Information needed about pain pump - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

dollfinjp · 07-30-2003, 10:32 PM

Hello everyone! I wish to thank you all for the many times you have answered my questions without my asking. I need some information about a pain (morphine) pump. I have had RSD for 9 years after a spinal fusion from a work injury. I am currently taking MS Contin 60 mgs/day, morphine short acting for breakthrough pain, and Ritilan 20 mgs/day (to counteract the drowsiness from the morphine). I have been on Oxycontin, Duragesic, Oxycodone plus several others over the last few years. The morphine doesn't seem to help as well as the oxycontin did but I was having such severe nightmares from the Oxy that I had to stop taking it. I am also on an antidepressant. I am so tired of the way these drugs make me feel. I have tried to get off the meds but the pain is so severe that I can't stay off them. Does the pain pump cause the same side effects as the po drugs do? If so, are they as bad? My doc told me that he has 2 patients with a pain pump and they still have to take the opoids for breakthrough pain. Can anyone help me? I am truly at my wits end.

Thanks!

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)( dollfinjp

AngeInBoston · 07-30-2003, 10:41 PM

Hi Dolphin, welcome to our Board!

I'm here because my husband has RSD in his left foot that was triggered by surgery in late March. I'm so sorry to hear that you've suffered this monster for so long!

I can't offer anything on the pain pump, since we haven't gotten to that point yet, but there are posters here who have it and are sure to help you.

I was just interested in the different pain meds you are on, and I was surprised when I read that Severe Nightmares are a side effect? Yeesh!

I hope you find relief soon...the pain pump sounds good to me, even though it gives me the willies hearing about how it's implanted...but then again, I don't have RSD...(Knock on wood!!)

~Ange

sharon1030 · 07-31-2003, 07:38 PM

Hi dollfin,

I've had a morphine pump for the past two years and it's the greatest thing I've ever done for the RSD. I've had RSD for 17 years and before the pump, I was up to 600 mg of M.S. Contin per day. As I've said before, pain-wise, I don't feel a huge difference between the oral meds and the pump. The biggest and most important difference to me is that I'm not really depressed any more (at least, like I was on the oral meds). I didn't even realize how depressed I was until I got off all of the majority of oral meds and onto the pump. Then I noticed that I was so much happier and everyone around me noticed this too. From what I've been told, morphine is depressing to your system and can make you depressed. So, that's the biggest plus that I can think of. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Sharon

cattys · 08-01-2003, 03:23 PM

Hello dollfinjp,

I can't offer any advice on the pain pump but I wanted to welcome you to our RSD family.

I have the spinal cord stimulator. I have read though that alot of people have good sucess with the pain pump.

I hope you stick around on this forum, We are all always here for each other on good days and bad. You can ask questions or just vent if you like. We will always listen.

Take care

Catty7s

dollfinjp · 08-04-2003, 02:03 AM

Thank you all so much for your help. I think I am going to look further into getting a pain pump. I can't help but think that smaller doses, even though delivered to the spine, has to be better than what I am currently doing. Thanks again for all your help and well wishes.

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)( dollfinjp