Dear Naomi,
The main risk would be infection (even meningitis), the same as when the
pump was placed the first time.
Remember that anytime you take narcotic pain meds, even from a pump, the
gradually seem less powerful, eventally have far less pain relief than you
may need. This is called Tolerance and is the main reason to be cautious.
Some patients eventally require such high doses to get the same relief that
small doses provoded before, that complications like constipation, itching,
confusion are guaranteed.
You and your doctor need to discuss LONG term pain relief plans before you
go too far down the narcotic road.
In Him,
Bo Machado MD, FACEP
_
From: ladyno...@aol.com [mailto:ladyno...@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 2:02 AM
To: quad-list@eskimo.com; tmic-l...@eskimo.com
Subject: [QUAD-L] Pain Pump
I had a baclofen pump removed last September 11, due to complications with
it. At the time of removal, I was told that I could not have it put back in.
But what I did not know at the time, was that I could get pain medicine put
directly into the pump also. Now I'm considering having the pump put back in
just for the pain medicine. My question is, has anyone ever had the pump
removed and reinstalled? I would normally be concerned about them fooling
around with my spinal cord, but I'm already a quadriplegic, completely
paralyzed on the right side and minimal, nonfunctional, use on the left
side. My only concern would be that they would something affect my brain.
Naomi.
