Girlfriend suggested I submit this to seek help and/or help another with my story so here it goes:
I had a failed l4-l5 fusion w/ hardware, surgery never helped w/ lower back pain or sciatica in left leg. Took every prescription over 2 years; duragesic patches worked best 75 mg but had problems passing out w/ Texas Heat. Did medtronics pain pump, significant relief w/ morphine. Had pump implanted in 2004 and had great success but as I was adjusting up they increased concentration from 5% to 10% began to experience minor nausea. Dr. put lioresal (baclofen) for nausea - helped a great deal at first. Then dr. forgot to put in on 1 refill; I had major nausea for 3 months until the pump was refilled & never missed the lioresal with the Morphine. However at 7mg Morphine nausea started all day long...morning, night, noon w/ no relationship to eating - could eat but had nausea afterwords. Had personal physician of 10 yrs do full workup, did every test & advised problem must be pump - Dr. replaced Morphine & Lioresal with Dilaudid - had major drug reaction, couldn't eat, lost 40 lbs in 2 weeks, bladder stopped, loss of bowels, fever & was hospitalized & pump refilled w/ saline drip for 2 weeks - presc. 30 - 120 mg Morphine daily until pump was refilled with Morphine only .05 mg daily at 10% concentration. Was bedridden, increased pump 20% every week until 2 mg & went back to work - still major pain with sitting, driving, bending & no sleep; had to leave my job & been in major pain ever since w/ increased pain. I'm upset I was not advised by my dr. that my specific pump was under FDA Level 1 recall (especially since I had problems w/ it over 2 years & constantly inquired about the condition of the pump & excessive adjustments increase the risk of pump failure) and second I had a MRI to rule out cathadar problems - Dr. told me everything was just fine - no problems - When I go pick up copy of MRI for second opinion I discover there is a Lipoma of the Filiume over l4-l5 and I was never even told. Dr. first advised wait 1 yr & f/u; then flopped & wanted to refer me out to another dr. asap for possible surgery - However Workers' Comp claims it is not related to the surgery???? I have spoke w/ Medtronics extensively & they advise my specific pump is not approved for Dilaudid, Lioresal or any other drug not Preservative Free - which I suspect could be a cause to my current problems. Dr. prescribed neurotin & I started experiencing major tooth pain from jaw to top of head - worst pain ever - dentist diagnosed as trigeminale...Discovered site below on drug interactions & find several major drug reactions with past drug prescriptions - neurotin & morphine specifically. Don't know about the possible relationship but I stopped neurotin & have not had trigeminale since. So now, I have major lower back pain, difficulty sitting, riding, urinating/bowels after sitting and/or riding, major problems walking, very painfull; feel like something crunchy is in lower back and feels like walking on ice barefoot...very quick walk on toes. I'm no drug addict, don't drink and used to enjoy life. Now I can understand why some people become addicted to drugs, become alcoholics or even take their own life. I'm very stearn on my philosophy on the Choice to Live or Die - I have a standing DNR; I love my Daughter & 4 yr old Grand Daughter but this is not living, it's a burden on others. I Pray this 2nd dr. will help; it's a shame I have a pump and my dr. only wants to reduce & take out to avoid his liability - insurance company was told pump was not under recall when I personally verified by serial # w/ Medtronics and the FDA website - link below - beware serial numbers listed in batches & not by numerical order - so if your searching go thru the entire site to search for your serial number. If my story helps only 1 person; then it's been worth the most horrrible pain I'm in now after 2 days of no sleep and constant yelling & screaming - help, help, help, help - desire to go to emergency room asap but they cannot help me with my problem. I have to find out what is causing the problem rather than just treating the symtoms.
I am so sorry you are going through this. A pain pump was suggested to me as a last resort, but haven't really discussed in lenthg yet. I do have a questions tho. Well, maybe two. How often does it get filled and how do they fill it? Are you put under? Isn't it put under the skin? After trying everything else out there for my problem I rsorted to surgery which I wish so much I never had. I had fusion of L1-2 and L3-4, plus stenosis and bone spurs. I have been in agony ever since. I had to have my son and daughter-in-law move in with me because I can no longer cook, clean shop or do most anything I use to do. My surgery was about a year and a half ago wwith no relief and certainly nothing fixed pain wise that I can tell. I am so depressed all the time I can hardly function. I've learned to read books, one after the other to keep my mind involved and maybe escape for a while. I would likw to keep corosponding with you if you like. Bless you.
My boyfriend was in the same position & going 4-7 days without sleep...as last resort would def. reccomend pump; however make sure you have a reputable dr. who will be in practice a long time & is willing to work with your personal physician to manage your pain & future medical problems as the pump & medication has major interactions with a lot of drugs used to treat other medical conditions....flu, nausea & such.....good luck & god bless....good luck and I hope you don't go thru what my boyfriend has as he is being tortured & I expect won't continue much longer unless he can find another qualified dr. who can address what's going on with his problems.
mary
My boyfriend was in the same position & going 4-7 days without sleep...as last resort would def. reccomend pump; however make sure you have a reputable dr. who will be in practice a long time & is willing to work with your personal physician to manage your pain & future medical problems as the pump & medication has major interactions with a lot of drugs used to treat other medical conditions....flu, nausea & such.....good luck & god bless....good luck and I hope you don't go thru what my boyfriend has as he is being tortured & I expect won't continue much longer unless he can find another qualified dr. who can address what's going on with his problems.
mary
I waited to have surgery until I started going paraylized in the left leg...no sleep for 3-4 days then binge sleeping. Even after the failed surgery same pain; no medication helped other than the duragesic patches 75 mg...worked great except in hot weather...the makes you dissy. Until start going days without sleeping, eating or moving...I would'nt consider the pump...but if that's the case I would do it all over again...just wish the doctors would be honest & upfront about the recall issues and not have to stumble across 2 major life threatening recalls online after having 2-3 yrs of problems w/ pump.
Best of wishes & good luck....I'm no doctor & would certainly rec. a 2nd opinion before you do anything...main thing is have your family dr. on board w/ your pain mgmt dr.; that's very important due to illnesses & drugs you can take & not take.
Best of luck & God Bless,
Mary's b-friend