does anyone know what particular medications are put in these pumps. my father recently had one installed and it is filled with dilaudid. it is not working very well, and i was wondering if there are other medicines that can be added or that can replace the dilaudid. for some reason my father never has the answer to anything that he is going through. he is scared the doctors will not do anything if he troubles them. anyway, can a local anaesthetic or a nerve block be put in there? or some stronger opiates. we are totally open to suggestions, just please be sure info. is true. thx. his primary pain is the result of a fusion to his lower back. lots of pain at lower back and legs.

Hi, This is my first time to be on here, I'm not sure I'm doing this right. I will have surgery in a few months for my 3rd pain pump. I currently have fentanyl in it, I did have morphine. Dilaudid is not as strong as morphine these can be used with an anesthetic. I would really encourage You to talk to his doctor. I have had R.S.D. since 1993, I hope this helps.

There are other medications that can be put/added into pain pumps. Some are FDA approved (e.g. morphine, baclophen, ziconotide, possibly others -- I could not find a current definitive list), and others that are used "off-label". Your father's doctor had his reasons for prescribing dilauded, but if it is not working, he needs to have that discussion with his doctor.

See: how to talk to your doctor about pain
See: how to talk to your doctor about pain medication

If your father has difficulty discussing these matters with his doctor, it might help if you or another trusted family member could accompany him for support and to help him communicate.

Best wishes,

Doc