Pain Pumps: Understanding Chronic Pain Relief & Implantation

A pain pump is a medical device that a patient may use to relieve chronic pain. A surgeon implants this device into a patient's abdomen. The device releases pain medication directly to a patient's spinal cord.

Drug Delivery

• According to the Mayfield Clinic, the drug pump holds pain medication in a reservoir and delivers time-released doses of the drug to the cerebrospinal fluid around the spinal cord.

Pump Candidates

• Patients who are dependent on a pain medication may receive a pain pump if they cannot receive pain relief from other forms of therapy or surgery.

Chronic Pain

• Individuals with chronic pain from medical conditions such as cancer, pancreatitis or failed back surgeries may experience pain relief from a pain pump.

Spasticity

• People with spasticity and leg and arm movement problems from conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke or cerebral palsy may experience improvement in their symptoms with a pain pump.

Surgery

• A surgeon places the patient under general anesthesia, makes small incisions in the side of the abdomen and the back and implants the pain pump and catheter. Patients may be discharged from the hospital the day of surgery and have movement and activity restrictions for several weeks as they recover from surgery.

Refills

• Patients need to make refill appointments as directed by a doctor. A nurse or doctor injects a needle through the skin into the pump reservoir to refill the pump.