questions about morphine pump - Pain Management Message Board

lisatesta · 01-07-2004, 10:30 PM

I am 34 and have had multiple lumbar surgeries and trial stimulator placement. The stimulator did not work for me due to scar tissue. I am very nervous and do not feel that I have enough information about the equipment and what it will look like and how I will feel with it. I hope someone can help. Thanks for your input, Lisa

carol632 · 01-08-2004, 08:22 PM

Hi, Lisa. I had the morphine pump put in this past July. It has literally given me mobility again. I have spinal stenosis now after 4 back surgeries and was in horrible pain, unable to sit, or lie down for more than a few minutes at a time. The pain was constant and even 40mg oxycontin with 2 l0mg lortab would not touch it. My trial was successful and so I am now a very lucky lady. My pain levels have gone from 8-10 and more, down to 3 if I dont do much. If I am more active, it may flare to a 5, but that is usually temporary. An hour or so of rest and I am better again.
There are several ways to do the trial that I know of.
l. one injection ... checking for tolerance to the meds

2. in-patient hospital... you are admitted, go to OR and have a small catheter placed in your back just above the problem area. Then the catheter goes into a machine that dispenses the meds. The amount of meds you recieve will be very little at first and slowly added to until you reach a level at which you are pretty comfortable. You would be dismissed and sent home to heal from the small incision. For me, that was l0 days.

3. The catheter is put in as an outpatient, and the pump is put into a "fanny pack". You will wear it outside your body for 2-3 weeks, going back to the doctor for med adjustments as needed.

There may be variations of this; these are just the ones that I know. Some docs ask you to see a physchologist to be sure you are able to handle a foreign body inside you; mine did not require that. The pump itself is about the size of a hockey puck. It is placed on either side of your stomach between your waist and your groin.
I am sure you have more questions, so please feel free to contact me either here or at home....{e-mail address removed}
Hope you found this helpful.
Carol

lisatesta · 01-09-2004, 06:09 PM

Carol, I hope that I am posting this correctly. I am so blessed to have found these boards and even more blessed to have heard from you. I had the temporary pump placed in the hospital 2 weeks ago and I am scheduled for the real thing on the 26th. I just have not received any info from my pain doctor so you have made my day. I would love to speak more with you. If you have some time my email address is [removed]. Any ideas you have or any situations you have gone thru please feel free to share with me. Thanks again, Lisa

lisatesta · 01-09-2004, 06:11 PM

Carol, I am not sure if I am posting my reply in the right place. Initially I wrote under your message. I would love to talk with you some more if you have the time. My address is [removed]. Thanks for everything, Lisa

pixiepoodle · 01-12-2004, 01:10 PM

Hi Lisa,
This 2/1/04 will be 2 years I have had my pump. The surgery involves placing the pump directly under your first few layers of skin w/ approx. a 4" incision. Then a thin catherer is put under your skin around your side and connected to your spine thru a 2" incision. Please ask your dr. not to use staples on the spinal incision as I found that painful when sitting back against a chair.

I had my surgery done on a Fri. and was back at work on Mon. since my pain is from Fibromylgia and not any back problems, so it may take you longer to get up and about. When you first wake up from surgery, you will get a shot of something like Demoral or Morphine for post op pain. After I left the hospital, I was given a script for Vicodin, which worked quite well for the post op pain.

The one thing you need to know about the pump is that they will start you off on a small dose and its takes a long time to build the dose up that works really good for you (mine took a year). In the meantime, you will be given breakthru pain meds. Your dr. should tell you that if you are in bad pain before your next dosage adjustment, call and reshedule to come in as soon as you can. The whole point is not to suffer for nothing.

As I have posted many times before to others getting a pump, everytime I go to the dr., all everyone talks about is how much they love their pump and how it has changed their life. You just have to be careful not to overdo physical things because then you will be taking breakthru meds. Basically, the pump reliefs the pain you have, but does not protect you from doing stuff like playings sports, lifting heavy items, etc. because your muscles have atrophied over time and it takes a long time to build your strength back up.

Good luck with your pump.