Living with IDD
| Q. How do I know if intrathecal drug delivery will work for me? |
| A. Your doctor will
perform a screening test which will allow you to experience the benefit
of intrathecal drug delivery before you decide whether to have the pump
surgically implanted. Testing for intrathecal drug delivery can be done as an outpatient procedure, or you may be admitted for a short hospital stay. Testing can be done in one of two ways. You can either receive a single injection or several injections of a small amount of pain medication into the intrathecal space, or you can receive a continuous infusion of pain medication that is delivered using a temporary catheter placed in the intrathecal space and attached to an external pump. You may stay in the hospital, or you may return home with the external pump for several days or weeks. Your doctor will also perform a psychological assessment. As chronic pain involves both your mind and body, it is very important to determine if there are any psychological aspects of the pain that need to be treated. |
| Q. How does intrathecal medication work differently than oral medication? |
| A. Intrathecal drug delivery delivers medication directly to the spinal cord, where pain signals are transmitted. In contrast oral medications have a systemic effect. This systemic effect means that they 'flood' the whole body, rather than staying concentrated in one area. This often causes side-effects such as sleepiness and confusion, which may prevent your doctor from prescribing greater amounts of oral pain medications. |
| Q. Can I stop taking other pain medication with my pump? |
| A. Your doctor will determine whether you still need to take other medications. Many patients find that intrathecal drug delivery leads to a reduction in the use of other pain medications. However, to prevent any negative side-effects, do not make any changes in your current medication unless your doctor has directed you to do so. |
| Q. What risks are associated with intrathecal drug delivery? |
| A. Complications are
rare, and are only seen in a very small number of patients. However, as
the pump is surgically placed, surgical complications such as infections
are possible. The catheter could become dislodged or blocked, or, in rare cases, the pump could stop working. This could cause a reduction in or loss of pain relief and may require surgery to correct, but is extremely rare. Talk to your doctor about the possible side-effects of intrathecal drug delivery. |
| Q. Should I worry about drug addiction? |
| A. Drug addiction is extremely rare and very unlikely, due to the method of delivery and the low levels of pain medication delivered. People in pain rarely get addicted because they use their pain medication to control pain, not for emotional gratification. |
|
Q. Is the pump comfortable and will people notice it? |
| A. Most people report that the pump is not uncomfortable or restrictive, and does not interfere with their movements. The pump is unlikely to be visible through your clothes |
| Q. What happens if my pump runs out of medication? |
| A. If your pump runs out of medication, your pain will return and you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor can tell when the pump will run out of medication by checking the pump with the programmer during your regular appointments. He or she will schedule a refill appointment for you before the pump runs out of medication. In the event that you forget your refill appointment, the pump has an alarm to let you know when it is running out of medication. It will emit a soft high-pitched beeping sound repeated several times per minute. It is important to have your pump refilled before the alarm sounds. If you hear the alarm sound, call your doctor for an immediate refill appointment. |
| Q. How will I know when my pump needs to be replaced? |
| A. Your doctor will be able to tell the state of the battery when he or she checks the pump with the programmer during your regular refill appointments. In addition, the battery in the pump has a built-in alarm to let you know when it needs replacing. It will emit a soft, high-pitched beeping sound repeated several times per minute. If you hear the alarm sound call your doctor at once. |
| Q. What happens when the pump needs to be replaced? |
| A. Your doctor will arrange for the pump to be replaced at the end of its battery life. |
|
Q.Will the pump prevent me from travelling? |
| A. It will not prevent
you from travelling, but be sure to schedule and keep all refill appointments.
If you plan to travel far from home for long periods of time, notify your clinic. Your doctor will tell you about any prescription adjustments needed, and work with you to coordinate any care or refills needed during your trip. |
| Q. Will flying affect my pump? |
| A. Flying in commercial airlines will not generally affect the pump. However, talk to your doctor before long flights, or flights in non-pressurized aircraft. |
|
Q. Will I be able to take hot baths or showers? |
| A. Most of the time, a hot bath, shower or sauna will not interfere with the pump's operation. However, you should talk with your doctor about other activities that may greatly affect the temperature or pressure of the pump, such as deep heat therapy or scuba diving. |
|
Q. What safety precautions should I follow with the pump ? |
| A. you can safely
use most common household appliances including microwave ovens, televisions,
radios, remote controls and video games. However, the pump can be affected
by magnets. For this reason it is recommended that you do not use magnetic devices. A magnetic field, depending on strength, could interact with the pump. In addition, various medical procedures and equipment may affect the function of the pump . These include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X rays, radiation therapy and diathermy. Always consult your doctor before scheduling any additional therapies or diagnostic tests. |
| Q. Are there any special instructions for patients receiving the pump? |
| A. Avoid physical activities that might involve risk of trauma or a blow to the pump site. It is essential that you keep all follow-up appointments as scheduled. |
