What is the intrathecal pain pump?
The intrathecal pain pump is a device that delivers medication directly to your spinal cord to alleviate pain. The device includes a small pump that a specialist surgically implants under your skin in your abdomen and delivers medicine through a catheter they place in the intrathecal space in your spine.
Because the medication is delivered directly to your spinal cord, you can control your pain symptoms with much smaller doses of medication than is needed with oral medication.
Who is a candidate for an intrathecal pain pump test?
Indiana Neurology and Pain Center is a full-service pain management practice that takes an integrative and holistic approach to care.
When you come to the office for a pain management consultation, your provider conducts an in-depth clinical exam to determine the best pain treatment for you.
You may be a good candidate for an intrathecal pain pump test if you suffer from a chronic pain condition and traditional treatments fail to provide long-term pain relief, and surgery isn’t an option.
What happens during the intrathecal pain pump test?
The intrathecal pain pump test you undergo at Indiana Neurology and Pain Center is similar to long-term therapy. For the test, your provider inserts a catheter into the intrathecal space in your spine and delivers the same amount of medication you would get from the pain pump device.
In addition to determining if the intrathecal pain pump makes a good long-term pain management choice for you, the test also helps your provider find the best location for the catheter and the medication and dose that provides the most pain relief.
If your test is successful, then you move on to the placement of the full implant. After placement, Indiana Neurology and Pain Center provides medication management for your intrathecal pain pump.
This includes refilling your pump with the appropriate medication and adjusting your dose as needed.
What are the benefits of the intrathecal pain pump?
The intrathecal pain pump offers many advantages for people suffering from chronic pain. Some of the advantages include:
- Adjustable pain relief
- Reduced opioid use
- Targeted pain relief
- Fewer side effects, if any
- More cost-effective
Many patients also experience better pain control and an improvement in overall quality of life.
To learn more about the intrathecal pain pump test at Indiana Neurology and Pain Center, call the office or book online today.
