pain pump & revision surgery

[Guest guest]

Has anyone every gone into revision surgery or any spine surgery after

or while they have a pain pump in place. I have a Medtronic pump the

cathather runs up to apx t-4 & down to my waist. Will it have to be

removed during surgery, will they automatically install a new one?

Would love to hear from others who have had pumps. Thanks

[Guest guest]

I have a metronic pain pump. I asked my doctor that very question and he said I would have to have it removed. I didn't ask if the entire pump would be removed or if it would be just the cath. Hope this helps a little.

From: yevone.turner <yevone.turner@...>Subject: pain pump & revision surgery Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 2:27 PM

Has anyone every gone into revision surgery or any spine surgery after or while they have a pain pump in place. I have a Medtronic pump the cathather runs up to apx t-4 & down to my waist. Will it have to be removed during surgery, will they automatically install a new one? Would love to hear from others who have had pumps. Thanks

[Guest guest]

Pleased to meet you, fellow pump-person! There are only one or two of

us with pumps in this group (vs. the crowd over at the Pumpsters

group, another forum I enjoy and recommend highly).

I had my first two revision surgeries in 2001, followed by four more

in 2004. (I mistakenly wrote previously that I had had eight total,

but that total is for fusions plus revisions).

After exhausting all other options for adequate pain control, I had my

Synchromed II implanted in 2005, one year after my last revision

procedure. Despite some problems related to the pump itself which

necessitated additional surgery, I have fortunately not needed any

further spinal reconstruction so far. I am presently fused from T3 to

S1. I assume the pump would just be left in place for any future

surgery I might need, although I suppose there could be technical

problems if the surgeon needed to access the specific area of the

intrathecal catheter tip. I have virtualy no intrathecal space

remaining, so it was a bit of a chalenge for my neurosurgeon to

install the device to begin with. Then when I developed a spinal fluid

leak after the initial pump implantation, the guys in Interventional

Radiology simply could not complete a blood patch on me -- there

seemed to be nowhere to squeeze the needle into my spinal canal.

I wish I could be of more help. Have you checked with Pumpsters?

Best,

>

> Has anyone every gone into revision surgery or any spine surgery after

> or while they have a pain pump in place. I have a Medtronic pump the

> cathather runs up to apx t-4 & down to my waist. Will it have to be

> removed during surgery, will they automatically install a new one?

> Would love to hear from others who have had pumps. Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

Margo, I can't quite recall your whole story at the moment. Are you

likely to need spinal revision surgery any time soon? If so, I would

urge you to get a few more opinions about the pump. Even if they had

to take it out, I would want some assurance that they would put it

right back in! Of course the pump is really not a big deal compared to

the intrathecal apparatus -- replacing that could be quite difficult,

particularly in the wake of further spinal work. (I've now had four or

five pump pocket revisions and pump explant/implant procedures, but my

surgeon never touched the catheter in my spine through all of that --

remembering what a bear it was to install that portion of the system

in the first place!) I'm sure it's easier to operate on the spine

without a catheter in the area, but I would think some surgeons might

be willing to try, considering what is potentially at stake. In my

case, that is adequate pain control for the first time in my years of

living with iatrogenic flatback syndrome and undergoing revision

surgeries.

Moreover, if there were a time when a patient could benefit more than

ever from an intrathecal pain pump, I would think that would have to

be during the post-op period following spinal revision surgery!

Best,

>

> From: yevone.turner <yevone.turner@...>

> Subject: pain pump & revision surgery

>

> Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 2:27 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Has anyone every gone into revision surgery or any spine surgery after

> or while they have a pain pump in place. I have a Medtronic pump the

> cathather runs up to apx t-4 & down to my waist. Will it have to be

> removed during surgery, will they automatically install a new one?

> Would love to hear from others who have had pumps. Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

,

I have chickened out of revision surgery. I am fused from T2-S1 and I've had the pain pump since I March or April 2003. After reading your post it reminded me of something my surgeon said when some of my other specialist were wanting to remove it so they could see. His response to me was that it shouldn't be taken out unless it's a life or death situation. Now, he was the one sweating over getting the thing in to start with and I imagine he's not wanting to try that again. None of these surgeries are easy on us or the doctors. The pump surgery was one of my easier ones to recover from but I do have to remember it's not so easy on the doctor trying to find a place to get the cath. in.

Take good care...

Margo

From: Rasche <elizabethrgonzalez@...>Subject: Re: pain pump & revision surgery Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 4:54 PM

Margo, I can't quite recall your whole story at the moment. Are youlikely to need spinal revision surgery any time soon? If so, I wouldurge you to get a few more opinions about the pump. Even if they hadto take it out, I would want some assurance that they would put itright back in! Of course the pump is really not a big deal compared tothe intrathecal apparatus -- replacing that could be quite difficult,particularly in the wake of further spinal work. (I've now had four orfive pump pocket revisions and pump explant/implant procedures, but mysurgeon never touched the catheter in my spine through all of that --remembering what a bear it was to install that portion of the systemin the first place!) I'm sure it's easier to operate on the spinewithout a catheter in the area, but I would think some surgeons mightbe willing to try, considering what is potentially at stake. In mycase, that is adequate pain

control for the first time in my years ofliving with iatrogenic flatback syndrome and undergoing revisionsurgeries. Moreover, if there were a time when a patient could benefit more thanever from an intrathecal pain pump, I would think that would have tobe during the post-op period following spinal revision surgery!Best,> > From: yevone.turner <yevone.turner@

....>> Subject: pain pump & revision surgery> FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com> Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 2:27 PM> > > > > > > Has anyone every gone into revision surgery or any spine surgery after > or while they have a pain pump in place. I have a Medtronic pump the > cathather runs up to apx t-4 & down to my waist. Will it have to be > removed during surgery, will they automatically install a new one? > Would love to hear from others who have had pumps. Thanks>

[Guest guest]

Hi Margo,

I am curious about your potential revision surgery. If you are already

fused from T2-S1, are the doctors suggesting that the old hardware in your

back be removed? Do they want to fuse your cervical area? I am also fused

from T2-S1. My neck now needs surgery. My surgeon recommends that I have a

3 level artificial disc replacement done at C4-5, 5-6 and 6-7....but my

insurance company won't pay for a multi level procedure until it has been

approved by the FDA. My surgeon won't operate on anyone who is using long

acting narcotic pain meds.....I don't know if your pain pump meds are

considered long term or not? Are you planning on never having a revision

surgery, or are you just trying to get by with pain meds for as long as

possible? Please keep the group updated on your situation and future plans.

Best wishes!

Melody

>From: Margo <mail_margo@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: pain pump & revision surgery

>Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:27:57 -0700 (PDT)

>

>,

>I have chickened out of revision surgery.  I am fused from T2-S1 and I've

>had the pain pump since I March or April 2003.  After reading your post it

>reminded me of something my surgeon said when some of my other specialist

>were wanting to remove it so they could see.  His response to me was that

>it shouldn't be taken out unless it's a life or death situation.  Now, he

>was the one sweating over getting the thing in to start with and I imagine

>he's not wanting to try that again.  None of these surgeries are easy on us

>or the doctors.  The pump surgery was one of my easier ones to recover from

>but I do have to remember it's not so easy on the doctor trying to find a

>place to get the cath. in. 

> 

>Take good care...

>Margo

>

>

>

>From: Rasche <elizabethrgonzalez@...>

>Subject: Re: pain pump & revision surgery

>

>Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 4:54 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Margo, I can't quite recall your whole story at the moment. Are you

>likely to need spinal revision surgery any time soon? If so, I would

>urge you to get a few more opinions about the pump. Even if they had

>to take it out, I would want some assurance that they would put it

>right back in! Of course the pump is really not a big deal compared to

>the intrathecal apparatus -- replacing that could be quite difficult,

>particularly in the wake of further spinal work. (I've now had four or

>five pump pocket revisions and pump explant/implant procedures, but my

>surgeon never touched the catheter in my spine through all of that --

>remembering what a bear it was to install that portion of the system

>in the first place!) I'm sure it's easier to operate on the spine

>without a catheter in the area, but I would think some surgeons might

>be willing to try, considering what is potentially at stake. In my

>case, that is adequate pain control for the first time in my years of

>living with iatrogenic flatback syndrome and undergoing revision

>surgeries.

>

>Moreover, if there were a time when a patient could benefit more than

>ever from an intrathecal pain pump, I would think that would have to

>be during the post-op period following spinal revision surgery!

>

>Best,

>

>

>

> >

> > From: yevone.turner <yevone.turner@ ...>

> > Subject: pain pump & revision surgery

> > FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

> > Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 2:27 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Has anyone every gone into revision surgery or any spine surgery after

> > or while they have a pain pump in place. I have a Medtronic pump the

> > cathather runs up to apx t-4 & down to my waist. Will it have to be

> > removed during surgery, will they automatically install a new one?

> > Would love to hear from others who have had pumps. Thanks

> >

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