Spinal Pump

Description

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Comments

Epidural Analgesia is a well established technique - either by injection or via an indwelling catheter attached to a pump. There is a difference between Intrathecal and Epidural in that they describe slightly different areas of the spinal anatomy - thus it depends where the cannula is finally positioned and the choice of which will depend on the anaesthetists decision. BOTH are used in pain management - but epidural is also often used in "Wide Awake" surgery and in childbirth whilst intrathecal is used more commonly to treat neuropathic pain.
You can find a rather wordy but well written account of Epidural Inject on: http://www.neurologychannel.com/epidural/ Dave Barton - Administrator of SKIPS (Support for Kids In Pain) Many thanks to Dave for this explanation, given in answer to a question about the difference between "epidural" and "intracathecal"

Oct 2002 was my implant date. I've reduced my Oxyicontin and Loritab from regular use to morning doses for breakthrough pain only. I'm getting back to "me" after a year of orals meds. The implant is a shock to your appearance but looks didn't matter when I was suffering.The implant surgery is VERY painful for a few weeks and tender after that - but then it is well worth it. The intraspinal medication is a different type of pain relief - no drowiness or "stoned" feeling. My pain level is 0-2 with 4 Loritab, 160mg Oxycontin and 3.2 (5gm) daily infusion. The accident had me continuously at 8-10 level for almost a year. Good luck to anyone who has this treatment, but prepare for surgical pain for a few weeks. Medtronics was the producer of my pump. Dennis

I have had RSD for many years now. As a result of being hit by a motorist in 1993, having it go undiagnosed for nearly a year, it spread rapidly. I now have signs of RSD in most parts of my body. My shining star was finding a doctor that would treat my RSD aggressively. I am deathly allergic to local anesthetics. I have had two Spinal Cord Stimulators put in as well as a infusion pump. The pump has made life come back. After having it put in we found that the dose of medicine went to the "high" dose range rather quickly. After 2-1/2 years I was in for refills every nine days. I had it replace with a new unit that tripled the reservoir. Now I have it refilled about every seven weeks. The best thing about a pump is that it will let you somewhat return to your life "before". You see with the pump rather that using oral meds, you don't have nearly the side effects. While an oral med has to enter through your blood stream first, the meds in the pump will enter through the nerve chain first thus, effectively, shutting down those nerves. By the time that the meds enter your blood stream they are well past their half life.
That way you get none of the intoxicating effects of such potent drugs. The trial that they use is not only to see your relief level, but to also weed out the drug dependent people. I have seen many times that once installed a person will start to complain that they aren't getting enough relief, mainly because they have come to associate that "high" with relief. So if you need the "feelings" of your meds the pump would not be for you. The range of drugs that can be infused is never ending. This often is a downfall for many people. It many take months to find the medication and dose that will be right for you. With the new pump that I have now, it took us nine and a half months to get it correct. So you will need to be patient! But in the end the wait will be worth it! Boomerz - USA