Hi! My name is Kellie. I have lurked on this group for a few years now occasionally posting. I feel like I should reach out more since you are really the only people who get how much I hurt. I hope to become a more active member. But, for now I have a question. I had a medtronic pain pump implanted in March of 2007. I know they place it fairly close to the skin, and if you lose weight you may have to go in to get it put back in the right place again(the pump, not catheter I think). Every surgery that I have had has caused another RSD site. So when they put the pump in to help the RSD in my leg, it created RSD in my abdomen as well. So it doesn't get touched much. Last nite I accidentally grazed it and felt it much closer than before. It could be because it gets swollen with every pump fill which was 2 weeks ago. But this is my question... Does anybody know if gaining weight moves the pump enough to have another surgery to tighten it down? I was in good shape before this happened. I was 5'10" and 190#. But due to the inability to walk I have put on some weight. I have now started losing some of the weight. But I don't have any idea what is going on. It hurts more too. The problem is also that I live in a pretty rural area. To get to the dr's who installed the pump it would take a 7 hour drive. I have a dr up here but he's the only one and therefore takes quite awhile to get in. If any of you have any advice I would be most appreciative. Thank you all.
Kellie

hi kellie

well as far as i know im the only one with a pump.. and as much as i know you wouldnt have to have to go back in.. there is a pocket so to say that they create when they put your pump in. and losing or gaining doesnt effect this as the pump is free floating.. for instances in december of 08 i had to have my appendix out and from having the air pumped into my stomach and because it had to be so much because my pump was right on top of my appendix that from that it moved my pump around about 180 degrees so there shouldnt be any complactions from gaining and losing as i have done the losing part and the skin will just get tighter around the pump..


if u dont mind me askin what do u have in your pump.. i have fentanyl and on the 6th i will also have maricaine 1% . i have had my pump since 04... and replaced in in the same time u had yours... where do u live ..? i live out side nashville.. tn

welcome to the group

carrie

Hi Carrie,
Thanks for the welcome. I have 3 medications in my pump. I have clondine, bupivacaine and dilaudid in my pump. They aren't working really well though so I might start trying cone snail venom in my pump. It's a bit risky for my, so it's on the back burner for now. I also still take oxycontin, percocet for the pain and phenergan for the pain. I live in California in the very most northern part. Thanks for the advice. I just really don't want any excess surgeries. And I do tend to worry a bit. I wish you strength and joy through this hard time.
Kellie