OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital's Intrathecal Pain Pump Program Offers Hope to Chronic Pain Patients
Key Takeaways:
- An intrathecal pain pump gave Marcia Alvarez immediate relief after years of debilitating arthritis-related back pain.
- The implanted device delivers targeted medication through a catheter to nerve endings near the spine.
- Alvarez’s morphine dose decreased dramatically, from 40 mg to one-tenth of a milligram, reducing concerns about opioid dependence.
- The procedure typically takes one to two hours, allows patients to return home the same day and may help eligible patients regain their quality of life.
Marcia Alvarez is no stranger to pain.
She developed arthritis in her spine 20 years ago. After building up an immunity to morphine, she took disability from her job. It was at that point she decided to quit taking her medication to avoid addiction, and stayed home in debilitating pain.
“Every step I took felt like somebody had taken a sword and shoved it through my hip down my leg," Alvarez told Mansfield News Journal.
Nearly six years later, she learned of a treatment option for her pain that could change her life. Intrathecal pain pumps deliver a small dose of pain medicine to the nerve endings near the spine. According to Carter Battista, DO, a pain management specialist at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, pain pumps have become popular among patients who want targeted relief.
The pumps are implanted under the patient’s skin, where the medication is refilled every three months. A catheter carries the medicine to nerve endings near the spine.
"The pump itself is good for seven years," Battista said. "The catheter will hopefully stay in for the lifetime."
“Helps patients get off opioids”
A huge benefit to the intrathecal pain pumps is the low doses of medication that achieve relief.
"We're able to program the pump to each patient," Battista said. "We set it at a rate, a low rate, and then we can increase that rate over time if the patient needs higher doses or they're not getting pain relief."
The limited doses of medication were important for Alvarez.
"I wanted relief, but not at the cost of risking addiction to something," she said.
Alvarez’s new morphine dose dropped from 40 mg to only one-tenth of a milligram.
"It really helps patients get off opioids," Battista said. "Everyone develops a tolerance and a lot of times become dependent on them."
“It was immediate relief”
Alvarez says her pain disappeared the moment doctors turned the Medtronic pain pump under her skin on.
"It was immediate relief," she said. "There was no increasing the dose or 'Maybe it'll get better in a few days.' It was instantly."
Alvarez is back to living her life and keeping up with grandchildren. She encourages others experiencing debilitating back pain to look into pain pump treatment options, too.
“It’s only about an hour or two for the procedure,” Battista said. “They go home the same day.”
Anyone who has chronic pain is a potential candidate for the devices. Patients are encouraged to ask their doctor if a pump would be the right fit for them.
