Pain Pump????

[skittles1305]

As a young teenager I fell and injured my lower spine. Finally after years of finding a doctor who really believed I was in severe found out that I no longer had a disk between my L5 & S1. In Aug 2009 I went through the surgery to fuse those two levels together and since have had some relief. However I still deal with chronic pain every day. Just this Monday my pain doctor did the trail for the MyStim implant in my back. The purpose of this is to feel tingling sensations rather than pain. Sadly this trial run did not work and it was a nightmare.
My doctor has since rudely said that I was reaching the point of not being able to be treated. He refuses to prescribe any more pain meds, even though the meds I am on are not a very high dosage. I take tramadol 50mg twice a day. My doctor did say my very last option is a pain pump or a morphine pump. I honestly have never heard of these types of pain pumps.  I will be flat out honest; I am terrified of living the rest of my life in pain. Does anyone know anything about pain pumps, what the general procedure is for it, and ultimately does it work? Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I see my doctor again in 2 days and I would like to be able to go in there as informed as possible. it seems as though my doctor has just given up. taking the tramadol works but he will not perscribe me any more of it. im lost, terrifed and confused. making a jump from a low dose pain med to a morphine pain pump seems like a very big jump to me. please any information and suggestions would help me a lot. thanks, Bobbie.

[Tuckamore]

It's okay. You'll get use to our borad.

I just didn't want you to miss the other responses. :o)

~Tuck

[SunWorshiper_26]

I know many people who have had great relief from pain pumps!  I am surprised that your dr isn't willing to try and other options. Tramadol isn't very strong and many people including myself do not find it very effective. If your dr isn't giving options I'd find a new dr going from tramadol to a pain pump is a huge leap and there are so many other options. I had a dr that wouldn't do anything but tramadol so I found a pain management dr bc the tramadol wasn't enough to treat my pain. My pain management dr is AMAZING and willing to treat the pain and gives many options. I hope that you can find a dr like that too!

[skittles1305]

hi tuck, i am sorry for the double post. i am new to message boards like this and i will be sure to watch that in the future. thank you to everyone for the help and advice!

[Tuckamore]

I see that you posted this twice. I did respond to your first post. You may want to check that thread.

Please try not to duplicate posts in the future!  It would be appreciated. I hope you are able to find some solutions.

Best of Luck to You,
~Tuck

[Wolfmedicine]

Hi Bobbie,

Sorry to hear about your pain issues.  I'm not that familiar with a pain pump other than it was suggested to a friend of mine who didn't do it.  I believe it is an implant that has a controlled release of Morphine or whatever.  I assume that your Dr. is your Surgeon?  I would have him refer you to or find a pain management Dr. that would take care of you without such a drastic measure.  You have documentation of pain related issues now.  Someone will treat you and take care of you.

I appreciate you guys for being in the military and looking out for all of us.  Let us here on the board help you in return.  It's the least that we can do.