Hi all.

First of all, here is a synopsis of my health issues:

- 1994 surgery lumbar HNP;
- 1995 surgery cervical foramina stenosis;
- 1997 "flatback syndrome" lumbar surgery; Harrington rods;
- 2000 "Kyphosis" cervical surgery; Harrington Rods -- cervical/thoracic;
- 2006 Spinal Cord Stimulator Implanted;
- 2011 Spinal Cord Stimulator Removed;

Other surgeries/health issues:

- 2003 Blood clot left leg; surgery;
- 2007 Pancreatic surgery;
- Diabetic;
- congenital absent left kidney;
- Kidney Disease right kidney

Tests:

- EMG severe nerve damage cerival/lumbar area; arthritis; peripheral neuropathy;
- MRI of the cervical showed myelomalacia at C4/5 and C6/7 and focal cord atrophy at C5/6 are the right levels --- dont have report in front of me
- symptoms: weakness in the arms; radiating pain mostly left shoulder area; crushing feeling of the spine at various levels in spine; peripheral neuropathy of both legs, the left worse then the right
- difficulty sitting; standing or walking any length of time. Loss of balance issues.
- Pain levels goes anywher from a 4 on a good day upto a 9 on bad days;
- Pain medications: Hydrocodone 7.5-750 max 6 tablets per day and tizanidine 2 mg tablets 3 x's per day.
- I have diffuclty function on some days.

Here is what is occurring:

- I saw a pain management doctor several days ago. Because of my history it was decided to try the Intrathecal Pain Pump. Note besides the pain medications listed above I have been on oxycodne; baclofen; neurontin; patches and others that I don't recall off hand.
- I am in pain 24/7 at this point.
- So the Morphine pump is the route at this point; in the process of getting the pre-cert from the insurance company and they require a psych exam prior to the implant which was also required prior to the Spinal Cord Stimulator.
- Sine me entire spine is an issue we are only able to address the mid/low back areas. As to the neck region it was decided that if the implant was successful then we would go thru further evaluation as to the problems in the cervical region. Not sure what he had in mind if there are other tests that can be done for further evaluation. But at one point his thought was that I might have to be seen either at Hospital for Special Surgery or John Hopkins Medical Center. But that is be seen in the future as to what else we come up with on what the underlying issues were. He felt my neurosurgeon while he thinks is good; feels that his approach is not what is the best solution for ME. That is why he is thinking of being seen somewhere else.

Any input on the Morphine Pump would be appreciated good or bad. We are looking at the 2nd week in December at this point in doing the implant.

Thanks for any input.

Hello, and glad you are in this forum. I know one person personally who has a morphine pump. She has had this for about 8 years. She does just fine. The only complaint is that it sometimes runs out before the home nurse arrives to fill the pump. I have watched this proceedure, and there is nothing to it. She has severe, DDD, DJD, and this device works great for her. I really hope that you get the relief you need. ginnie

Thank you Ginnie. I can only hope too that this gives me some answers. After being on so many medications and going thru the Spinal Cord Stimulator, you sometimes get to the point that you wonder if you will ever find the answer.

The Intrathacal Pain Pump, as with the Spinal Cord Stimulator, you are required I think by the insurance company to go thru a psych evaluation. So that I have already scheduled. I am also waiting for the pre-cert clearance from my insurance company and the date that I have to be admitted. I need to be admitted to the hospital for 5 days while doing the Trial part.

If that works then the Permanent implant can be done as an Outpatient procedure.

To my understanding the medication should last a long time before worrying about refilling it. I think the device has to be replaced as some point in time but not sure if I read that some place or why I am thinking that.

Will post when things are done on how it works for me. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Have hope. This is going to work. The lady I know is completely bent over, and cannot have anymore surgery. She gets almost 100% relief. I believe she has to have it re-filled monthly, however hers is an older model. This inplant is in her lower tummy region. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Pain is awful to life with. ginnie

I am not sure how to describe this. My doctor first asked me where the pain is the worst? I had a tough time answering that question. There are times that my neck is the issue then the issue is my mid/low back. Then it seems like my entire spine attacks me all at once.

Some days the pain level is 3 or 4, but then without warning it can shoot up to a 9 where I feel like I am screaming on the inside

From what I gathered the pump cant be put into the spine that affect the ENTIRE spine. So what we are going to try to do is address the pain in the mid/low back region. Can't say exactly where the pump will be placed. It comes down to where he can place the device etc to get the best benefit.

Once I know that the trial is sucessful we will move onto address all the other remaining issues.

Not sure where I am headed. He thought and was thinking out loud for the moment that I should be seen at John Hopkins or Hospital for special surgery.

I do have out of net work benefits, but the financial costs to me would be a major issue. There would be a $900 initial out of pocket expense. Then the plan would pay 60% up to a certain limit then I think 100% after that point. I think initial outlay for me would be $6200. I don't have that type of spare cash to go out of network.

But lets say we determine thru further investigation we know more of what my medical problems are and there is no one qualified in my plan to really help me. He said something to the effect that it may come down to battling the insurance company. Do I really have a chance in getting complete coverage if no one in my plan can help me? I have a feeling it would be one big battle and not sure that I would really have much of a chance in winning either.

So where am I left at that point? Just mentioning this as a thought for what the future may or may not entail. Any thoughts?

Thanks for listening.

Hi ~ I had 2 open spinal surgeries, plus the spinal cord implant, and later removal. The dumb surgeries disabled me. I hate that doctor.

For some reason, they tried the morphine pump trial on me -- and it was WONDERFUL. ALL my pain was relieved!! I couldn't believe it. But then the kicker. The spinal cord stimulator was too big for me, and it started to work itself out of me (the generator did) so it had to be removed. Well, since the morphine pump is BIGGER than the SCS, why did they even TRY it on me? Certainly it wouldn't "fit" -- it would be much too big! So I couldn't have it, they finally surmised. DUH. They did the trial for nothing and I was upset, to say the least.

Anyway -- they work GREAT if you're not too skinny!!! I loved it. Best of luck! Hugs, Lee

Leesa has been put through the ringer too. I do know about insurance companies. You are not alone. The last three scripts, my insurance would not cover (asthma) they cost more than what I bring in per month. The last blood test, same thing, antibody test over 1,000 and no coverage. Well it seems that more and more folks are having these kinds of issues.
In your case, sometimes the doctor himself can go to bat for you and write a letter to your insurance company. it is worth the fight to have less pain. If you are going up to a 9, thats enough to ruin that day for sure. I hope there is resolution for you. So many of us are in serious trouble with no way to go because of insurance. Our country is not on the right track yet for medical care. I don't know what the answer is. Wish I did. ginnie

Trying to be optimistic. But after 24 years its easy to get discouraged.

Part of me is hoping it works. I am limitedon options. Since I have kidney disease there are a lot of medications that I CANNOT take because of the effect on the kidney.

So my choices are limited.

I was hopeful on the Spinal Cord Stimulator. It was in for 5 years and quite honestly I was kidding myself. It should have been removed a lot sooner then it wass.

Sorry that you had to have the Morphine Pump removed Leesa. Being too skinny is not my issue I wish I were skinny but I'm not.

But as hopeful as I am and trying to be optimistic the other part of me is thinking that after everything that has been tried and failed am I setting myself up for another disappointment. Guess I won't know either way until I do it. Just praying at this point for some relief.

I've been on disability for 10 years now and never thought my life would end up the way it did.

"Pebbles" I didn't have the pump removed -- I never had it put IN. It was the SCS I had removed. I only had the trial of the pump.. But it was gREAT and the pain relief was wonderful. I couldn't have the pump tho.

So if you had the SCS for all those years, I'm sure you can have the pump. And I'll be a ton of money that it WILL work for you! I just have this "gut" feeling. When is your trial scheduled? Do you have a date set yet?

Let us know when it's gonna be. I'll be looking for your report on the results, that's for sure! Hugs, Lee

Go for it, even go into debt. Your life is worth it. Money or not, your quality of life matters most. ginnie