Hi there…
I have severe chronic pain problems, of 10 years duration, and with 25 surgeries in the mix, including a renal autotransplant.
I also have a fabulous interventional pain specialist and, despite our best efforts, it’s becoming clear that this will be a life-long management issue.
Right now, the pain is managed daily with two different opioid medications–an extended-release drug that I take 3 times a day and a short-acting one that I take 4 times a day. It is a LOT of medication and affects my quality of life (not only drug effects but also being “married” to the drugs 4 times a day as well as managing the refills, etc), but not as badly as it is affected if we don’t manage the pain (ie, I could not live in this amount of pain).
Previous interventions include a nerve cord stimulator (had to be removed due to complications with the battery), several different types of nerve blocks, and surgery, among other things.
For better long-term management, we’re looking at either another nerve cord stimulator or an intrathecal pump. The latter will probably provide the better pain management (as the NCS would still most likely require adjunct pain medication). The pump also would allow me to take less pain medication, which is easier on my body.
However, my doctor’s concerns are that a pump (he describes it as the size of a hockey puck) would not “fit” well in my abdomen due to my size (5’4, 115 pounds), and he’s not sure if it would interfere with my ability to ride (he is a great supporter of my pursuit of activities that keep my active and happy).
Can anyone here provide your thoughts? If you have one, does it interfere with your ability to ride? Are they always placed in the abdomen? If you’re a smaller person in relation to pump size, does it affect you in any particular way?
My NCS battery was placed in my abdomen (versus low back), near my right hip bone, and other than having to buy different breeches (couldn’t wear mid-rise breeches [or pants] as they “cut” across where the battery was located), it was not a problem, BUT it was much smaller (St. Jude Mini Eon Neurostimulator ~ yes, the one that was recalled!). It did “stick out” of my skin a good bit…you could definitely tell I had a battery inside me if I wore anything that was form fitting in the waist (such as a dress, but most of the time, that’s not my style LOL!).
Thank you so much! The current plan is to move forward with a NCS trial to see how that works to manage the pain. I’d prefer the NCS over a pump but am trying to stay open minded.
