Do you know of ANY failed Pain Pump Programs or Failed Fusion Surgery Pain

I was taken off work by Workers' Comp CNA / Coventry in 3/1999 for lower back pain - I was placed in an aggressive re-hab program where I ruptured a disc in my lower back.  Workers Comp waited until I began going paralyzed before approving my surgery which caused serious damage to my spine & major pain in the lower back and sciatic pain in the left leg; even after the l4-l5 fusion w/ hardware & bone fusion.

I have exhausted every oral medication on the market with no pain relief.  I tried the stimulator with no help but did get relief from the Medtronics Implanted pain pump.  The pump was permanently implanted in Feb. 2004 and worked great until 2007.  I began experiencing severe nausea morning, noon and night - very similar to withdrawal vomiting - I increased my pump until I did not receive any further relief.  I discussed my situation over 3 years with my doctor and was assured nothing was wrong with the pump & given nausea medication in the pump, nausea medication orally.  I had several test run by my family doctor who could not find anything wrong and advised to investigate the morphine pump.  When I gave the doctor at Neuro Care the results of my test, Dr. Griffith & Dr. Calodney  who replaced Morphine & Nausea Medication in the Pump with Diladen - which I have since been advised is not approved for my specific pump nor is the nausea medication. 

Over the course of 2 weeks, I went back to the doctor 4 times complaining of passing out, inability to eat, major nausea at the smell of food, difficulty sleeping and urinating.  I was to told my pump may have been improperly adjusted; warned my bladder may bust and advised to admit myself to the Texas Spine and Joint Hospital.  I was catharized 4 times, unable to urinate for 3 days and did not eat with major vomiting during my 4 day stay at the hospital and lost 40 lbs. 

The pump was flushed and saline solution ran thru for over 2 weeks.  When the pump was replaced with Morphine, I had no nausea but had horrible pain in my lower back which did not respond to pump increases.  I began to research the pump and discovered the following 2 recalls.  I had to insist the MRI be done with the help of a Workers' Comp Case Mgr to rule out the cathadar problems; was told all was well and advised to keep increasing the pump until I began to get relief.  After months of pain and pump increases, I went to Tyler MRI to get a copy of my MRI's and discovered I had a growth over the surgery area attached to my spine and was never notified.  Further I was never notified of the 2 Medtronic Pump Recalls and the Workers' Comp Case Mgr was told by Dr. Calodney, MD that my pump was not under the recalls.  I have confirmed the recalls with Medtronics and was advised I should have received letters from my Doctor advising me to have the Pump Replaced ASAP.  Further I inquired several times about the Pump and was always told everything was well and nothing to worry about. 

At this point, I have less than 1 year left on the battery on my pump, Doctor Calodney refuses to replace the pum, perform the dye test to test the pump for motor stall and refuses to discuss future pain treatment.  Further, I'm at the point where I cannot work, take care of myself or drive.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.   I was turned down for a 2nd opinion; have called every dr. who does med. pain pumps & no one will meet with me and I've requested medical records and my dr. will not release...I've been trying to get an appt. for 5 weeks now to discuss my problems with withdrawal and the increased pain with the pump reductions...I've been from 7 mg per day to now 1.8 mg per day....and I'm in pain big time...the only thing I take is 20 mg valium at night for sleep and 4 alieve a day. 

I need a capable and competent dr. or legal help to get  a 2nd opinion / medical help with my recalled pump.  My girlfriend has a post with all my medications, I'm early 40's, never abused drugs and don't drink.

Thank you for the reply and we would appreciate any help  you can provide.

I am truly sorry for your continued problems.  Has the worker comp program closed your case?  It seems they helped in the past, are they not willing to help now?  Have these docs tested the catheter to see if it is occluded(dye)?  If these guys refuse to assist, treat you, or give you your records, Have you found a really good attorney?

What about the texas spine institute? can you go back in there?  It does seem that occasionally a hematoma type thing may occur around the catheter entrance with a few people.  They probably won't release your records because they know they messed you up rather formanably, are awaiting a major malpractice...Check also with your states licensing board about the ability of securing your records.  Not being at all familiar with anything in Texas I really don't know the avenues that you can avail yourself of.  First and formost i would get the meanest, dirtiest, most sucessfull malpractice attorney I can find in the nationand also to attempt to complete to get your case progressing with ins comp.  I am sure you have tried to exaust all avenues with the worker comp ins comp, if not move into their offices until they get you some help.  Go to the general question section under intrathecal pump...first question 54 some pages of people i believe and see if anyone else has any suggestions. 

Dear Lord, my fellow painiac, God be with you.

Thanks so much for your reply; I have not found a good attorney to rep. me as Texas Workers' Comp. & the Texas State Board of Insurance passed new laws in 2003 which makes it very difficult to pursue medical mal-practice cases like mine.  I was never told of any cathedra problems, crystallization and even advised to resume daily aggressive activity while for 2 weeks a saline solution was running thru the pump...it felt like I had rocks in my back...I had to contact my Workers Comp case manager just to get a MRI of the cathedra over 4 weeks after the saline & 2 weeks after morphine was placed in the pump...so who knows if that was the problem.  Currently they refuse to run the dye test to verify the morphine is reaching the cathedra and that the motor is functioning properly...I don't know where to turn at this point... I have contacted every attorney, doctor and neurologist in Texas and cannot get anyone to take my case as I've had 1 failed l-4 - l-5 fusion & 1 pump reaction to dilaudid....& the nausea is still ongoing at all times regardless of food, stress or outside variables.

I've spent over $5,000 on dental work for the acid reflux from nausea and my personal physician has run every test on me and advises everything points to the pump - the nausea is very, very almost exactly what I went thru when I went thru withdrawal.  I've tried over 10 prescriptions for nausea & none have provided relief...My treating doctors office has so many patients it's like a cattle call and God forbid  you have a question or a problem as it interferes with their patient load for the day.

I have contacted the FDA, State Board of Medical Devices, the Mfg. and reported the incident & problems I'm having.  I've been advised if the pump stops I could lose consciousness and possible blackout which while driving or working around others could cause injury or even death...who will handle the liability if that happens.  I can get no answers.  Currently I'm just bucking it up, just returned to work 2 weeks ago & in so much pain the only prescription that provides any relief is valium as I understand it is a muscle relaxer and anti-anxiety medication...my Pump doctor will not prescribe any medication at this point & only wants to wean me off the pump and take it out...Workers' Comp says they won't pay to have it taken out so I'm currently in a holding pattern...I cannot take another pump decrease nor will they prescribe anything for the pain I'm currently experiencing going from 3.8 mg per day to 1.8 mg per day currently.

I thank God I can still walk & have nominal balance...without the help of my girlfriend I could not function in this world as a productive member of society - I've discussed the matter with SSI Disab. & they advise I don't qualify for disability in my current condition...So I've just about had it with all the b.s..

I don't know how this thing will turn out, I'm a man of religion but also believe strongly in one's choice to live or die...my condition has leveled off since I quit the pump reductions and started the valium...I eat less than 1 time a day...surviving on Boost and Ensure...which seems to be helping with the nausea...my weight is still dropping from 175 in March to 140  now...about 1-2 lbs per week since I started the liquid diet.

I've given all the information I have, tried everything I can think to try and just have to turn things over to the guy upstairs for guidance and help...I'm still seeking a morphine pump doctor to replace/service/maintain my pump and seeking alternative means to my pain mgmt...I read everything I can get my hands on daily looking for clinical trials and new doctors.

Any further help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Pain Pump Sufferer