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Pain Pump
I am about to prepare for surgery to implant a pain pump after 10 years of oral drug therapies. After working in the ER and seeing patients come in due to kinking of the tubing, tubing coming loose dumping meds into the abdominal cavity, and more causing patients to be in the ICU, I am a little skeptical. What really upsets me is how I and others are treated in the ER. Example:when I go to the ER due to withdrawal symptoms.. my file was marked here in the small town I've moved to... what happened??? After Hurricane Ike, I couldn't get to my pain doc in Houston, since noone was allowed in due to the devastation. A few days later they pushed my appt back again, and I went into withdrawal. The ER doc went on a rampage saying I wasn't very serious, since I had not found a pain dr after moving to the small town I now live in. At first he wouldn't give me any pain medication, saying I just wanted a script. I told him no, that I just wanted relief until I could make my dr. appt... this went on for two hours... then he scolded me again, and said if I ever came in again, my file would be marked so I would not get care.
Sorry for the rant.... anyway, I am about to have the pump trial where they set up an IV and you let them know if you experience any relief.. if so, they will refer me to the surgeon in Houston for the pump surgery.
Has anyone out there had a pump implanted? If so, can you let me know if it has helped?
Thank you,
Rhonda
Sorry for the rant.... anyway, I am about to have the pump trial where they set up an IV and you let them know if you experience any relief.. if so, they will refer me to the surgeon in Houston for the pump surgery.
Has anyone out there had a pump implanted? If so, can you let me know if it has helped?
Thank you,
Rhonda
I agree totally Tuck. I think the most suffering I ever endured was with my ex-boyfriend of 5 years. He called me a drug addict, accused me of being psychotic, that I was ony doing it for attention, and the list goes on. Finally, I took him in with me for a monthly appointment with my pain doc. I asked her to be honest with him, and said, "Am I a drug addict?" She looked at me in shock, and said who is telling you this. I looked over at him, and said he is. She let him have it, while trying to educate him at the same time. Unfortunately it did no good. I think he enjoyed hurting me. I withdrew further and further until I quit bathing, stayed in the bedroom, very seldom came out of the bedroom, and became a victim to his cruelty. The only solace I had was my little weenie dog. I even stopped talking to family and friends. I gained over 75 pounds, and like an anorexic, became a shadow of who I really was. I finally ended the relationship after 5 years, and am just now beginning to come out of my shell. It is sad the damage that is done.
I am scheduled for the pump trial next Monday. So, we'll see what happens! Since my doc took me off Cymbalta, all the neuropathy related pain has returned with a vengeance in less than 4 days, and my arthritis is steadily getting worse. I went to Home Depot with a friend today to shop for a new front door, and by the time we were done I could hardly get in the truck. My hips felt like I had been hit with a sledge hammer, and my calves were cramping something awful. I did find a beautiful door though, lol!!!
I am scheduled for the pump trial next Monday. So, we'll see what happens! Since my doc took me off Cymbalta, all the neuropathy related pain has returned with a vengeance in less than 4 days, and my arthritis is steadily getting worse. I went to Home Depot with a friend today to shop for a new front door, and by the time we were done I could hardly get in the truck. My hips felt like I had been hit with a sledge hammer, and my calves were cramping something awful. I did find a beautiful door though, lol!!!
Hi Rhonda,
I am so sorry that you feel your father never knew your true suffering. He may have understood more than you thought.....dad's are special.
Why some physicians feel compelled to pass on their negative opinions to family members is beyond me. Now it is illegal for them to share their medical opinions or medical information with anyone but the patient. Thank goodness the HIPPA law stopped that.
Your astute advice for fellow chronic pain suffers to reach out and not suffer in silence is so insightful. Together we can be stronger and learn from one another. Support is so very important to everyone in all walks of life but I think even more so to those of us that must deal with chronic pain and the daily challenges that it presents.
I am so sorry that you feel your father never knew your true suffering. He may have understood more than you thought.....dad's are special.
Why some physicians feel compelled to pass on their negative opinions to family members is beyond me. Now it is illegal for them to share their medical opinions or medical information with anyone but the patient. Thank goodness the HIPPA law stopped that.
Your astute advice for fellow chronic pain suffers to reach out and not suffer in silence is so insightful. Together we can be stronger and learn from one another. Support is so very important to everyone in all walks of life but I think even more so to those of us that must deal with chronic pain and the daily challenges that it presents.
I'v been in 'Chronic Pain' over 40yrs. 24/7. I know how 'Nasty' Dr's can treat 'us'. After all these yrs. I have many storys about nasty, rude, or Dr's who talked to me like it was 'my fault' I had Back Pain, or made me fell that they were mad at me, because ..I had Back Pain?
I also have made to feel that I just after 'drugs', when I have M.R.I.'s, x-rays showing dic's that aren't there, or as thin as paper. Or 'Kyposis' that is 1-2 inches away from 'hooking' up with my spine.
I don't tell many people about the meds I take either. My Sister has all of our relatives thinking I'm so into 'drugs', I'm even 'shooting' up many meds, not saying that she drinks wine day & night or that last yr. she spent 8 days in the Hopsitial cause her liver failed. She tells them it because of 'Jauntice', a friend told me one night as they were all out to Dinner, with the Chiropractor she has seen for yrs, who now is a close friend. When she questioned my Sisters husb. 'Jeff' about how much wine my sister drinks, he answered..'At least she not addected to pills like Pegi'. The Chirocprator aggred!..Which is better? My sister, 'Pam' has everone doing everything for her, where I was always the one who 'carred' for her & my Mom, even when my back wouldn't allow me to stand & walk. I still figured out how to do my chories & Pam's or I was the one who 'got it' from 'Mom'. I still 'do it all', fixing the car, plumbing, washer, or whatever, my 'Mom' would 'never' belived that I had back problems either.
I shattered my left kneecap 2yrs. ago, that didn't heal right, it gives out on me, causing me to fall, I can't walk a short blk. without resting. I can't walk out my front door, cause the front lawn is a small slope I fall & broke my R-upper arm, I have to go out the back door & holding on to the neighbors bushes, to get to the sidewalk, or hang on to someones arm to get down the driveway.I was going in for a knee replacement & fell the wk. before, breaking my L-arm, in pices, that had to have a rod put in, then a shorter one 2 wks. after one. My elbow was fractured, but not bad enought for surgey, untill I banged on a pipe fixing Mom's sink, back in for that to be fixed, so in 4 wks I had 3 surgeys. Then a Nurse told me every time she came into my room, that if I didn't take the meds I did I wouldn't fall like I do. Not knowing 'why' I'm taking the meds & even seeing my knee with the 'screws' working their way out & me telling about my back being all screwed up. I finally asked her if I stop the meds would my discs grew back, would my 'Kyposis' stop trying to 'hook on to my spine...She had no answer. So the Nurses can be 'rude' also, thinking I'm just a 'drug addict' & you know they don't give you your meds like your pain Dr. says to. They have their own 'racked' going on, I would wake up as usuall durning the night in 'screaming pain', call them & they would say 'I woke you at 12a.m. & gave you 'such & such' mediction, don't you remember?' A few of my meds are bigger pills, & hard to swallow, I know they didn't give them to me..What happened to my meds? Here my dr. comes in, reads my chart & thinks I'm getting my meds & doesn't understand why I'm in so much pain.
I too have been trying to get a 'pump', taking all these meds isn't good for my body. I'v talked to many people who have them & are doing very good, or as good as they are going to get. I'm getting older & my body isn't healing as fast as it did. Also many of my friends who have had rods & screws put in their backs, have their backs breaking down in other areas. My Ins. approved me for the pump just before I broke my knee, maybe now my Dr. will let give the pump a try. Keep in touch, I also want to know how your doing, & how the pump works for you. I'm new to this site. Thanks for listening me vent. Yes, I have more about having those operations so close, the day I got out of the Hosp. my Mom went in, no one heard from her for a few days, she was starting to 'forget' many things. My Daug. & Son had a felling something was wrong & couldn't get her to answer her door or phone, they called the Police, they kicked her door in & her Dr. thinks she was their for 2 days. She died a month later, on 12/18/09, she was somewhat of a 'pack-rat' cleaning up her Apt. was a nightmare, 'working' with my Sister..or me working as much as I could still wasn't good enough for 'Pam'. In less then 10 mins. of packing something, she would reach for something, or bend down & pull 'something' in her back & had to stop packing. She told everyone what to do from her 'Throne' & drinking her wine, she did bring my Nefew 'Robert' & a few of his friends, the boys were 19-20 yrs old. They packed 'some' stuff, but threw so many things out, 'Pam' also let her friends take what they wanted. Told everyone how 'hard' she worked, plus payed for Mom to be Creamated, but forget to say, Mom had that all taken care of. I'm still getting 'nasty' e-mailes & letters from everyone. Saying how terrible I was, how I didn't help, put all this on 'Pam', calling me names & on & on, see with Pam you 'walk on eag shells' never knowing when you might say something wrong. When she is 'set-off' she starts this insane 'screaming' & cussing you out, so I keep my mouth shut, she never had to do 'anything'. O.K. I was kinda mean, letting her do what she wanted, not saying a word, when I did 'Jeff' would show me that Pams name was on om's acount, so everything 'belonged to Pam. Mom did that when I moved out, Pam is 7yrs. younger then me & thought if anything happened to her Pam could get money out for bills & stuff, then she never changed it. I'm hear sick that Pam has all the pictures of when we were younger, many of the kids I played with, she never knew them. I'll never see those pictures again. I have never understood how people can hear one side of the story & make their mind up that the other person is in the wrong, Pam al so liikes to 'cry in her wine,' or play..'poor me'.
Oh well this has turned into a book, thanks for reading it. I better get to bed. The 2 cats that sleep with me are waiting for me, 'Moose' who was a 'Ferial' cat has the notch in his ear likes a bed instead of sleeping under a bush is very upset.
Night Ronda, I'll never keep you this long, well I hope I won't. Hugs, Pegi XXOO
I also have made to feel that I just after 'drugs', when I have M.R.I.'s, x-rays showing dic's that aren't there, or as thin as paper. Or 'Kyposis' that is 1-2 inches away from 'hooking' up with my spine.
I don't tell many people about the meds I take either. My Sister has all of our relatives thinking I'm so into 'drugs', I'm even 'shooting' up many meds, not saying that she drinks wine day & night or that last yr. she spent 8 days in the Hopsitial cause her liver failed. She tells them it because of 'Jauntice', a friend told me one night as they were all out to Dinner, with the Chiropractor she has seen for yrs, who now is a close friend. When she questioned my Sisters husb. 'Jeff' about how much wine my sister drinks, he answered..'At least she not addected to pills like Pegi'. The Chirocprator aggred!..Which is better? My sister, 'Pam' has everone doing everything for her, where I was always the one who 'carred' for her & my Mom, even when my back wouldn't allow me to stand & walk. I still figured out how to do my chories & Pam's or I was the one who 'got it' from 'Mom'. I still 'do it all', fixing the car, plumbing, washer, or whatever, my 'Mom' would 'never' belived that I had back problems either.
I shattered my left kneecap 2yrs. ago, that didn't heal right, it gives out on me, causing me to fall, I can't walk a short blk. without resting. I can't walk out my front door, cause the front lawn is a small slope I fall & broke my R-upper arm, I have to go out the back door & holding on to the neighbors bushes, to get to the sidewalk, or hang on to someones arm to get down the driveway.I was going in for a knee replacement & fell the wk. before, breaking my L-arm, in pices, that had to have a rod put in, then a shorter one 2 wks. after one. My elbow was fractured, but not bad enought for surgey, untill I banged on a pipe fixing Mom's sink, back in for that to be fixed, so in 4 wks I had 3 surgeys. Then a Nurse told me every time she came into my room, that if I didn't take the meds I did I wouldn't fall like I do. Not knowing 'why' I'm taking the meds & even seeing my knee with the 'screws' working their way out & me telling about my back being all screwed up. I finally asked her if I stop the meds would my discs grew back, would my 'Kyposis' stop trying to 'hook on to my spine...She had no answer. So the Nurses can be 'rude' also, thinking I'm just a 'drug addict' & you know they don't give you your meds like your pain Dr. says to. They have their own 'racked' going on, I would wake up as usuall durning the night in 'screaming pain', call them & they would say 'I woke you at 12a.m. & gave you 'such & such' mediction, don't you remember?' A few of my meds are bigger pills, & hard to swallow, I know they didn't give them to me..What happened to my meds? Here my dr. comes in, reads my chart & thinks I'm getting my meds & doesn't understand why I'm in so much pain.
I too have been trying to get a 'pump', taking all these meds isn't good for my body. I'v talked to many people who have them & are doing very good, or as good as they are going to get. I'm getting older & my body isn't healing as fast as it did. Also many of my friends who have had rods & screws put in their backs, have their backs breaking down in other areas. My Ins. approved me for the pump just before I broke my knee, maybe now my Dr. will let give the pump a try. Keep in touch, I also want to know how your doing, & how the pump works for you. I'm new to this site. Thanks for listening me vent. Yes, I have more about having those operations so close, the day I got out of the Hosp. my Mom went in, no one heard from her for a few days, she was starting to 'forget' many things. My Daug. & Son had a felling something was wrong & couldn't get her to answer her door or phone, they called the Police, they kicked her door in & her Dr. thinks she was their for 2 days. She died a month later, on 12/18/09, she was somewhat of a 'pack-rat' cleaning up her Apt. was a nightmare, 'working' with my Sister..or me working as much as I could still wasn't good enough for 'Pam'. In less then 10 mins. of packing something, she would reach for something, or bend down & pull 'something' in her back & had to stop packing. She told everyone what to do from her 'Throne' & drinking her wine, she did bring my Nefew 'Robert' & a few of his friends, the boys were 19-20 yrs old. They packed 'some' stuff, but threw so many things out, 'Pam' also let her friends take what they wanted. Told everyone how 'hard' she worked, plus payed for Mom to be Creamated, but forget to say, Mom had that all taken care of. I'm still getting 'nasty' e-mailes & letters from everyone. Saying how terrible I was, how I didn't help, put all this on 'Pam', calling me names & on & on, see with Pam you 'walk on eag shells' never knowing when you might say something wrong. When she is 'set-off' she starts this insane 'screaming' & cussing you out, so I keep my mouth shut, she never had to do 'anything'. O.K. I was kinda mean, letting her do what she wanted, not saying a word, when I did 'Jeff' would show me that Pams name was on om's acount, so everything 'belonged to Pam. Mom did that when I moved out, Pam is 7yrs. younger then me & thought if anything happened to her Pam could get money out for bills & stuff, then she never changed it. I'm hear sick that Pam has all the pictures of when we were younger, many of the kids I played with, she never knew them. I'll never see those pictures again. I have never understood how people can hear one side of the story & make their mind up that the other person is in the wrong, Pam al so liikes to 'cry in her wine,' or play..'poor me'.
Oh well this has turned into a book, thanks for reading it. I better get to bed. The 2 cats that sleep with me are waiting for me, 'Moose' who was a 'Ferial' cat has the notch in his ear likes a bed instead of sleeping under a bush is very upset.
Night Ronda, I'll never keep you this long, well I hope I won't. Hugs, Pegi XXOO
Thank you so much Tuck. I will definitely let everyone know how things progress...
My experience with rudeness has unfortunately happened before, but in a different way. I was taking Oxycontin in the first couple of years of being under the care of a chronic pain dr., and couldn't find a pharmacy that had it. After two days of not being able to find it, I went into withdrawal, and suffered a heart attack. While in the ER of a very small hospital in Houston that my Dad took me to, I told them who my pain Dr. was, and all the pertinent information. They told my father in private away from me, that I was a drug addict. He was devastated. Coming from a family with a brother that was a heroin addict and alcoholic, but thank God he is now 18 years sober, and a mother that is a recovered alcoholic and recovered prescription drug abuser, my father died not really believing my suffering.
I want to let anyone know out here that is suffering to please reach out, and not suffer in silence. I know that here "we" find comfort, solace, and a gentle shoulder that will always listen. I know I have times when I need an ear, a shoulder, or a voice with knowledge that will help me understand.
Tuck, thank you and I know that I will always find answers here....
rhonda
My experience with rudeness has unfortunately happened before, but in a different way. I was taking Oxycontin in the first couple of years of being under the care of a chronic pain dr., and couldn't find a pharmacy that had it. After two days of not being able to find it, I went into withdrawal, and suffered a heart attack. While in the ER of a very small hospital in Houston that my Dad took me to, I told them who my pain Dr. was, and all the pertinent information. They told my father in private away from me, that I was a drug addict. He was devastated. Coming from a family with a brother that was a heroin addict and alcoholic, but thank God he is now 18 years sober, and a mother that is a recovered alcoholic and recovered prescription drug abuser, my father died not really believing my suffering.
I want to let anyone know out here that is suffering to please reach out, and not suffer in silence. I know that here "we" find comfort, solace, and a gentle shoulder that will always listen. I know I have times when I need an ear, a shoulder, or a voice with knowledge that will help me understand.
Tuck, thank you and I know that I will always find answers here....
rhonda
Hi Rhonda,
Thank you for taking the time to post and Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum.
I am sorry to hear about your chronic pain and your horrific experience in the ER. I too worked in ER but never saw a physician treat a patient as rudely as you were treated. I am sincerely sorry this happened to you.
I do not have personal experience with the Pain Pump. It was considered and discussed between my physician and I. We dismissed the option for now. I, as well as my physician were also concerned with some of the problems that the pump can produce.
However there are many ppl that seem to be happy with the effective levels of pain releif that they obtain with the pump. There are ppl that have never had a major problem with the pump.
I think this has to be a personal decision made after educating yourself about the pump and weighting the pros and cons. Knowledgeable, educated decisions are always the best decisions. If I understand the process correctly they do a trial test before the final implantation. The trial appears to provide the patient with better information to form their final decision.
We chronic pain sufferers are faced with so many challenges and difficult choices as we journey through chronic pain and search for solutions. There never seems to be any easy answers. What's right and works for one person does not always work for another.
I hope that you will keep in touch with us and abreast of your progress. I will look forward to hearing from you again.
Best of Luck to You,
~Tuck
Thank you for taking the time to post and Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum.
I am sorry to hear about your chronic pain and your horrific experience in the ER. I too worked in ER but never saw a physician treat a patient as rudely as you were treated. I am sincerely sorry this happened to you.
I do not have personal experience with the Pain Pump. It was considered and discussed between my physician and I. We dismissed the option for now. I, as well as my physician were also concerned with some of the problems that the pump can produce.
However there are many ppl that seem to be happy with the effective levels of pain releif that they obtain with the pump. There are ppl that have never had a major problem with the pump.
I think this has to be a personal decision made after educating yourself about the pump and weighting the pros and cons. Knowledgeable, educated decisions are always the best decisions. If I understand the process correctly they do a trial test before the final implantation. The trial appears to provide the patient with better information to form their final decision.
We chronic pain sufferers are faced with so many challenges and difficult choices as we journey through chronic pain and search for solutions. There never seems to be any easy answers. What's right and works for one person does not always work for another.
I hope that you will keep in touch with us and abreast of your progress. I will look forward to hearing from you again.
Best of Luck to You,
~Tuck
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