Pain Pump

Also called intrathecal drug delivery, pain pump is a method of giving medication directly to a patient's spinal cord. A pain pump is ideal for patients with pain caused by failed back surgery syndrome, cancer pain, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causalgia, arachnoiditis and chronic pancreatitis. The pump can also help lessen spasticity caused be cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injury. Ideal candidates for pain pump have tried conservative therapies with failed results; would not benefit from additional surgery; are dependent on pain medications; do not have psychological problems; do not have medical conditions that would not keep one from undergoing implantations; are not allergic to any of the drugs used in the pump; and have not had responsive response with a trial dose of medication.