The type of pump you use depends on what company your Doctor uses. If your Doctor works with Medtronic, you get a Medtronic pump, but in my experience for pumps, I would go with either Medtronic or St Jude which use to be ANS. I have a Medtronic. Hope that helps

Just wanted to say 'welcome' and glad you've come to the SCS/Pain Pump forum......
I am so sorry tho, for what you are going thru!
I can certainly see your concern! You're being left with few options, all of which appear to be 'guess work' from your physicians.

You are doing a good thing by checking around. I certainly wouldn't commit to any of these options until I've researched all there is to know.
And you said your insurance is not covering these procedures!? oh my.
My first instinct would be to suggest doing a trial before you make any decisions.
So, you've already had a pump and it is still in you, but you don't use it?

There are a couple more members here at NT who come to mind. I think they would be able to offer some good input. I'll track them down and point them to your post and see if they've got some good input for you.

Stick around ok! There are SO many caring folks here...
We continue to learn from one another as we share our experiences.
Caring
Rae

Thanks for the support and that would be great if you could contact some other members who you think might be able to help.
I have chronic headaches and neck pain due to three brain/neck surgeries and I did do pump implant in lumbar region. I tried Prialt first because I tend to respond better to non-opitaes, but couldn't take side effects. So, I was on Dilaudid, Klonidine and Baclofen and went up to 20mg, but it didn't even help as much as the oral medications. Crazy, huh? So, I tappered off and now it is running saline and I am back on oral meds which is causing my body to fall apart.
I just can't find any information about cervical pump trials or implants and especially can't seem to find a Doctor who has done more than four! I am having a hard time figuring it out. Of course, insurance won't pay for it and that adds to the pressure. Anyway, thanks you so much for the e-mail and I will look forward to hearing from you or some of your friends. Take care and hope you are doing well, Melissa

I will send you a 'visitor message'....it will be on your profile page, k.
Rae

Hi Melissa, and here come hugs your way. I am an SCS patient myself so I have no experience at all in pumps, but I do care and just want you to know you are in my prayers that an effective solution will be found for you and soon!! I do understand how hard a life living in pain presents. Rae is so right, this place is filled with MANY caring people, and I am sure she will work to find the folks to steer your direction so you might learn of the cervical pump solution you contemplate. Rae is a gem of a friend, and I am glad she reached out to me as she is doing with you.

My prayers go with you that you find THE solution for your pain,
Mark56

I see so much information on SCS. My doctor is tellin me that the pain pump is my last option for my pain to go away from a bad hip replacement
3 years ago. I am looking for as much insight as possible.

Morphine pumps are decided based off of a test where they check you into the hospital overnight. They then inject you with morphine directly into the spinal fluid. You'll know right then and there if it works. If it does like it did me, I was actually crying it felt so good to have the pain ease off to such an immense degree. You're kept in the hospital since morphine does/might/could have some rather nasty side effects such as slowing down your breathing and heart muscle that can be rather detrimental.

My pump has changed my life, but it's not a panacea and so if someone thinks that they'll get rid of all their pain if they just get a pump, they're usually very sad the with end results. It works very well for modulating pain so you don't have the severe highs and lows, but it's not a silver bullet. It's also not cheap, so there has to be a ton of well documented medical paperwork showing the need after all other options have usually been exhausted. They're rather large and annoying, but when you're trying to get the pain to ease up no matter what it takes, then and only then do I think that this should be looked at seriously.

The most horrific story I ever read was about a person who lied during the test about it helping ease the pain when it really hadn't, they got so wrapped up in knowing they had to have one. Then it was installed (because the doctor has been told the test had worked) and then the patient complained it wasn't working. In this persons case, I doubt if it ever will. If you have the test and you notice a considerable backing off of pain, then it just might be the wonderful solution that can give back to you as much life as it has me. Best of luck, Bob.

Hi,
I have had my pump for some time now. I started out with a SCS but I never made it past the the first week as I had a bad infection. After having to wait a year,I had a pump implanted and so glad I did. I have had some problems but after working thru them, I am mostly pain free.

This is an important thread and I'm glad you brought it back up to the top!
SO glad the pump is working out for you!
There will no doubt be folks coming to you with questions - we just don't seem to get alot of 'pump talk'.......
Sorry to hear you acquired the bad infection with the SCS.....but it's good to hear the pump is working for you!

Rae

Sorry. but this time you're trying to compare the two which are about as alike as an airplane and a boat. While they both are a mode of transportation, they just don't have that much in common as far as how you get from point A to point B or in how they handle pain.

As far as which way you should go, I'd love to tell you that you're the one in charge, but I know that's a lie. It's your doctor's and your insurance company who'll ultimately make that choice. These decisions will be made after you've gone through the tests to see how you respond to each type of pain therapy/treatment, not based off of what you think you'd like most.

You're seeking good and hard answers but you also deserve equally as direct answers.

After having my second internal morphine pump installed last year, with my situation, medical background and prognosis for the future, there's been nothing that's worked as well, but please keep in mind that no matter which way you go, there are always pro's and con's that you're probably not fully aware of. With a morphine pump there's the awkward pump that's now in the way and many times quite bothersome sitting on your stomach. Add with that the actual location where the catheter is sewn into place in your spine. Both are annoying and sometimes even painful, but for the added pain relief it's worth it. Doing simple things like bending over isn't near as easy once you're wearing this internal device 7/24.

Find a doctor you can trust with you life. Then go from there. Unless you're lucky enough to have the resources so you can pay the 30 grand or more for a pump, most of these decisions are ultimately left up to the doctor(s) and whoever is paying for it. Meanwhile learn all you can about it so you can decide for yourself if this is really something you can live with. There's no perfect solution. Morphine pumps will not make "all" the pain go away in most situations, but it will help moderate the pain more evenly throughout the day so you can be more comfortable. Only those who have gone through the test to check first and then have been very honest with the results should consider this as an option.

The worst situation I've read of so far was when a person lied during the test about how well the pain had subsided during the test even though it hadn't. Because of their lie, the doctor did install the pump. Then the patient was upset later when it didn't work. It wasn't the doctors fault or the pumps, it was the patients yet that person couldn't figure out why their "silver" bullet wasn't giving them the pain relief they expected.

You're seeking answers and you're on the right track. Now just keep an open mind to what the professionals say and go from there. It's not an easy road, but it's one worth taking for some health and pain situations. Best of luck, Bob.