parathesia caused by intrathecal pain pump
 

After years of chronic LBP and no relief from moderate care I was told an intrathecal pain pump was my best option. Went through the 3 day trial in the hospital. Some relief with morphine, not sure right now of the amount (mg) per day. At the end of 2nd day I was throwing up quite a bit, constipated and really struggling to urinate. Told my young pain doctor this when he came to "visit" on his daily rounds. Third day he came by I had taken phenegren, dolcolax, fleets..........having to sit (I'm a male) for 20 minutes or more to urinate. He says when he puts the pump in we can adjust the dosage or even change the type of drug being deliveredand he'll send me to a urologist. Then, without gloves on, he pulled the tape holding the catheter against my back off and just pulled the catheter out with a "snap"! Didn't even put a bandade on it.

Not a drop of blood or anything. How deep could it have been for me not to have been in pain when it was pulled, why no blood, why no bandage if the catheter was in my SCF?

Pump installed April 09. First catheter tip crushed during implant, second one in w/o incident. Had to have 2 blood patches done from fluid leakage and horrific head aches. In the hospital for the second headache/blood patch for 5 days.

On my first office visit after the implant (4 days later to check the staples) I told the nurse and the doctor I had a strange burning sensation just above my belt line and out to both hips. Not a word or concern from the doctor. Pain/sensation gets worse, and is moving up to my upper back/shoulder blades. Still no reaction from doctor.

fast forward.......December 09 pump removed because of drug(s) (several)reactions/intolerances.

For almost a 6 months now the (parathesia) sensations have now gone down into both knees and feet. The burning in my feet has made a grown man cry. I'm 57 and consider myself as tuff as a $2 steak. But this burning in my upper and lower back and feet has whipped me. PCM doesn't know, referred to another PM doc. Have had to go through his list of tests to include repeat of MRI's from October/November of 09, physical therapy work assessment, blood work, nerve conduction (also repeats of Nov 09) and a psych eval. Still waiting for floow-up with him (PM doc).

Am I depressed? Dang right I'm depressed. Not dangerously, but enough to make a grown man cry sometimes with pain/aggrevation. I worked 37 years and a few months (24 US Army and 13 FDOC) without the first day of unemployment until I retierd Feb 09. I used to be one of the most active 56 year olds you could hang with. Now I'm a "whinny boy". 37 years of hard work to retire with this?

I'm grasping at straws here today. Down the middle of my back feels like the skin has been peeled off and my T-shirt is rubbing against my raw flesh. From my knees down feels like I'm standing in scalding hot water or at best a severe sunburn.

I've taken almost every kind of pain pill and even amitriptylene without the first bit of relief. Currently taking loritab 10/500 4/day and nucynta 100 4 times/day with the loritab. I get light headed and sometimes nauseated, but the burning never subsides. Sleep (good sleep) over an hour at the time is a thing of the past. Take 0.5 mg of triazolam and still don't sleep.

Besides euthenasia(sp), does anyone have any shred of advice or similar symptoms?

thanks in advance,
d-fumes

hi and welcome, tho sorry you are going thru this

we also have a forum specifically for pain pump discussion so not sure if maybe the members there can help you

here is the link
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum118.html

Hello 'fumes'
 

WOW! I am speechless.
I want to welcome you and am SO glad you have found this forum!
You will find WONDERFUL support here!

Frankly, I'm 'dumbstruck' and don't know what to say because i have 'too much' to say!? .....does that make sense? :o

Please stick around, as there are many forums here that will benefit you greatly.....
Your situation sounds like crisis-mode.....

In the main menu there is a subforum specifically for pain pump discussion.
This is listed under the "Medications" section.....

As far as your pain issue.....there are several places that can address this.
Your pain sounds 'acute', which in my opinion is 'emergency'.....whereas, chronic pain issues can be addressed in many places here at NT.....

Please hang in there!
More will come along who can think more clearly to direct you.....
But to be honest, right now all I can offer is a hug :hug: and say
'You are NOT alone!'.......

Truly Caring
Rae
:grouphug:

XXXXXXX

thanks to both above. I stumbled onto this forum while "google'ing" for treatments of parathesia. I just registered and posted at the first likely "room". I'll cut & paste this over to the PP forum.

thanks so much for the warm welcomes.

Lee

im a40 year old women i have a pump in for severe rsd my pain symptons sound like what your explaining.I had 1 pump removed and been thru the same csf leak problem.

So Sorry to hear this!!
 

There are MANY wonderful folks at the RSD forum who will give you lotsa love and support, click here....
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

Also, the Pain Pump forum is here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum118.html

Most discussion is on the SCS, but more and more folks are coming on board talking about the pain pump.
It would be great if you wanted to introduce yourself over there.....

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this!
How long have you had your pump in?

Rae
:hug:

Sounds like this might be RSD?
 

Hi d-fumes and welcome!

This sounds like reflex sympathetic dystrophy possibly?

I'd find my own new pain doc & find someone you are comfortable with...

I wonder how the same doc would handle a similar treatment from say someone trained in a different discipline of medicine unfamiliar to him?

Interesting if the tables were turned.

Just my $0.02

WaterWabbit

Hi there. I really empathize with you. You need your sleep to survive and deal with everything else. have you tried Zopiclone for sleeping? It works! Good luck.

Sleep remedy
 

Hi there. I really sympathize with you and all the pain you are dealing with. You need sleep if you are going to deal with this intense pain.
Have you ever tried Zopiclone? It is wonderful. I'm not sure but does relaxing in an epsom salt bath before bed calm you somewhat? Zopiclone is a great sleeping pill and hypnotic. It is known for giving us good REM sleep. Would your doctor consider a month trial? Let me know if that helps. Good luck.