When oral medication and other treatments haven’t effectively managed
a patient’s chronic pain, we may recommend an intrathecal pain pump
implant. These devices are implanted under the skin and deliver medication
directly to the central nervous system, via a catheter along the spine.
People who have
complex regional pain syndrome or other types of neuropathic pain may be good candidates for a pain pump
implant. At American Pain Consortium, our goal is to use the least invasive
treatments and move on to more advanced procedures only if initial treatments
are not providing adequate pain relief.
About Pain Pump Implants
Initially, patients receive an external pump and temporary catheter, so
they can determine over the course of a week whether the pump is effectively
reducing their pain. If the pump is relieving pain, the next step is a
procedure to place a permanent pain pump (about the size of a hockey puck)
under the skin and attach it to a permanent catheter. The pumps are programmable
and can deliver different dosages of medication throughout the day.
Recovery Time
Patients can usually go home the day of their pain pump implant procedure,
but they should avoid driving until their follow-up appointment. Some
soreness and discomfort is normal following this procedure. Patients should
avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activity, and alcohol consumption for at
least two weeks (your doctor will provide a full list of restrictions).
Offering Hope for Chronic Pain Patients
People who have chronic pain often try several treatment methods before
finding one that works. If you’re struggling with chronic pain,
don’t lose hope – a pain pump implant or another type of spinal
therapy may be effective in alleviating your symptoms.
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