Chronic Pain

Hi my name is Carrie. This is my first time. My husband is 50 years old and has suffered pain for 20 plus years. His diagnosis are DDD, sclrosis, kyphosis, spinal stenosis. Hewas finally refereed to a pain specialist/ anethesiologist. He had pain pump surgically placed 1 year ago this month. It pump morphine and bupvicaine continously. He was methadone 10 mg x 10 per day, Oxy Ir 5 mg x 20 per day and Flexeril 10 mg x 3 a day. After 6 months of pump adjustments he weined himself off the methadone. He now continues on the day doses of Oxy Ir and now Lortab 7.5 mg x 6 per day. The flexeril muscle relaxant was now replaced by Baclofen 4 per day. We went for his adjustment last month. The doctor has been setting his pump at little higher dose at a time than what he would normally do because of his continued deterioration and to relieve his pain more quickly so he can get off some of the by mough medications. Last month after his adjustment it was exactly 48 hours afterwards that he experienced severe nausea and vomitting. I called the doctor and they thought it might of been a virus since it only lasted 2 days. Then on November 14 we went down for another ajustment and exactly 48 hours later he went through the identical symptoms of nausea, vomitting, chills, shakes and all over aches and pains. Now in December we are to return for another adjustment plus a refill of the pump and they will be adding the Baclofen to the pump. Has anyone had this problem and could it be an overdose symptom now or what? I would appreciate any help and would like to also hear from Bob Engelbardt with any knowledge of this happening to anyone else. Thank You

Hello cmadden,
I also have the pump and have "talked" with Bob Englehart in his "Post". I wanted to let you know how to get onto his discussion group. In the search box, at the top right of the screen, just write "Willing to share experience with the Intrathecal Narcotic Pump", in that box. Your screen will show you where to click on and then make sure that you go to the last page, which the last I had checked it was on page 29.
Sweety, you and your husband are in my prayers. I do know that Bob has been having some side effects as well and he would definitely probably be the best to communicate with about this. He is a very helpful and caring man. If he has any knowledge, I am quite confident that he will help you out.
I wish that I could help you out, but I haven't experienced anything at all like these side effects that your husband is experiencing.
Good luck.
Blessings,
Sheila

Hello cmadden,
I also have the pump myself and have asked Bob Englehart some questions. I wish that I could help you out, but I have never experienced any side effects like these that your husband is experiencing. But, I can instruct you on how to locate Bob Englehart's discussion group.
In the top, right hand corner of your screen, you will see a "search" box (I think it is called a search box, but it is somewhere that you are able to type in). In that box, write, "Willing to share experience with Intrathecal Narcotic Pump", and this should bring up a screen in which you will be able to click on his discussion group. Just click on that and then go to the very last page, and then click on the little "Reply" box and then he will receive your message.
I already replied to you, but I think that I clicked it twice, so sorry if you receive multiple posts from me.
You and your husband are both in my prayers.
Blessings,
Sheila

Hello my name is Sue I have had a pain pump for about eight plus years. This is my second pain pump, I am having a problem with nausea and sometimes I think the pump I have now is not working right. I happen to have the one that was recalled because of something or another, but my doctor had a rep. from Medtronics come and check on things when they refilled the pump. There was to be so much medication in the pump and it was completely empty. But the next time they checked it every thing was ok. So now I have nausea continueous. I must take more and more of the Oxycondone to make me feel normal. Hope someone can help me with this problem. I cannot get ahold of my doctor until after this Tuesday.
Thanks for your help.
Sue041

Hello again Sue

Nice to see you've jumped right in.

I just thought maybe I could send you the link of a gentle man here (Bob) who may be able to help you better with your question.

http://forums.healthcentral.co.../f/7251032/m/8491036
Just click on the link and it will take you right into Bob's discussion and question conversation.

I hope you find out what is going on with your pump and get it fixed soon. Constant nausea would not be good at all. Hows your pain? If it's been high? I might wonder if your pump is working correctly and delivering the correct dosage of medication. The reason I thought of this possibility was that you said you had to take more oral medication to keep the nausea down undercontrol and nausea would be one of the first things you would notice if you were to reduce or stop taking your pain meds of any type. I'm not educated enough on pain pumps to give you a correct answer though, but Bob would be able to help you more.

Hope you get this resolved
Betty