What is an Intrathecal Pain Pump?

The system consists of a pump and catheter, both of which are surgically placed under the skin. The pump is a round device that stores and delivers pain medication. It is placed in your abdomen. The catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is inserted into your spine and connected to the pump.

The pump sends the medication through the catheter to the spinal area. This device is continually monitored by “reading” the pain pump to ensure that the device is working appropriately and to measure the amount of medication left in the pump. By doing this, we always know when you will need a medication refill. You will either be brought into the office to have the pain pump refilled by our physician or by a team of nurses who can come to your home to perform the refill.

How It Works

The pump releases prescribed amounts of pain medication through the catheter directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, in an area called the intrathecal space. The type of medication used in each pump varies by patient. This will be decided by your physician. Targeted drug delivery cannot eliminate the source of your pain or cure any underlying disease, but it may help you to better manage your pain.

Pain Pump Trial

A trial will always be performed in our in office procedure suite to determine if you are in fact a good candidate. This is done by injecting a small amount of medication (decided on by your physician) into your spine. By administering this medication, it should provide the patient short term pain relief. After completing the trial, if you and your physician decide to proceed with the permanent implant, your physician will review the additional steps needed to get started.