I am 57 years old and have suffered chronic pain since I was a young woman. I was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia after having many diagnosis TMJ, arthritis, pinched nerve in my spine, poor tooth health, fallen arches, overweight...I weighed 130 lbs at 5'1",psychological causes..I was a victim of incest. and many others. I am taking neurontin amytriptilene lorazapam. I get an intravenous infusion of lidocain once a week which helps for a short time but the only real relief I get is from oxycodone tablets but I am VERY afraid of addiction.I also am having stomach problems due to the constant use of nsaids. I was wondering if a combination of pain medication and lidocain administered using a medtronic intrathecal pain pump would be a good way to control my constant pain? Thanks Muriel
Q: would a medtronic intrathecal pain pump be a good treatment for chronic pain of fibromyalgia
As with any treatment for fibromyalgia, one size does not fit all. I know a few FM patients who have had good results using a pain pump, but it's not for everyone. The best thing you can do is talk to your doctor and see if you would be a good candidate for a pain pump. I don't have any personal experience with them, but we have a very good discussion about intrathecal pain pumps on our forum under the thread "Willing to share experience with intrathecal pain pump implant."
(Note: If you've never been to the forum before, you'll have to register separately from your registration here on ChronicPainConnection. You can, however, use the same e-mail address and password if you like to make it easier to remember.)
I do want to caution you about something I noticed in a previous answer to your question. Someone recommended a Web site and doctor who will treat you by phone. I checked out the site and have some serious concerns about it. You have to question anyone who claims to have an 80% cure rate but has no completed clinical trials to back up their claim. Before considering any treatments that sound too good to be true, please read "Let the Buyer Beware."
Karen
Hello:
A pain pump will not work because of the variation of pain from muscular, to joint, fibromyalgia is difficult to treat, save your money, I asked the same question and the Dr. would not guarantee it.
Al
Hey there! Wow, it sounds like we are twins! We have exactly the same problems. You are taking the meds that I was taking about 4 years ago. I have cervical stenosis so my pain management doctor severed the nerves in my neck...no more pain from that. I had the same type of treatment done to my back for the spondylosis. The worst is the fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Because I have acid reflux and a history of bleeding ulcers multiple times, my doctor worried about medications on my stomach as well. However, he prescribed Zantac and it does the trick. Ophoids is about the only way to treat FMS unless you go to www.4fibromaylgia.com and talk with Dr. Daniel Dantini. He can treat you over the telephone. Trust me when I say that this is one phone call you don't want to forget to make. He's been down the same roads as us and he has found not only the cause of FMS, but he has also found a treatment that will allow you to throw away all of your pills in 6 months and you will lose a lot of weight...all within a 6 week period. All you have to do is do what he says...that's it!
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