Comments on: Medtronic Intrathecal Pain Pump for Spasticity http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/ Quadriplegia, Spinal Cord Injury, Wheelchairs, Stem Cells, Reseach and Life. Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:55:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: MD http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-290 MD Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:31:04 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-290 I'm closing comments for now. We've got a good group of comments regarding the pros and cons based on personal experience. No medical device is perfect, and every body is different, reacts different, and can change. Talk with your doctor to determine if it's right for you. Hope some of your questions were answered. Visit medtronic.com for more info. Mike I’m closing comments for now.

We’ve got a good group of comments regarding the pros and cons based on personal experience. No medical device is perfect, and every body is different, reacts different, and can change. Talk with your doctor to determine if it’s right for you.

Hope some of your questions were answered. Visit medtronic.com for more info.

Mike

]]> By: Laura N http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Laura N Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:16:16 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-237 Hi everyone, after reading most of your stories, my hope for at least 50% of pain relief for my mom might be possible. We are celebrating her 80th birthday today and i hhope i can get her up and convince her to go. My mom suffered 2 strokes and has lung cancer. She also has pretty bad arthritis. She is in constant pain in one or more areas. The strok left her with spasticity pain and then there is the arthritis. She is on all sorts of oral pain medications. Non seem to help. She get constipated from all the narcotics and sleeps most of the time. She states she is too tired to get up to eat. The pain physician we saw suggested the pain pump after hearing how unsuccessful other meds were. She goes in on monday to have the pump inserted. We consider this her last hope for some pain relief. At least enough to enjoy what time she has left with us. So thanks everyone and wish her good luck. Ill up date all of you after we get it done. Hi everyone, after reading most of your stories, my hope for at least 50% of pain relief for my mom might be possible. We are celebrating her 80th birthday today and i hhope i can get her up and convince her to go. My mom suffered 2 strokes and has lung cancer. She also has pretty bad arthritis. She is in constant pain in one or more areas. The strok left her with spasticity pain and then there is the arthritis. She is on all sorts of oral pain medications. Non seem to help. She get constipated from all the narcotics and sleeps most of the time. She states she is too tired to get up to eat. The pain physician we saw suggested the pain pump after hearing how unsuccessful other meds were. She goes in on monday to have the pump inserted. We consider this her last hope for some pain relief. At least enough to enjoy what time she has left with us. So thanks everyone and wish her good luck. Ill up date all of you after we get it done.

]]> By: Bonnie Hunt http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-194 Bonnie Hunt Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:46:47 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-194 I am a 58 yr old female that suffers from cronic back pain. I had titanium cages & fusion on L4-5 in 2002. I have since had continual pain,L sided neuropathy & many scripts for pain meds & muscle relaxers.MRI's show slight bulge above & below but Doc says no surgery needed. I have been given the option of getting an interthecal pump....I would be grateful for anymore info I can receive before I make this decision. I am a 58 yr old female that suffers from cronic back pain. I had titanium cages & fusion on L4-5 in 2002. I have since had continual pain,L sided neuropathy & many scripts for pain meds & muscle relaxers.MRI’s show slight bulge above & below but Doc says no surgery needed. I have been given the option of getting an interthecal pump….I would be grateful for anymore info I can receive before I make this decision.

]]> By: Wendi M. http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Wendi M. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:32:29 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-131 to everybody who has the pump or is considering getting one. I am the very first person to ever have one here in the U.S. that is an interthecal morphine pump. I had been in a care accident back in 1989 and suffered a broken back and neck and am being held together by rods and pins. I had immense pain and then the pumps came along. I thought this was the answer to all my problems. I had not worked in almost ten years as I was basically bed ridden. I first got the little pump that had to be refilled like every six weeks or so, then when the new pump came out, my doctor was quick to replace the small pump with the larger one to go more time between refills. Well little did I know that a month after I had this new pump put in, the FDA recalled the pump they put in me for various reasons. Mostly that it was not working correctly and had some delivery problems. Over the past two years, I have been in the hospital for various complications of my heart stopping, being paralyzed, migraine headaches which I had never suffered before this last pump was put in, episodes which presented as major stroke symptoms, but were indeed not strokes. I want to tell anybody out there that although this may be the answer you are looking for to your pain, and it did indeed help me to the point where I was able to open my own business and have a thriving business yet today, however, be aware, make sure that you investigate this option completely and know what you are getting into. The pump may be the answer, but nothing comes without side effects and the ones I have had lately are life threatening. make sure your pump does not get below 5mg. before next refill as the pumps are not accurate after this. Also make sure your doctor is placing a pump that is FDA approved and make sure that your doctor follows all protocol by Medtronic for filling and refilling of the pump. Never allow your doctor to get your medicine from different labs due to convenience. Once you start with one lab, that must be the lab your meds come from everytime. If not, you could be in big trouble as every lab makes their medicine differently and at diffenent strengths. I am at the point where I am going to have my pump turned off and possibly taken out and go back to orals for a while till I decide what to do. I am very scared at the side effects I have been having and don't feel that the pump is doing what it should be doing at this time. I feel the pump has a mind of it's own and pumps what it wants to and is not exact as my pump has gone empty five times now before the rescheduled refill date. So something is seriously wrong and thus causes me to have these central nervous system breakdown or problems. I was always an advocate for the pump. NOT ANYMORE!! be careful and really think it through. Plus any body seeing a pain management dr. should be able to have the pump installed by that dr. not an anethesiologist. Make sure your Dr. installs the pump and keeps and eye on the catheter as mine has come disconnected from the pump twice now and I had to have additional surgery to fix it. to everybody who has the pump or is considering getting one. I am the very first person to ever have one here in the U.S. that is an interthecal morphine pump. I had been in a care accident back in 1989 and suffered a broken back and neck and am being held together by rods and pins. I had immense pain and then the pumps came along. I thought this was the answer to all my problems. I had not worked in almost ten years as I was basically bed ridden. I first got the little pump that had to be refilled like every six weeks or so, then when the new pump came out, my doctor was quick to replace the small pump with the larger one to go more time between refills. Well little did I know that a month after I had this new pump put in, the FDA recalled the pump they put in me for various reasons. Mostly that it was not working correctly and had some delivery problems. Over the past two years, I have been in the hospital for various complications of my heart stopping, being paralyzed, migraine headaches which I had never suffered before this last pump was put in, episodes which presented as major stroke symptoms, but were indeed not strokes. I want to tell anybody out there that although this may be the answer you are looking for to your pain, and it did indeed help me to the point where I was able to open my own business and have a thriving business yet today, however, be aware, make sure that you investigate this option completely and know what you are getting into. The pump may be the answer, but nothing comes without side effects and the ones I have had lately are life threatening. make sure your pump does not get below 5mg. before next refill as the pumps are not accurate after this. Also make sure your doctor is placing a pump that is FDA approved and make sure that your doctor follows all protocol by Medtronic for filling and refilling of the pump. Never allow your doctor to get your medicine from different labs due to convenience. Once you start with one lab, that must be the lab your meds come from everytime. If not, you could be in big trouble as every lab makes their medicine differently and at diffenent strengths. I am at the point where I am going to have my pump turned off and possibly taken out and go back to orals for a while till I decide what to do. I am very scared at the side effects I have been having and don’t feel that the pump is doing what it should be doing at this time. I feel the pump has a mind of it’s own and pumps what it wants to and is not exact as my pump has gone empty five times now before the rescheduled refill date. So something is seriously wrong and thus causes me to have these central nervous system breakdown or problems. I was always an advocate for the pump. NOT ANYMORE!! be careful and really think it through. Plus any body seeing a pain management dr. should be able to have the pump installed by that dr. not an anethesiologist. Make sure your Dr. installs the pump and keeps and eye on the catheter as mine has come disconnected from the pump twice now and I had to have additional surgery to fix it.

]]> By: Dee http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Dee Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:14:11 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-90 My mom just had an ITBP placed and I can't say that I recommend the thing. She may be be one of the few that has had this many problems but they have not been good! She had a stroke about 2 yrs. ago and so they thought that this would help her. But now she has had such distress with it, she wishes she had never gotten it. She had a spinal fluid leakage and it's made her have severe nausea and vomitting and dizziness and headaches. She has also had sharp pains running down her spine. I don't call this a "great" experience. My mom just had an ITBP placed and I can’t say that I recommend the thing. She may be be one of the few that has had this many problems but they have not been good! She had a stroke about 2 yrs. ago and so they thought that this would help her. But now she has had such distress with it, she wishes she had never gotten it. She had a spinal fluid leakage and it’s made her have severe nausea and vomitting and dizziness and headaches. She has also had sharp pains running down her spine. I don’t call this a “great” experience.

]]> By: worriedwife http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-87 worriedwife Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:19:28 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-87 Mike, Thank you so much for the response. I wasn't expecting to hear anything so soon... and POOF, there you were:) He has had the dosage increased twice, both a 10% increase. I'm not sure how much more they can go up on it, but the info you provided is extremely helpful. He has been seeing his neurosurgeon for pump fills, but has been referred to a pain mgmt dr.. We are scheduled to see him tomorrow morning. Just knowing that we have another option is a huge relief! We were wondering if the pump had just run it's course and was done, as so many other treatments have...Now, we can have some hope. Thanks again, Worried Wife Mike, Thank you so much for the response. I wasn’t expecting to hear anything so soon… and POOF, there you were:) He has had the dosage increased twice, both a 10% increase. I’m not sure how much more they can go up on it, but the info you provided is extremely helpful. He has been seeing his neurosurgeon for pump fills, but has been referred to a pain mgmt dr.. We are scheduled to see him tomorrow morning. Just knowing that we have another option is a huge relief! We were wondering if the pump had just run it’s course and was done, as so many other treatments have…Now, we can have some hope. Thanks again, Worried Wife

]]> By: MD http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-86 MD Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:57:57 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-86 Hi worriedwife, You can definitely build a tolerance to the drug. I'm using dilaudid as an alternative to morphine.. so Yes. If the pain came back suddenly, you may want to ask for a dye test to make sure the catheter doesn't have any leaks. The first step his dr. will likely suggest is increasing the morphine. If after a few increases.. let's say 10% per increase, there's no change, they should look at the other alternatives mentioned. Hope for the best, Mike Hi worriedwife,

You can definitely build a tolerance to the drug. I’m using dilaudid as an alternative to morphine.. so Yes.

If the pain came back suddenly, you may want to ask for a dye test to make sure the catheter doesn’t have any leaks.

The first step his dr. will likely suggest is increasing the morphine. If after a few increases.. let’s say 10% per increase, there’s no change, they should look at the other alternatives mentioned.

Hope for the best,
Mike

]]> By: worriedwife http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-85 worriedwife Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:45:00 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-85 My Husband has a medtronic morhphine pump that worked well for the first year and a half, but now NO relief. Is it possible to build a tolerance to the drug? Also, I have been reading the posts about dilaudid. Can this be used as an alternative to morphine? Will he withdrawal from the morphine if they switch to the different medicine? Any help would be appreciated. He has had 3 lamis, 1 microdisectomy, a dorsal column stimulator (also medtronic) that is currently not working due to slipping from the nerve, and deals w/constant sciatic pain due to permanent nerve damage... not doing too well... Thanks so much! My Husband has a medtronic morhphine pump that worked well for the first year and a half, but now NO relief. Is it possible to build a tolerance to the drug? Also, I have been reading the posts about dilaudid. Can this be used as an alternative to morphine? Will he withdrawal from the morphine if they switch to the different medicine? Any help would be appreciated. He has had 3 lamis, 1 microdisectomy, a dorsal column stimulator (also medtronic) that is currently not working due to slipping from the nerve, and deals w/constant sciatic pain due to permanent nerve damage… not doing too well… Thanks so much!

]]> By: MD http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-80 MD Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:15:30 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-80 Hey Vin, Nausea is definitely not fun. I've been there. As for having a catheter leak... I had a leak a few years ago. It was found after my doc had a dye test done. Have you had this test? When I had the leak, it contributed to a definite increase in my tone and sweating. No nausea. I have had nausea though from too much baclofen. Everyone is different. Could you be getting too much? As for the March recall... http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571950 It seems the biggest problem caused are "inflammatory mass (granuloma) formations at or near the distal tip". "In a letter to healthcare professionals, the company noted that the reported incidence of inflammatory mass with intrathecal drug delivery has increased 5-fold from 2001 to 2007 (0.49% vs 0.1%) and is expected to continue increasing. Symptoms most commonly include decreased therapeutic response/inadequate pain relief (33.5% of cases), pain (32.6%), and neurologic deficit/dysfunction (17.4%)." Hope this helps. Hey Vin,

Nausea is definitely not fun. I’ve been there.

As for having a catheter leak… I had a leak a few years ago. It was found after my doc had a dye test done. Have you had this test? When I had the leak, it contributed to a definite increase in my tone and sweating. No nausea. I have had nausea though from too much baclofen. Everyone is different. Could you be getting too much?

As for the March recall…

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571950

It seems the biggest problem caused are “inflammatory mass (granuloma) formations at or near the distal tip”.

“In a letter to healthcare professionals, the company noted that the reported incidence of inflammatory mass with intrathecal drug delivery has increased 5-fold from 2001 to 2007 (0.49% vs 0.1%) and is expected to continue increasing. Symptoms most commonly include decreased therapeutic response/inadequate pain relief (33.5% of cases), pain (32.6%), and neurologic deficit/dysfunction (17.4%).”

Hope this helps.

]]> By: Vin http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Vin Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:37:08 +0000 http://www.myquadriplegia.com/2007/01/medtronic-intrathecal-pain-pump-for-spasticity/#comment-79 Generalized Dystonia I have a Bac. pump (5 years now) and I have read that my model and several other Medtronic pumps were recalled in Mar 2008. I have complained of various problems for almost a year. This is actually my 2nd pump and I have had previous problems with the Cath. Anyone else with similar complaints? I will probably get the next generation pump witin the next several months. WARNING (GRAPHIC EXPLANATION)!!! Currently, I have severe nausea, and I'm going to the bathroom like crazy, I'm also puking (no, I don't drink nor am I sick). I think it could be related to a bac. leak. I have been down this road before 5 years ago. Anyone affected by the March 2008 recall? 256 468-0547 Generalized Dystonia

I have a Bac. pump (5 years now) and I have read that my model and several other Medtronic pumps were recalled in Mar 2008. I have complained of various problems for almost a year. This is actually my 2nd pump and I have had previous problems with the Cath.

Anyone else with similar complaints?
I will probably get the next generation pump witin the next several months.

WARNING (GRAPHIC EXPLANATION)!!!
Currently, I have severe nausea, and I’m going to the bathroom like crazy, I’m also puking (no, I don’t drink nor am I sick). I think it could be related to a bac. leak.

I have been down this road before 5 years ago.

Anyone affected by the March 2008 recall?

256 468-0547

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