Pain Pump - Pro's & Cons

[joeworkflow]

For those of you have have a pain pump for spinal related pain, would you be free to share what you've found to be the pro's and cons to this system?

I see my PM Dr. this morning and my wife and I are going to talk it over with him, however, I'd like to hear from folks who actually use one.

[Pharmacist.steve]

I don't have one - but wife does - has had it since June 2006. Obviously the con is having two incisions and the six weeks of recovery. BUT .. my wife now says that if she had to do it over again ... she would still do it. the pros is that a lot of the side effects from oral opiates - especially constipation - is all but gone. the dose that you are taking is normally cut around 99%. My wife has the Medtronic PTM ( Patient therapy manager) which is like the "morphine button" people have in the hospital after surgery - except wireless ... 60% of her daily meds are done via a basal rate (constant drip) and the other 40% she controls via the PTM for break-thru... Onset of relief from the PTM she claims is in the 5-15 minute range.

[lobelsteve]

It is not to be used to replace high dose opioids, but to replace high side effects from opioids.