Dr. Zwade Marshall may recommend an intrathecal pain pump to help manage chronic pain and improve your quality of life. Pain is frequently caused by illness or injury and has a negative impact on your overall well-being. Constant or persisting pain is referred to as chronic pain. Intrathecal delivery is a modality for treating chronic pain where medication is administered directly into a target site via implants.
Intrathecal pain pumps are often considered when other modes of pain management have proven ineffective. This type of pain management system is effective in treating cancer pain, severe back pain, neuropathic pain, muscle spasticity and post-operative pain. When you receive an intrathecal drug delivery system, a small pump will be implanted into the subcutaneous tissue to deliver pain medication directly to the spinal cord. Because the medication is being delivered directly to the targeted area, smaller doses are enough to provide relief and effectively manage pain.
The pump will be surgically implanted beneath the skin of your abdomen and will be connected to a catheter placed in the intrathecal space (inside the layers of the spinal cord) or the epidural space (just outside the spinal cord). There are minimal risks associated with a pump implant; however, you will need to undergo a trial to determine if an intrathecal pain pump is right for you. Please also be aware that any dysfunction of the catheter or pump may require a surgical procedure to repair it. Some of the risks associated with this pain management system include:
- Infection at the tip of the catheter
- The catheter kinking up or disconnecting
- Spinal fluid leak
- Headaches
- Side effects from medication
For more information about intrathecal pain pumps in Fayetteville and Atlanta, Georgia, and to schedule a consultation with our physician, contact Regenerative Spine and Pain Specialists today at 404-618-0995.
