Hi leyaran,
First let me say that your symptoms sound similar to mine. I can only be on my feet for short periods of time - whether it be standing still or walking, makes no difference. The pain isn't immediate - it accumulates as the day goes on and the more time I have spent on my feet, the more pain I am in late in the day. I am still working full time at a desk job, but just barely as I must spend all my "free" time resting up from the pain by lying down as soon as I get home, then get up and have dinner, do a few things, then go to bed. It is not much of an existence, but I keep hanging in there!
When this situation began almost 6 years ago due to... well it's a long story involving injuries and a L3-4 fusion in 1995... my pain specialist told me that I would probably have one of these at some point. I thought I was going to get one then, but instead I have spent the last 6 years evolving to and from
oxycontin to P.T. to injections, to laser surgery, to nerve blocks, to spinal stimulator trial, etc. None of these has helped a whole lot. If I took enough OC to reduce my pain to a tolerable level I would most likely be in a coma!
So FINALLY about a month ago, after seeing a couple more pain specialists I am back to the one I trust most, who originally told me I would be having one. I had the 10-day trial about 2 weeks ago, which involved placing an epidural catheter in my lumbar area, hooked to a 500ml bag of
morphine solution that I carried in a little shoulder pack. I thought the trial would be an actual intrathecal unit but it was not. Hopefully this is not relevant because, let me tell you, it was sweet!
It took a couple of hours or so and it came on so gradually that I almost didn't notice. I know that sounds weird but it was like, all of a sudden I realized... it doesn't hurt anymore! I thought I must be dreaming, which isn't all that unusual when opiates are involved, but I was really awake. I followed my doctor's instruction and weaned off the OC over the next 2 days. I was finally out of pain, at least 75% anyway, which is a conservative estimate!
At the end of the trial the temporary unit was removed. About 3 hours later I became absolutely convinced that I had to have the permanent pump! I was in so much pain that I didn't get out of bed for 2 days, except for the obvious necessities, and despite going back on the OC, was having the worst withdrawal effects I have ever experienced. Well, I survived that but I am now scheduled for the implant surgery a week from tomorrow... I can't wait! I am so anxious to resume my life, the life that was taken from me six years ago when the disc(s) below my fusion collapsed one morning.
Ok, I see I have written a short novel here. I look forward to your reply and hopefully you will be able to have a similar story to tell in the near future. To find out more about the pain pump click
here. Best of luck to you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by leyaran  Hi mountaineer....can you tell me what happened to your back that you need a pain pump? (never heard of one) it must be quite severe? I'm on percocets due to a torn disc in my low back..when this first happened I was injected with lots of mophine at the hospital and it didnt do anything for me I had to ride it out untill the pain subsided, I was unrecognizeable at the hopital from the pain...now I am waiting for a surgeon's oppinion, and have been since Feb 2008 ..I really cant do much as for as daily life stuff...simple things like standing at the stove cooking and sweeping the floor really aggravates my back..so I would pop an extra pill here and there and now I.m hooked..I dont think they even help my pain much anymore but its the buzz I like,any ideas for me? |
"PAIN PUMP" 
I appreciate it.[:X]
Linear Mode
