/L5/S1 3 years ago and it lasted about 14 months & scar tissue from that surgery enhanced itself & started to wrap around my L5/S1 nerve root, pinching my nerve root, as well as that same disc starting to bulge ontop of it. Had a spinal cord stimulator trial for about a week a month before my pain pump trial that gave me no relief whatsoever. Later that same day as my pain pump trial, (5/9/24) unfortunately I suffered from urinary retention & needed to go to ER to have a bladder catheter inserted in me to drain my bladder. Ended up going home with it that night, but ended up taking the catheter out myself shortly after I got home because there was a draining issue/blockage & I was pissing outside of the catheter all over myself. As the morphine wore off the next day, my bladder function started to normalize again. My pain doctor who did the trial said it’s one of the possible side effects but he thinks it would eventually go away on its own if I decided to get the permanent device. Had to wait for my insurance company for the approval of the actual device. But I told my doctor I still wanted to go ahead & move forward in getting it because that’s the 1st time in 20 years that I’ve ever had pain relief like that! Just got the call today from my pain doctor (6/25/24) that my insurance approved it & I immediately scheduled to get the surgery this Thursday (6/27/24). I cannot wait to get that pain relief again! I’ve been on Percocet & Gabapentin for the past 2 years with little to no effect. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I don’t experience the urinary retention again, or if I do, it’ll only be temporary.. It’s a trade-off/risk I’m willing to take for this kind of pain relief. I’ll update my results after my surgery to let everyone know how it’s going. Good luck to anyone getting this surgery!
Your L5-S1 scar tissue situation sounds like mine. I've had L4-5 fusion, and still have right side pain in right upper buttock. I was planning on trying an SCS next. I'm glad to hear a pain pump is also an option. Thanks for sharing your experience!
@@phxrt3608best of luck to you with your journey! I had the scs surgery trial & unfortunately did nothing for me. I’m one of the few weird cases because those scs allegedly work for the majority. Thoughts & prayers to you I hope you feel better soon!
@@zahidimran1 for the 1st couple weeks, I got 100% pain reduction, but it’s now at about 75% which is great! My doctor will be adjusting the dosage every visit to get me where he wants it. I’ve been dialed up past 2 visits with him. He also put me on Dilaudid instead of Morphine. As far as Urinary Retention, I definitely experienced again the 1st day or 2 after surgery, but I managed to push through it. I’m able to urinate fine now after the 2nd or 3rd day. Just takes time to get use to it. I’m currently am on 0.2mg Dilaudid twice per day, that’s how he has it programmed. I’m happy with it. Much better than oral medication I can definitely say that much!
How are you? Is it still working? I am having to have a pump installed soon. It is encouraging to hear that you are doing well. I hope you are still okay.
I have had a Medtronic II pain pump since 2006 . It worked like a miracle until 2014 and by the end of 2015. I was right back were I started . Constant pain and not able to move around anymore. The pain medication in my pump was Fentanyl . I was asked to signed the delivery slip for the Fentanyl when I had my refills every four months . That was the main factor in why I never suspected the reason for my pain returning to be the pump letting my down . But in December of 2022 due to an unrelated illness I missed my refill. So when my pump ran dry I should of had severe under dose withdrawals that could have been fatal . But nothing happened . To me that could mean but one thing at some point someone was stealing the Fentanyl ment for my pump. I feel that this happened starting in 2014. I have spent the last year trying to get law enforcement to do an investigation but so far they want even take my report. I've contacted just about every lawyer in my area . But their answer has all but been the same. Your case doesn't fall under the types of cases that I handle. This happened in Baton Rouge Louisiana . If there is anybody out there that can give me any help to deal with this please leave me a comment how you would address my issue
Just curious why you suspect someone stole meds vs pump being clogged? I understand pain patients distrust in the system completely just seems easier to get street drugs rather than do that as these normally contain a cocktail of meds.
Try your local medical license board, health department, OSHA, and the investigative news in your area if you believe that your medicine was stolen. Also, reach out to your State District Attorney and congressman.
If the pump had a malfunction it would have to be replaced at once . I have had a pump refill every four months for 15 yrs . same exact small amount taken out . Just before the new drug goes in . As far as street drugs go the whole point of the pump is to inject the drug into the spinal fluid . Since it never enters the blood stream it never makes it to the brain . No high , no goofy feeling no nothing . This has nothing to do with addition .
@@awifeamotheradaughte I did all that and more . I was either made to feel like a drug addict mad he was no longer getting his fix or they had no authority to investigate that kind of a crime . They all suggested I find a lawyer . I emailed or called over a hundred lawyers . The ones that said I had a case . Told me that there was a cap on medical malpractice of one hundred thousand dollars and that being said . Even though I had a good case . The time and money needed to pursue such a case . Made it not worth pursuing . No other Doctor in any field that address back injury's will touch me once they realize I have an empty pump . Regardless of the circumstance that made that happen . So let me highlight my life for you . I was beaten and mistreated as a child . My very first memory is having to walk and crawl back and fourth in a bathtub of dirty close in order to clean them and crying and being hit . Never held a pencil or opened a book before the first day of school . I can only assume someone from school sent me home with a note . My father took me to school and we went to the principles office and told the principal he could tear my ass up if need be . Then that same day my mother after showing no interest whet is ever in my school work want to see my reading book and writing tablet . I was only in my second week of school . On the second day of her helping me with my school work she had me bring her a limb form a willow tree to her first thing . When I got home after that we set down and she started helping me with my home work . She figured that when she showed me something once . Like how to pronounce a new word that the second time I came to that word and couldn't say it right a good wiping would cure that . What actually happen is I'm crying so hard now everything is blurry and I can't read anything . So I'm sent to sit in the corner with my school work . Now the next day same thing like the day before get the switch . I have to put on short pants also . The out come was the same . The third day same game plan but instead of of sitting in the corner . I got to kneel in the corner on grits , that become rice the next day . I was saved only by getting the mumps . Imagine getting the mumps is salvation . On the last day school in the second grade . Someone hit me over the head with a back full of books . Driving my head into the head of the fountain severely breaking my nose . Never saw a doctor . Once it healed every few minutes I would take this big sniff in that I had no control over . Well my mother was going to stop me from that habit by beating . But when that didn't work she turned to slapping me in the face . I will say the beatings slowed down a lot . As is had no control my sniffing . Getting my face slapped become a part of life I soon come to except . Also it took the place of daily home work beatings it was as if school just no longer mattered . However Christmas two years later while at my mothers sisters house she saw my mother slap me several time for no reason as she saw it . When she confronted her in front of every body . Momma confessed it was my habit of sniffing she was reacting to . I tell you my aunt bout jumped on her . She got a flashlight . Had me lie down on the floor in front of everybody and looked up my nose . She saw that one side was completely closed of and had everybody look . Just talking about long term suffering because of child hood injury's . During this same time in my life . My grandfather who sold and traded old guns . Would sell and take in a lot of real old 45 cal. pistols . They would be really warn out and due to cylinder to barrel misalignment could blow up in your face. So I got the privilege of becoming the gun tester for my grandfather . So at least three or four times a week I was given a fully loaded 45cal. pistol and told to go in the back yard and shoot them all . This also included old double barrel hammer cock shotguns . To test to see if when both barrels were cocked even though you only pulled one trigger both sides would fire . It only happened a couple times to me . The first time it happened I couldn't move my arm at all from the pain and missed school . The rule for missing school was a double dose of caster oil . It worked for the next three year I got a certificate for not missing any days . But I now suffer from extreme Tinnitus . After I found out about my broken nose. I started getting school sponsored accident insurance coverage , even paid the three dollars more for year round coverage . I didn't known but it was in hopes that I would get a bloody nose go to the doctor and oh no broken . But when that didn't happen I had some cousins come over . My much bigger cousin knocked me off my bike . No harm we were just playing. But my father made us fight each other . I didn't want to he was twice my size . After a beating I finally fought him . One black eye later he wouldn't hit me anymore . My eyes were so full of tears I didn't even see it coming . Well a couple days later dad com home with a softball and though he had never done any kind of activity with me my whole life he now wants to pitch the ball with me . I'm sorry son did I hit you in the nose . Oh no it's bleeding best we take to the doctor . Other than going to the health unit to get school shots . This was my first time ever in a doctors office. A month later my school insurance paid to repair my nose. Fast forward I'm 15 and I made the basketball teem my freshmen year in high school. I had never did any prolonged running before this. To my surprise when doing so my legs became extremely painful . It was as if my calves would explode . But I wanted to play so bad that I refused to stop . But soon afterwards the pain went away , but I also lost feeling in my legs . This required me to now keep an eye on my legs in order to control them so much so that I lost my ability to any longer dribble the ball . Before my legs become numb I dribbled ok . As the running training in basketball is extreme for some reason my endurance wasn't bad as such but no matter how hard I trained it's as if I just hit this wall and could never pass it no matter how much pushed myself . When I was 50 yrs old I was told I had congenital neuropathy after doing a nerve conductivity test and that my left diaphragm is completely collapsed causing a big loop of my gut to push up into my chest and prevent my left lung from expanding . And that my heart is moved 90% over to my right side of my chest . I don't know if it was my intense desire to play basketball or forever being branded a quitter by my team mates . But for the fact I had already endured so much physical and mental abuse I would have cracked under the abuse did to myself every day for four long months . After practice ever day I had to walk two miles to an abandoned house and wait there till my ride home came . We weren't allowed to stay on school grounds after practice . Oh I was six foot tall and weighed 115 pounds . I'm now at 15years old . But this is but a small example of what things were like . I'm going to stop for now but will continue later . It gets unbelievable worse
THINK LONG & HARD. A LOT OF PTS HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS W THEM. GUARANTEE YOU NOBODY WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE PTS ON TERRIBLY LOW DOSES. PEOPLE ARE STILL SUFFERING.
@@its.nice2b_nice NO I don't have one. I Researched hard then talked to my PM doc she told me "NO, NO, NO WAY! If you have multiple issues that are bad an Intrathecal Pump can't help multiple areas. Thus causing the necessity for additional medications and right now it'll be hard as hell to get one area adequately managed much less two areas because no doctor now will write adequate meds for both areas.
@@its.nice2b_nice Im so sorry that your suffering like this for nothing. Big Pharma & Doc made a fortune off of you. Now to get it out, even more CHA-CHING. LOVE & HEALING LIGHT TO YOU.
I've heard mixed reviews about pain pumps. Especially for people like me who have substance use disorder and very high opiod tolerance (prescription medications, not heroin)
I am in the process of looking into the morphine pump . My PM DR. Says I’m a good candidate for it . I now have the stimulator which is not really doing good. Most of the people here seem to not have had good results. I really would like to speak with some people about their experiences.
I got the pump , and have had it for, 27 years. With the right meds, this is a life saver. I had in my pump many different ones.Sufenteniel is what I found works great.
Doc in video explained…. The pain pump is inserted on the abdominal wall, and then the liquid pain med is routed directly into the system thru the spine. My doctor thinks i should get this, and says it provides constant pain relief without building any tolerance or side effects. Tho, getting something inserted in my body sounds absolutely awful to me!!!
I had a pain pump for over 13 years and I totally recommend that nobody ever gets this horrible dangerous medical device. I was never notified of all of the FDA recalls and warnings and was never aware till later that most pain management doctors use unauthorized drugs from the FDA in the pumps. In my opinion the pain meds made pain worse. I am finally pump free and medtronics is not a very honest company.
How much does this cost and is it available in the UK, they cut me off my pain meds and in just getting by with grandmas bridge club who does not take their meds and I play with them (pretty good at bridge now) and I help them with daily stuff or sometimes they just want some company it's rewarding but most are as tough as coffin nails as don't take their pain meds.
I was surprised how big it was, too. I was hoping it would have been smaller. Of course, in the end , we do whatever it takes to get the pain to go away. 😏 Best wishes and good luck on your medical journey.
For the one's who had this done, does it work? I have had 3 failed surgeries 2 l5 s1 vertebra and disc both with fusion and the another surgery in the back where they shredded a bone. I'm always in pain back to my feet and can't really walk and I can't even go out really anymore.
It’s been good for me and I’m on my third pump. Lasts 6-7 years before the battery runs out. Refills are every 3-4 months at the clinic and takes around 10 minutes
It shouldn’t if you are dosed correctly and the doctor is supposed to wean off the oral meds slowly. I’m on my third pump. It takes awhile to dose the pump medicine to a therapeutic level
I had the Intrathecal Pain Pump installed on 08May23 here in Colorado. My question is this: Is it only designed to work in a certain area of the spine or is it designed to deliver pain relief to the entire spine? If it's supposed to provide complete pain relief, then it's not working for me.
It’s a targeted area that the pump is supposed to help with. Mine is targeted to an area behind my pancreas as I suffer from neuropathy from pancreatic damage. It does not help with anything but that targeted area.
They do not put the catheter in but one place. And that is in your spinal cord, starts at the middle of your Back, and go down to the horn , lower part of your back.this treats all and ever n nerves that cause pain. It’s all about what meds Is used!
The pump is inserted at the abdominal wall, and pain meds are administered to the spine. This process delivers pain med to the entire system, for all kinds of pain anywhere in the body. When you take an oral medication, you do not rub it on the body part that is hurting, you take the med and it is distributed into your whole system. If it’s not working, you need more, or a stronger, pain medication.
May I ask why you have to wear a very tight brace back in 2014 the pain Dr I had told me about a pain pump nothing like what this Dr is talking about I have been in pain management since 2013 and to tell you the truth I think I would like to give a pain pump like this a shot due to the fact you go to get your meds at your pharmacy and you are always told there out of stock they will contact when they come in and you sit and wait and wait I have waited sometimes over 2 weeks to get your meds maybe I will talk to my pain Dr about this type of pain pump idk if she will agree due to the fact they puch the epidural shots or getting the nerves burn which I do every 6 months twice a year does it help it does a little not a lot also the epidural shots never worked for some pain doctors are not up to doing this or talking about this
My mom's failed the day she was to leave the hospital, which, apparently didn't have her hooked up to monitors. She OD'd, aspirated, brain death, then jaundiced.
I’ve had 12 spine surgeries. Does anyone know if the pumps are MRI safe? I asked the doctor about this but he never answered this question. I’m having this done next week.
MRI with a pain pump is possible but you have to slowly reduce your dose beforehand to control withdrawal. A rep of pump mfg must be present during MRI to drain pump before and refill it after procedure. Sounds rather risky to me. CT scans are ok.
@susansimons5105* I am having my Medtronic pump surgery next month. In the pamphlets from Medtronic, they say that you can have MRI's with this .... But, they do have to empty the medication out of the reservoir first. It took me three months of extensively researching Reputable Spine and Cancer Institutions, and praying about it a lot, before making the decision to go ahead with it. If you research online, it's better to look at the well known specialists. I did not research for information on any website that actually "sold" their devices. For obvious reasons. I also did not read others experiences with the device. The results vary for each individual person. I live with intractable pain from an auto accident. For six years I have basically not had a life. I'm sorry to hear of all of your surgeries. I believe that "quality"of life is better for me than "Quantity". God Bless, and I wish you well😇
I have CRPS and Spina Bifida which makes the pump not work. 2 doctors told me that with Spina Bifida the place the tubing goes is deformed needed twice as much medicine and twice the dose. My doctor won't even look into this and I've been in severe pain for 10 years. I need someone to help me because now my heart is being effected from the untreated pain. I desperately need help. Can you please help me? No other doctor will and I'm not ready to die because my daughter needs me. Otherwise I look forward to dying just to get out of pain and be in the Lord's arms.
We feel your pain my friend. We totally understand how difficult life is with pain. I really hope you can get the help you desperately need. For your sake and the sake of your child. I am in the same boat and.am only alive for my children. But sooner or later I want to die and be pain free. Life is so cruel to us, isn't it :/
Why in God's name couldn't they have made the pump wearable in a pouch?!??! I just cannot fathom the risk of leakage on top of however often having to be reopened for refilling if it has had other problems and is working 🙄😡
Hi , from what I understand and know they would give you a porta cath that would help with refilling the morphine that would be injected with refilling . Less wear and tear on the body and the site. One of my concerns was wondering if when comes time to refill what happens if they are out of the morphine . That does happen , so then you’re stuck going thru withdrawal . I opt to put the morphine on hold for now and let that be my last resort . I’m now doing the long acting morphine along with the morphine sulf . I need to find a Dr. that is an expert on severe nerve damage . From my waste down I feel like I’m sitting on a vibrator , 24/7 . My feet tighten up like it’s wrapped with a tourniquet , horrible ! However continue to trust God , don’t rush into nothing . I live in Houston Tx . and still searching for answers .
It’s all internal and doesn’t leak. It’s dangerous to wear it outside and they don’t have anything like that anyway. It’s refilled with a needle every 3-4 months.
@@supernova44 Well, sadly for lack of a better way to put it, the very doctor basically pushing them didn't know what you have said. I never even found out if my insurance would cover it but even with two of my concerns now met by a stranger on UA-cam of all places, there is still the fact that I can and commonly do "fire off" (present pain) in more than 2-3 at a time so only being able to chose one location for the implant still would have left me with other places hurting and still having to have something for pain relief.
I have a pump but sadly still can't get a MRI. And not because of the titanium rods for the fusion. Or from the 1st, 2nd but the 3rd spinal cord stimulator. For some reason they used screws to hold the wires to my spine, the surgeon couldn't believe what he seen when they saw that! He said in 20 years he's never seen that done. To have it removed would require a specialist and a weeks hospital stay now. So it's risk worth reward now for me. And I've been cut open enough! The pump works GREAT! WISH they did that first! Even if Medtronic fucked up and didn't realize I had a pump and not a stimulator implanted. They couldn't give me the bolus that day because of the screw up, yeah, not off to a great start with trust in competency there. In a couple months they will have the bolus ordered and set it up then, or so they say 😂. Luckily I can get by without it, but dam sure can't do more than the minimum. My dose is low 0.11199 daily, nearly 2mg morphine at a .050mg per hour continuous. Don't be afraid of the pump if your really in pain and want off those dam pills! And you won't go into withdrawals when they switch you over. So no detoxing needed.
Can pumps be successful for INTRACTABLE MIGRAINES, the pain causes my BP to go 199/99, pain is 24/7 and I'm pretty much couch, bed due to this I'm 60, on opiate care for now, but still get pain flares bad.
@@noexp7710 you are 💯 percent right I am almost 62 years old I have been in pain management since 2012after I had spine surgery I had to have plate and screws in my neck 2 surgeries on my back and just in the last year it's so hard to get your pain meds I take my meds like I'm supposed to take them and I still have a hard time getting my medicine filled every month because people like that person saying oh I want to be high it really hurts the people that need the medicine and it's so sad
You’re not a legitimate chronic pain sufferer and people like you is why even cancer patients are denied pain medication bc of idiots looking to get high. Fun fact. People in chronic pain do not feel high bc the meds are treating real pain and just get temporary relief. Ridiculous.
I'm getting my pain pump tomorrow, 6/13/24. I've been in pain management since 2001. My trial went great - felt almost no pain for the first time in 23 years. Suffering from spinal pain and cancer pain. I've had 12 operations on my spine and am battling advanced stage prostate cancer. I know it's not going to eliminate my pain but, I'm hoping to get some relief.
Hello mate. Could you share an update in a few weeks? I am very interested to hear how it goes for you and others here. I'm also a chronic pain patient here in Australia. I've also tried everything and had many surgeries. Hope to hear from you if you have the time. Cheers and all the best to you 🙏
@@JakkleRunnerCashman-mk8jm I certainly will. We all need to stick together in this battle.
How’s it going so far?
@@JakkleRunnerCashman-mk8jm It’s been 19 days since getting my pump. I am extremely pleased with the results. I’ve had 2 visits with the doctor. The first was one week after surgery to remove the staples from my back. The second was today for a slight increase in my dosage. I’m happy to report that I’m getting just barely over 0.5 milligrams of morphine every 24 hours and my pain level is less than 1!! My worst pain during these first 19 days has been around the incision in my left abdomen where the pump was placed. Fortunately, that pain is down to about a 2 now.
I have 30 more days of wearing the abdominal binder and maybe will wear it for another week or two to make sure the pump has scarred in really good. I haven’t had any issues or side effects with the pump or medication. I am following my doctors’ instructions closely, yes, I had my pain doctor and a general surgeon do my implant. Pain doctor placed the catheter and general surgeon placed the pump.
Knowing what I know now, I wish I had gotten a pain pump years ago.
@@Vv20vV I just posted an update in the comments section. Please let me know if you don’t see it.
God bless you Dr for all that you do for people in pain.
I have my trial in 2 days. I’m so excited/ a little terrified.
I'm getting mine on 6/14 a little nervous
How did it go? Have you had the Implant? Feeling any better or worse? Any unwanted side effects? Any nice side effects you were hoping for?
How’d everyone do? I’ve had a pump for 4 years and helped to replace some of the pain since the government took away my oral medication.
Had my intrathecal morphine injection trial 5/9/24 and a couple hours later I felt ZERO pain. I suffer from protruded discs & nerve impingement & post laminectomy syndrome. Had my laminectomy done on my L4/L5/S1 3 years ago and it lasted about 14 months & scar tissue from that surgery enhanced itself & started to wrap around my L5/S1 nerve root, pinching my nerve root, as well as that same disc starting to bulge ontop of it. Had a spinal cord stimulator trial for about a week a month before my pain pump trial that gave me no relief whatsoever.
Later that same day as my pain pump trial, (5/9/24) unfortunately I suffered from urinary retention & needed to go to ER to have a bladder catheter inserted in me to drain my bladder. Ended up going home with it that night, but ended up taking the catheter out myself shortly after I got home because there was a draining issue/blockage & I was pissing outside of the catheter all over myself. As the morphine wore off the next day, my bladder function started to normalize again. My pain doctor who did the trial said it’s one of the possible side effects but he thinks it would eventually go away on its own if I decided to get the permanent device. Had to wait for my insurance company for the approval of the actual device. But I told my doctor I still wanted to go ahead & move forward in getting it because that’s the 1st time in 20 years that I’ve ever had pain relief like that!
Just got the call today from my pain doctor (6/25/24) that my insurance approved it & I immediately scheduled to get the surgery this Thursday (6/27/24). I cannot wait to get that pain relief again! I’ve been on Percocet & Gabapentin for the past 2 years with little to no effect. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I don’t experience the urinary retention again, or if I do, it’ll only be temporary.. It’s a trade-off/risk I’m willing to take for this kind of pain relief. I’ll update my results after my surgery to let everyone know how it’s going. Good luck to anyone getting this surgery!
Your L5-S1 scar tissue situation sounds like mine. I've had L4-5 fusion, and still have right side pain in right upper buttock. I was planning on trying an SCS next. I'm glad to hear a pain pump is also an option. Thanks for sharing your experience!
@@phxrt3608best of luck to you with your journey! I had the scs surgery trial & unfortunately did nothing for me. I’m one of the few weird cases because those scs allegedly work for the majority. Thoughts & prayers to you I hope you feel better soon!
How are you now? Had your pain issue resolved after pump installation? And what about your urinary retention problem?
@@zahidimran1 for the 1st couple weeks, I got 100% pain reduction, but it’s now at about 75% which is great! My doctor will be adjusting the dosage every visit to get me where he wants it. I’ve been dialed up past 2 visits with him. He also put me on Dilaudid instead of Morphine. As far as Urinary Retention, I definitely experienced again the 1st day or 2 after surgery, but I managed to push through it. I’m able to urinate fine now after the 2nd or 3rd day. Just takes time to get use to it. I’m currently am on 0.2mg Dilaudid twice per day, that’s how he has it programmed. I’m happy with it. Much better than oral medication I can definitely say that much!
How are you? Is it still working? I am having to have a pump installed soon. It is encouraging to hear that you are doing well. I hope you are still okay.
I hve my consult monday...amazing pain human body can generate...I kid you not.....
best of luck.
I use THC/CBD oil treat my PTSD so I'm out..and no way pass a psy eval...lol
I understand. I have been in Chronic pain almost 20 years( back, both knees). I just had my knee replaced. Wishing you the best.
@@billevans7936 don’t work
@@jameswhite1319 explain your experience?
I have had a Medtronic II pain pump since 2006 . It worked like a miracle until 2014 and by the end of 2015. I was right back were I started . Constant pain and not able to move around anymore. The pain medication in my pump was Fentanyl . I was asked to signed the delivery slip for the Fentanyl when I had my refills every four months . That was the main factor in why I never suspected the reason for my pain returning to be the pump letting my down . But in December of 2022 due to an unrelated illness I missed my refill. So when my pump ran dry I should of had severe under dose withdrawals that could have been fatal . But nothing happened . To me that could mean but one thing at some point someone was stealing the Fentanyl ment for my pump. I feel that this happened starting in 2014. I have spent the last year trying to get law enforcement to do an investigation but so far they want even take my report. I've contacted just about every lawyer in my area . But their answer has all but been the same. Your case doesn't fall under the types of cases that I handle. This happened in Baton Rouge Louisiana . If there is anybody out there that can give me any help to deal with this please leave me a comment how you would address my issue
Just curious why you suspect someone stole meds vs pump being clogged? I understand pain patients distrust in the system completely just seems easier to get street drugs rather than do that as these normally contain a cocktail of meds.
Try your local medical license board, health department, OSHA, and the investigative news in your area if you believe that your medicine was stolen. Also, reach out to your State District Attorney and congressman.
If the pump had a malfunction it would have to be replaced at once . I have had a pump refill every four months for 15 yrs . same exact small amount taken out . Just before the new drug goes in . As far as street drugs go the whole point of the pump is to inject the drug into the spinal fluid . Since it never enters the blood stream it never makes it to the brain . No high , no goofy feeling no nothing . This has nothing to do with addition .
@@noexp7710 If you understood the purpose for getting a pain pump in the first place then you would realize just how dumb your reply is.
@@awifeamotheradaughte I did all that and more . I was either made to feel like a drug addict mad he was no longer getting his fix or they had no authority to investigate that kind of a crime . They all suggested I find a lawyer . I emailed or called over a hundred lawyers . The ones that said I had a case . Told me that there was a cap on medical malpractice of one hundred thousand dollars and that being said . Even though I had a good case . The time and money needed to pursue such a case . Made it not worth pursuing . No other Doctor in any field that address back injury's will touch me once they realize I have an empty pump . Regardless of the circumstance that made that happen . So let me highlight my life for you . I was beaten and mistreated as a child . My very first memory is having to walk and crawl back and fourth in a bathtub of dirty close in order to clean them and crying and being hit . Never held a pencil or opened a book before the first day of school . I can only assume someone from school sent me home with a note . My father took me to school and we went to the principles office and told the principal he could tear my ass up if need be . Then that same day my mother after showing no interest whet is ever in my school work want to see my reading book and writing tablet . I was only in my second week of school . On the second day of her helping me with my school work she had me bring her a limb form a willow tree to her first thing . When I got home after that we set down and she started helping me with my home work . She figured that when she showed me something once . Like how to pronounce a new word that the second time I came to that word and couldn't say it right a good wiping would cure that . What actually happen is I'm crying so hard now everything is blurry and I can't read anything . So I'm sent to sit in the corner with my school work . Now the next day same thing like the day before get the switch . I have to put on short pants also . The out come was the same . The third day same game plan but instead of of sitting in the corner . I got to kneel in the corner on grits , that become rice the next day . I was saved only by getting the mumps . Imagine getting the mumps is salvation . On the last day school in the second grade . Someone hit me over the head with a back full of books . Driving my head into the head of the fountain severely breaking my nose . Never saw a doctor . Once it healed every few minutes I would take this big sniff in that I had no control over . Well my mother was going to stop me from that habit by beating . But when that didn't work she turned to slapping me in the face . I will say the beatings slowed down a lot . As is had no control my sniffing . Getting my face slapped become a part of life I soon come to except . Also it took the place of daily home work beatings it was as if school just no longer mattered . However Christmas two years later while at my mothers sisters house she saw my mother slap me several time for no reason as she saw it . When she confronted her in front of every body . Momma confessed it was my habit of sniffing she was reacting to . I tell you my aunt bout jumped on her . She got a flashlight . Had me lie down on the floor in front of everybody and looked up my nose . She saw that one side was completely closed of and had everybody look . Just talking about long term suffering because of child hood injury's . During this same time in my life . My grandfather who sold and traded old guns . Would sell and take in a lot of real old 45 cal. pistols . They would be really warn out and due to cylinder to barrel misalignment could blow up in your face. So I got the privilege of becoming the gun tester for my grandfather . So at least three or four times a week I was given a fully loaded 45cal. pistol and told to go in the back yard and shoot them all . This also included old double barrel hammer cock shotguns . To test to see if when both barrels were cocked even though you only pulled one trigger both sides would fire . It only happened a couple times to me . The first time it happened I couldn't move my arm at all from the pain and missed school . The rule for missing school was a double dose of caster oil . It worked for the next three year I got a certificate for not missing any days . But I now suffer from extreme Tinnitus . After I found out about my broken nose. I started getting school sponsored accident insurance coverage , even paid the three dollars more for year round coverage . I didn't known but it was in hopes that I would get a bloody nose go to the doctor and oh no broken . But when that didn't happen I had some cousins come over . My much bigger cousin knocked me off my bike . No harm we were just playing. But my father made us fight each other . I didn't want to he was twice my size . After a beating I finally fought him . One black eye later he wouldn't hit me anymore . My eyes were so full of tears I didn't even see it coming . Well a couple days later dad com home with a softball and though he had never done any kind of activity with me my whole life he now wants to pitch the ball with me . I'm sorry son did I hit you in the nose . Oh no it's bleeding best we take to the doctor . Other than going to the health unit to get school shots . This was my first time ever in a doctors office. A month later my school insurance paid to repair my nose. Fast forward I'm 15 and I made the basketball teem my freshmen year in high school. I had never did any prolonged running before this. To my surprise when doing so my legs became extremely painful . It was as if my calves would explode . But I wanted to play so bad that I refused to stop . But soon afterwards the pain went away , but I also lost feeling in my legs . This required me to now keep an eye on my legs in order to control them so much so that I lost my ability to any longer dribble the ball . Before my legs become numb I dribbled ok . As the running training in basketball is extreme for some reason my endurance wasn't bad as such but no matter how hard I trained it's as if I just hit this wall and could never pass it no matter how much pushed myself . When I was 50 yrs old I was told I had congenital neuropathy after doing a nerve conductivity test and that my left diaphragm is completely collapsed causing a big loop of my gut to push up into my chest and prevent my left lung from expanding . And that my heart is moved 90% over to my right side of my chest . I don't know if it was my intense desire to play basketball or forever being branded a quitter by my team mates . But for the fact I had already endured so much physical and mental abuse I would have cracked under the abuse did to myself every day for four long months . After practice ever day I had to walk two miles to an abandoned house and wait there till my ride home came . We weren't allowed to stay on school grounds after practice . Oh I was six foot tall and weighed 115 pounds . I'm now at 15years old . But this is but a small example of what things were like . I'm going to stop for now but will continue later . It gets unbelievable worse
I reallyi think this would help me
THINK LONG & HARD. A LOT OF PTS HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS W THEM. GUARANTEE YOU NOBODY WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE PTS ON TERRIBLY LOW DOSES. PEOPLE ARE STILL SUFFERING.
@@its.nice2b_nice NO I don't have one. I Researched hard then talked to my PM doc she told me "NO, NO, NO WAY! If you have multiple issues that are bad an Intrathecal Pump can't help multiple areas. Thus causing the necessity for additional medications and right now it'll be hard as hell to get one area adequately managed much less two areas because no doctor now will write adequate meds for both areas.
@@its.nice2b_nice Im so sorry that your suffering like this for nothing. Big Pharma & Doc made a fortune off of you. Now to get it out, even more CHA-CHING. LOVE & HEALING LIGHT TO YOU.
@@its.nice2b_niceMay I ask where your located? Im on FB. Please find me there. Im in Maryland.
@@its.nice2b_nice theres pictures of a Fawn Boxer and a mixed black lab with sweaters on.
I've heard mixed reviews about pain pumps. Especially for people like me who have substance use disorder and very high opiod tolerance (prescription medications, not heroin)
I am in the process of looking into the morphine pump . My PM DR. Says I’m a good candidate for it . I now have the stimulator which is not really doing good. Most of the people here seem to not have had good results. I really would like to speak with some people about their experiences.
I got the pump , and have had it for, 27 years. With the right meds, this is a life saver.
I had in my pump many different ones.Sufenteniel is what I found works great.
@@arnie1005my husband is about try morphine pain pump soon I pray to God helps bec all other efforts hav failed.
@@arnie1005thanks for your comment I never knew this medical Procedure has been around for 27 years I thought this Procedure was new
@arnie1005 Have you had to have it replaced over the last 27 years?
I want a pain pump. How do I get one?
Can this work for cervical issues (stenosis and disk degeneration)? If so, how would the device be routed?
Doc in video explained…. The pain pump is inserted on the abdominal wall, and then the liquid pain med is routed directly into the system thru the spine.
My doctor thinks i should get this, and says it provides constant pain relief without building any tolerance or side effects. Tho, getting something inserted in my body sounds absolutely awful to me!!!
I had a pain pump for over 13 years and I totally recommend that nobody ever gets this horrible dangerous medical device. I was never notified of all of the FDA recalls and warnings and was never aware till later that most pain management doctors use unauthorized drugs from the FDA in the pumps. In my opinion the pain meds made pain worse. I am finally pump free and medtronics is not a very honest company.
How much does this cost and is it available in the UK, they cut me off my pain meds and in just getting by with grandmas bridge club who does not take their meds and I play with them (pretty good at bridge now) and I help them with daily stuff or sometimes they just want some company it's rewarding but most are as tough as coffin nails as don't take their pain meds.
Can I get this?
It’s that big I feel like that could cause pain itself but I get it just damn didn’t think would be that big
It’s around the size of a hockey puck , the 40cc model. Refills are every 3-4 months.
I was surprised how big it was, too. I was hoping it would have been smaller. Of course, in the end , we do whatever it takes to get the pain to go away. 😏
Best wishes and good luck on your medical journey.
For the one's who had this done, does it work? I have had 3 failed surgeries 2 l5 s1 vertebra and disc both with fusion and the another surgery in the back where they shredded a bone. I'm always in pain back to my feet and can't really walk and I can't even go out really anymore.
It’s been good for me and I’m on my third pump. Lasts 6-7 years before the battery runs out. Refills are every 3-4 months at the clinic and takes around 10 minutes
I had my doctor remove my Medtronic pain pump. HOW DO I STOP BEING TARGETED BY MEDTRONIC?
Did you have withdrawals or do they give you something
Does switching to the pain pump from oral opioids cause any withdrawal symptoms? Is there any breakthrough pain once the pain pump is implanted?
It shouldn’t if you are dosed correctly and the doctor is supposed to wean off the oral meds slowly. I’m on my third pump. It takes awhile to dose the pump medicine to a therapeutic level
I had the Intrathecal Pain Pump installed on 08May23 here in Colorado. My question is this: Is it only designed to work in a certain area of the spine or is it designed to deliver pain relief to the entire spine? If it's supposed to provide complete pain relief, then it's not working for me.
It’s a targeted area that the pump is supposed to help with. Mine is targeted to an area behind my pancreas as I suffer from neuropathy from pancreatic damage. It does not help with anything but that targeted area.
They do not put the catheter in but one place. And that is in your spinal cord, starts at the middle of your Back, and go down to the horn , lower part of your back.this treats all and ever n nerves that cause pain.
It’s all about what meds Is used!
The pump is inserted at the abdominal wall, and pain meds are administered to the spine. This process delivers pain med to the entire system, for all kinds of pain anywhere in the body. When you take an oral medication, you do not rub it on the body part that is hurting, you take the med and it is distributed into your whole system.
If it’s not working, you need more, or a stronger, pain medication.
That looks so scary. OMG
Not nearly as scary as the pain it treats.
After the procedure you will wake up with a very tight fitting brace around you. This will be worn 24/7 for 2 weeks.
Good to know! Thanks ❤
May I ask why you have to wear a very tight brace back in 2014 the pain Dr I had told me about a pain pump nothing like what this Dr is talking about I have been in pain management since 2013 and to tell you the truth I think I would like to give a pain pump like this a shot due to the fact you go to get your meds at your pharmacy and you are always told there out of stock they will contact when they come in and you sit and wait and wait I have waited sometimes over 2 weeks to get your meds maybe I will talk to my pain Dr about this type of pain pump idk if she will agree due to the fact they puch the epidural shots or getting the nerves burn which I do every 6 months twice a year does it help it does a little not a lot also the epidural shots never worked for some pain doctors are not up to doing this or talking about this
My mom's failed the day she was to leave the hospital, which, apparently didn't have her hooked up to monitors. She OD'd, aspirated, brain death, then jaundiced.
🙏💖✨ *_i am so sorry for your loss._*
No. She did not. 🤦♂️ You should save the jokes for a different venue. smh
I’ve had 12 spine surgeries. Does anyone know if the pumps are MRI safe? I asked the doctor about this but he never answered this question. I’m having this done next week.
Yes they are with Medtronic
MRI with a pain pump is possible but you have to slowly reduce your dose beforehand to control withdrawal. A rep of pump mfg must be present during MRI to drain pump before and refill it after procedure. Sounds rather risky to me. CT scans are ok.
@susansimons5105* I am having my Medtronic pump surgery next month. In the pamphlets from Medtronic, they say that you can have MRI's with this .... But, they do have to empty the medication out of the reservoir first. It took me three months of extensively researching Reputable Spine and Cancer Institutions, and praying about it a lot, before making the decision to go ahead with it.
If you research online, it's better to look at the well known specialists. I did not research for information on any website that actually "sold" their devices.
For obvious reasons. I also did not read others experiences with the device. The results vary for each individual person. I live with intractable pain from an auto accident. For six years I have basically not had a life. I'm sorry to hear of all of your surgeries. I believe that "quality"of life is better for me than "Quantity".
God Bless, and I wish you well😇
@@michaelmajors5004
Why can’t the medicine be in the pump during an MRI? Do you have any idea?
@@michaelmajors50043:28 3:28
I have CRPS and Spina Bifida which makes the pump not work. 2 doctors told me that with Spina Bifida the place the tubing goes is deformed needed twice as much medicine and twice the dose. My doctor won't even look into this and I've been in severe pain for 10 years. I need someone to help me because now my heart is being effected from the untreated pain. I desperately need help. Can you please help me? No other doctor will and I'm not ready to die because my daughter needs me. Otherwise I look forward to dying just to get out of pain and be in the Lord's arms.
Praying for you. Praying you find a compassionate doctor. Keep looking. Never give up.
Center for Pain
We feel your pain my friend. We totally understand how difficult life is with pain. I really hope you can get the help you desperately need. For your sake and the sake of your child. I am in the same boat and.am only alive for my children. But sooner or later I want to die and be pain free. Life is so cruel to us, isn't it :/
Can you bathe with a pump
Yes you can take a shower it’s inserted in your skin
Why in God's name couldn't they have made the pump wearable in a pouch?!??!
I just cannot fathom the risk of leakage on top of however often having to be reopened for refilling if it has had other problems and is working 🙄😡
Hi , from what I understand and know they would give you a porta cath that would help with refilling the morphine that would be injected with refilling . Less wear and tear on the body and the site. One of my concerns was wondering if when comes time to refill what happens if they are out of the morphine . That does happen , so then you’re stuck going thru withdrawal . I opt to put the morphine on hold for now and let that be my last resort . I’m now doing the long acting morphine along with the morphine sulf . I need to find a Dr. that is an expert on severe nerve damage . From my waste down I feel like I’m sitting on a vibrator , 24/7 . My feet tighten up like it’s wrapped with a tourniquet , horrible ! However continue to trust God , don’t rush into nothing . I live in Houston Tx . and still searching for answers .
It’s all internal and doesn’t leak. It’s dangerous to wear it outside and they don’t have anything like that anyway. It’s refilled with a needle every 3-4 months.
@@ingridlee3393 I’ve never had that happen. They order the pump medicine ahead of the refill appointment.
@@supernova44 Well, sadly for lack of a better way to put it, the very doctor basically pushing them didn't know what you have said. I never even found out if my insurance would cover it but even with two of my concerns now met by a stranger on UA-cam of all places, there is still the fact that I can and commonly do "fire off" (present pain) in more than 2-3 at a time so only being able to chose one location for the implant still would have left me with other places hurting and still having to have something for pain relief.
Can you drive a car with this device, please.......
I just got mine, be prepared to wear a very tight fitting brace for two weeks. I couldnt take a full breath eith it on and you wear it 24/7.
My grandma has one and she’s able to drive
@@jensilver6535 Thank you so much, may she be pain free also.
Yes you can I drive all the time
@@krystalmorgan5019 Thank you very much, your reply is much appreciated.
I guess this would minimize addiction with opiate but you would not be able to get MRI
Yes, you can still get a MRI
Only a MRI to a certain Tesla (power rating) though, but generally yes.
Yes you can I get them yearly. The pump shuts off while in them, than a rep. From Medtronic is there to make sure the pump restarts when finished.
I have a pump but sadly still can't get a MRI. And not because of the titanium rods for the fusion. Or from the 1st, 2nd but the 3rd spinal cord stimulator. For some reason they used screws to hold the wires to my spine, the surgeon couldn't believe what he seen when they saw that! He said in 20 years he's never seen that done. To have it removed would require a specialist and a weeks hospital stay now. So it's risk worth reward now for me. And I've been cut open enough! The pump works GREAT! WISH they did that first! Even if Medtronic fucked up and didn't realize I had a pump and not a stimulator implanted. They couldn't give me the bolus that day because of the screw up, yeah, not off to a great start with trust in competency there. In a couple months they will have the bolus ordered and set it up then, or so they say 😂. Luckily I can get by without it, but dam sure can't do more than the minimum. My dose is low 0.11199 daily, nearly 2mg morphine at a .050mg per hour continuous. Don't be afraid of the pump if your really in pain and want off those dam pills! And you won't go into withdrawals when they switch you over. So no detoxing needed.
Can pumps be successful for INTRACTABLE MIGRAINES, the pain causes my BP to go 199/99, pain is 24/7 and I'm pretty much couch, bed due to this I'm 60, on opiate care for now, but still get pain flares bad.
A rather weak video and they do NOT show the surgery. Best of luck!
I want one I wanna be high all the time!!!!!
Sorry...the amount of pain medication needed via pump is so much less than oral/intravenous dose. There is no high, only pain relief.
People seeking a high are why pain patients can’t get proper meds.
@@noexp7710 you are 💯 percent right I am almost 62 years old I have been in pain management since 2012after I had spine surgery I had to have plate and screws in my neck 2 surgeries on my back and just in the last year it's so hard to get your pain meds I take my meds like I'm supposed to take them and I still have a hard time getting my medicine filled every month because people like that person saying oh I want to be high it really hurts the people that need the medicine and it's so sad
You’re not a legitimate chronic pain sufferer and people like you is why even cancer patients are denied pain medication bc of idiots looking to get high. Fun fact. People in chronic pain do not feel high bc the meds are treating real pain and just get temporary relief. Ridiculous.
It doesn't make you high. I have one 😊