What is the Intrathecal Pain Pump?

To tackle spinal cord pain arising due to conditions like cancer, causalgia, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, the Intrathecal Pain Pump is used. It is basically a pump system that is implanted surgically into your body and delivers the medicine directly to the spine through a catheter. This procedure is performed when conventional treatments like painkillers, ice packs or etc, do not work. The intrathecal pain pump is suited for patients who want to lessen their reliance on oral medicines. This therapy has the benefit of consuming lower quantities of medicines for the same effect (almost 1/300) as the pain drugs are directly given to the spine. As time passes, patients feel the reduction of pain and at the same time, side-effects related to medication are also reduced.

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Procedural Overview

Before implanting the intrathecal pain device permanently in your body, every patient has to go through a trial period to check his or her affinity for this procedure. If the results of the trial are positive, patients then go through a surgical procedure in which the pump is implanted underneath the skin of the abdomen. Patients are given IV sedatives prior to the procedure so that the discomfort and pain are reduced.

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When the patient is under the effect of anesthesia, the Dunes Pain physician will make a small incision in your back to insert the catheter and place it in the intrathecal space present near the spinal cord. One more incision will be performed in the abdomen to implant the pump between the muscles and the skin. The physician, after performing the incision, closes them with staples or sutures and dressing/bandage is applied. The patient is taken to the recovery room where the vitals are monitored.

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After Care

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Under the expert guidance of Dunes Pain Specialists, vitals of the patient like heart rate, pain levels, respiration, and blood pressure are observed. During discharge, the physician will provide aftercare instructions like avoiding physical exertion, sitting for long hours, bending or twisting of the back for about 6 to 8 weeks. Activities like household work, picking weights greater than 5 pounds and driving might be prohibited for 2 to 4 weeks.

Since this procedure is surgical in nature, call Dunes Pain Specialists immediately if you experience any kind of reactions, aggravating pain, swelling, or infection. Your well-being is our utmost priority.