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spinal stimulator vs morph pump

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Posted 8/27/2009 2:30 PM (GMT -8)
looking for info, pros and cons, or god I wish I had never done that stories for spinal stimulators and morphine pumps. First some background. IN 01 I agrevated a l5/s1 spondelothesis in an accident at work. After fighting workers corruption I mean comp. for 2 years I finally could not take it any more and had the Vet. Administration perform the surgery. I served 10 years in the navy and I thought at least had that to fall back on.

After what I guess was a very bloody and messy surgery the end result was a botched surgery. As a final kick in the crotch 5 days after the surgery comp decided to authorize the other.

Last CT and Cat Scan shows major to severe narrowing at l4/5 and L5/S1. Explains all the leg pains I've had for years they said I couldn't have.

One guy wants to put a stimulator in so bad he can taste it, an other want to try the morphine pump, and I won't even go see the one that started talking about surgery to remove and redo the fixation at L5/S1.

This has been a informative site just reading others post. I could go on all day about medication horror stories. Most of my meds are thru the VA and they will push them babies except the ones you need.

sorry about the spelling.
Posted 8/27/2009 3:49 PM (GMT -8)
I have both a pump and stimulator. They are very different. E-mail me at: s_marie@healingwell.net and we can arrange to talk if you are interested. Please post a note that you are e-mailing me - I do no regularly check that e-mail, this way I will know to check it.
Posted 8/27/2009 3:51 PM (GMT -8)
Wow, so very sorry your having to deal with all this!
please know that I care and send soft hugz...
there are a lot of old postings on pain pump and stims..so if you'd got
a little time go through the posts here and read up, don't every worry about
spelling errors, we usually understand what your trying to says...
there are a lot of very nice people here whom know more on this than me and
they'll be along soon, otherwise maybe do a google search..
good luck to you in what you might choose to do! it'll be a hard decision...
soft hugz
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hightechredneck)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 8/28/2009 6:51 AM (GMT -8)
After having fusion surgery a few years ago (I too had severe narrowing) I wish I had sought out better options, but at the time they're were none. I am also thinking about both the stimulator and the pump...I am tired of taking the pills and would like a better alternative. I had no idea that you could have both...My latest pain Doctor suggested the stimulator and it scares the "you know what" out of me... Having someone poke around in my spine is not my idea of a good time. So, let me know what you find out.... and Good Luck!!!

me
Posted 8/28/2009 3:01 PM (GMT -8)
Hi uniquelyme. you said it. After one screw up by a guy that was suppose to be tops in the field surgery scares the hell out of me. I didnt know you could have both either till i found this site. Also didnt know how easily and frequently the leads move on the stimulators till this site. twice they wanted to put one in and i cancled, once the day before surgery. walking in pain beats not walking at all. But, you can only live with it so long and eat so many pills before that gets to be to much as well.
Posted 8/28/2009 3:40 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Hightechreneck,

I have a pain pump installed with morphine and prialt in it, I got it in the early part of this year and they are and will continue to increase my dosage to it gets to a point it will help, they are gathering from my response so far that the level they need to get to is about 17, I am currently at .930, so a long time to go yet, meanwhile I still take percocet. The difference is I can see an end in sight for the percocet, where I never saw one before. I have been going through pain for 10+ years now and it got really bad about three years ago, why? Who knows! I will tell you this if you haven't had one do not get a discography done , because I did after my fusion surgery and it created a whole new mess for me with a lot of pain to go with it. I hope you the best and try to get a doctor you can believe in . Alot of us go to the ones our PCP tells us too, but if you dont like your PCP or feel he's to laxed in his field, then dont trust anyone he sends you to either. Good luck to you and I hope all goes well and someday you will see the light in your tunnel. Take care.

Kel
Posted 8/28/2009 5:20 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks for the info smoochie. If I read correctly you have had a pump a guess of arround 6 months and at .930. How long will it take to get to 17? Is the Morphine and prialt external to the body. Do they contol the dose by that which is injected or does the pump have the ability to monitor and regulate flow? Does the pump/accessories limit you further in any way.
Posted 8/28/2009 6:15 PM (GMT -8)
I wish I could give some advice/help..
I am considering a spinal cord stim right now also! I wish you luck and pain free days (well, as much as possible)
Posted 8/28/2009 6:59 PM (GMT -8)
It will take approximately 12 months to get to my designated doseage, the morphine and prialt are administered through a catheter in my spine. The dose is controlled by a hand held computer that dials directly to the installed pump that they keep at their offices which confers with a microchip in your pump. The pump also has an alarm function in the event of needing a refill (which they have you come in for anyway,but in case you miss it you will know when) or a stronger one when and if your pump malfunctions. It is up to your doctor to set it for how long between beeps, mine goes off every half hour for either and they are distinct alarms. When the pump is refilled or the medications change they insert a needle into your skin and into the pumps frontal portion and remove it that way. I have had some minor annoyances with mine, such as how it shows through the skin (which I could get taken care of via surgery, but I have declined due to several surgeries involving my stomach and the scar tissue involved) and how quickly the mediation reaches you as opposed to oral meds. My pump has not prevented any normal activites, however I did find out the other day that roller coasters are out, but I wasn't running to go on one anyways,lol. Oh, and the metal detectors, everyone of them goes off, but that is kinda fun to tell you the truth,lol. I hope this helps, if you need anything else just post it and I will get back to you, don't worry if I don't do it that day as I only check the posts once a day or so, but I will answer. Take care. Good luck!!
Posted 8/28/2009 9:03 PM (GMT -8)
I have a Medtronic RestoreUltra SCS implanted for low back pain and bilateral hip/butt, leg, and foot pain as a result of damage at L4/L5/S1. I also have disc herniations at T9/T10/T11. My fusion isn't technically a "failed" fusion, because it's absolute perfection on x-ray; the bone graft took immediately and I was almost fully fused at 4 months post-op. The only problem with my fusion is only that it didn't stop the pain it was supposed to stop.

I'm more than happy to answer questions about my experiences going through the SCS process, but I have to forewarn you that I'm not one of the "god I wish I'd never done that" horror story kinda people. I'd say I'm at least in the top 10 for fans of Medtronic. smilewinkgrin
Posted 8/28/2009 9:07 PM (GMT -8)
I would love to hear it :-) and I hate to say that I am sorta looking for good stories (although I welcome all for a realistic view)
Posted 8/28/2009 9:46 PM (GMT -8)
Highteck..., Just thought I would drop in  and give you a little info from my experience with a Boston Scientific SCS. I did a trial like everyone else and it seemed to be a 50/50 shot. The Pain DR at first decvided to go ahead with the SCs and then decided not to. Then changed his mind and we went for the SCS. I won't go into detail here again but he earned the title Quackologist. I went through 2 1/2 months of regretting my decision to have the SCS implanted. It had to do with the doctor's failure and not the unit. I am now about 4 months out from surgery have gotten to the place where the SCS is working. It does not simply take the place of pain meds but reduces what I take. I was at the point after 11 years of fighting I had to do something. I am also involved with the VA but since my injury was work related, they refuse to see me regarding any issue with my back. I have finally weaned myself off the VA and the meds that they had me on for depression, PTSD and sleep issues. Even though all of these were a result of my injury, they loaded me up but would not deal with the back. I am now not receiving any meds from the VA. I deal only with my PCP and not even my Quackologist and surgeon.

The SCS does deal with the leg and foot pain. It takes some getting used to to have the stimulator running as it feels like you are in a vibrator chair the whole time. After time it gets easier to handle. I use my SCS 24 hours a day. All the SCS does is mask the pain so when I get ready for bed, if the SCS is not on, I either have to rely on heavy doses of pain meds or keep the SCS on to be able to get some sleep. I usually take my meds around 8:30 to 9:00 PM. I often don't get to sleep until 2 or 3 and still work full time. Until a month ago I would not have said it was worth it. Now it eliminates some of the pain meds to where I can use my brain during the day without the influence of the meds. I just warn you to make sure you have the right Dr as in my case he knew I could have caused him some damage after what he did.

My email is listed under my profile and I would be glad to discuss this further. I hope the best for you 

Posted 9/9/2009 11:12 AM (GMT -8)
In my experiences with my morphine pump, the alarms dont always goes off when there is a malfunction, it can just go kuput, and wont alert no one!!!
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