Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems

Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems are also known as a Morphine Pump.  Although other medications may be used along with Morphine, I will concentrate on the pump specifically using only Morphine.


Made by Medtronics, the Intrathecal Drug Delivery System, (IDDS), is first used in a trial that lasts approx. 3 to 4 days.  The similarities to the trial I had of Medtronics Spinal Cord Stimulator, are the same in that the trial lasts 3 days, and the patient and doctor have an opportunity to see by trial if the system will work for the patient.


Unfortunately, when I had the trial of the Stimulator, instead of innervating (innervation: Stimulation of a part through the action of nerves), the intended area of my Thoracic Spine, I was buzzing in the abdomen and right thigh areas.  When in the operating room, I had to be as awake as possible to respond to the doctor who was placing the leads, and tell him when I felt the stimulator, and where it was felt.  He said that there was a large amount of scar tissue in the area he was placing the leads, which later made a lot of sense, when the innervation was in the incorrect area.


After three days of a buzzing tummy and thigh, I returned to the doctor's office, and the leads were pulled out quickly through the incision in my upper back.  It was not a successful trial.  That was very hard for me to deal with, as I was at the end of what could be done to alleviate my Chronic Pain.


Forward to the present, and now I have the opportunity to try a different method of pain relief, in the Implantable Morphine Pump.  The pump was first suggested to me by my wonderful Pain Management Doctor.  He stated that I was an excellent candidate for the pump, and then began the journey that has brought me to now.  I began at a doctor he referred me to, who did implantation of pumps, and we had a very expensive, yet very informative meeting and discussion about what is expected during the trial, what the hoped outcomes are, and left me to think about this possible procedure that could actually get me back into LIFE again; including my dream of returning to work as a nurse.


Next post:  What it takes to secure a pump trial!    


Gentle Hugs...