Dilaudid Pain Pump (Top voted first)

I would like to talk to anyone who has a pain pump with Dilaudid. My mother has a pain pump and I am worried she will be on it for the rest of her life. She has had the pump for many years and I feel it has affected her greatly. She had to have all her teeth pulled because they were rotting and she also has a problem with her tongue burning and red all the time. I am worried she will never get off the pain pump because she is addicted... she also falls asleep all the time even while you are talking to her. Thanks for any advice. Teresa.

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I have a medtronics pump put in recently and so far so good it's filled with dilaudid I was real worried about this I liked of not got procedure done. I injured my l4-l5 S1 about 8 years ago and live in chronic pain taking oral meds you name it i probably was on it I did not like taking all meds cause affected me physically with function and mind then it was like they just kept getting weaker till something had to change I was basically living in my bed. My Doc tried earlier to do pump but I kept putting it off worried about it till I got to talk to others that had it done. I could give my Doc a big ol hug this has been a big change for the good. By all means the pain is still their but at least it is at a tollarable state that I can live with I haven't felt like this since I had my infusion done at age 34. If it hadn't been for my wife and kids and my faith in God I wouldn't of made it this far. Some people have no clue what chronic pain is. Right now I'm just on pump every one in a while I have to get a extra bolus my Doc programmed so could do 4 in 24 hr period if needed at least don't have to go to er no more. My Doc tells me so much safer than oral meds its such a small volume it dont even show in UA's so that ought to tell ya it's not going through the body like oral meds do. It don't affect my mind I function perfectly fine I hope this continues to stay this way. And most important I had problems with my stomach on oral meds I'm not having any issues with the pump. It's nice not to be constipated all the time I had a real bad issue with that. Just thought I'd pass on my expirence with this inplant. Reason Doc went with dilaudid he told me was it took less medication and the cathader tube running from pump to spinal chord is at a very less chance to crystallize up that morphine was at more of risk. I'm no doctor but I think I asked mine so many questions his ears were burning I told him I was just concerned and he respected my wishes he didn't try to force the pump on me it took me nearly 2yrs to make my decision but I was at a point where had to do something and thought of my wife and kids and went through with it. So far I'd do it over to get the relief I've experienced. Just let me say this even though you fill better dont go out and overdue it ive seen this happen then you be back for another back surgery it takes good disciplen to know your limits because I know what I couldn't do before nothing changed but pain levels so be careful. Hope this benifets someone thinking about having pump. God Bless

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I just had the pain pump placed with dilaudid. It isn't the same effect feeling that you would get if you got it through in iv. I don't have any side effect. I do continue to take oral pain meds am allotted 2-2 1/2 percocet 10's a day and I am roughly taking 1-1 1/2 per day yes some days are worse than other but, overall I am having a great or good experience with the pump.

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Dilaudid contains the active ingredient Hydromorphone, this is a narcotic analgesic.

There is a different between addiction and dependence.

Dependence, which is more than likely what is happening to your mother, occurs when you are just using something regularly for a long period of time.

Addiction occurs when you abuse a drug and keep taking more and more, beyond what is prescribed.

What she is experiencing are common side effects, these may include: nausea, drowsiness, dizziness and constipation.

Unfortunately, if she has a condition requiring pain treatment, she may never be completely medication free.

Have you spoken to her doctor about your concerns?

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Dilaudid/­

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After using Fentynal patches for three years, I've been on my pump filled with dilaudid for the past two and one-half years. I need t get a refill every six weeks due to my flow rate and the fact that my pump has only a 21 cc reservoir. I have had my flow rate adjusted numerous times to get where I'm at today. I used to fall asleep awhile in mid conversation, etc. My suggestion is to try and redeive a small enough flow to minimize the pain to the point where you can live with some of it. That's what I've done as time progresses and I need to make adjustments, (up and down - I always feel better when I'm warm so during the summer I have cut back, and in winter icrease it some), I will. I'll be on this stuff called dilauddid til the day I die which probably will come sooner because of it. C

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i have had chronic pancreatic for the past five years. nothing seems to work on me. the dr. said that a dilaudid pain pump will help me. please if anyone out there that give some advise i really need it.

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If this will give you any comfort I am going on 23 years now with the pain pump. I have had 4 of them due to the battery dieing. Now I have a very large reservoir and can go six months without a refill I forget its even there. My organs are as healthy as the day they put the first pump in. The only problem that I am experiencing now is I am building up a tolerance to the drugs in my pump and my pain is breaking through. I have 4 different kinds of medications at once in my pump going to my spinal column. I hope this helps you.

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I have found 5mg of hydromorophone seems to be average continuous dose. I am still in the dose adjustment period,I am at 0.6655 with a bolus dose of 0.0600/3hrs my pain is 25% better. I get a pump refill next month my dr said he was increasing the strength and adding some biclofen. My point is there are several ways to treat your pain thru the pump, so don't give up or continue suffering. Just communicate with your Dr otherwise it's your fault not the pumps.

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I have a Medtronics pump in me now for at least 3 years. Most times, pumps do not just contain hydromorphone but also has clonidine and baclofen.One is a muscle relaxer the other an anti-axiatant. It is very important you know whats in it just in case of emergeny so doctors don't cause problems mixing drugs. To answer your question, changing the morphine to dilaudid is a change that can cause the body to have some reaction. What your pain doc should have done was start weaning you off the morphine (not all the way just partially), then change medicine. Like me, I'm sure there are other meds in there and if he changed them as well, it might cause other symptoms. Just be patient but be wise. If you vitals rise, please contact your medical doctor. Jeff

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Is she using as directed or over using...I've been on pain meds for years and have learned if taken properly, teeth rotting is rare. I'd be more worried about her liver and kidneys. I'm not on pump however. How does it work?

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I became addicted to d's(street slang for Dilaudid) in my very early 20's. I had been a poly drug abuser all through my teens, with 6 month runs of Heroin. No monkey, but quality control problems along with the loss of many friends. Twenty months of d's and I lost my d doctor. Lots of drama followed. Enter Methadone. Save me and possibly others. At 40 I do 8yrs 4months for Uncle Sam. No "done". Two yrs into my bit I'm injured on my job(1996). No correct medical diagnosis. Fed caused me to get IBS from all the NSAID's given. Same BS when I'm out. Start on class III's and end up getting morphine for pain. Praise the internet.

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I'm a chronic pain person because of an injury to L4, L5 & S1 and SI joint problems. Arthritis and stenosis are big factors in the pain and inflammation (which is responsible for most of the pain, as I am told). Lots of drugs daily over 7 years. Not anymore. Medical marijuana Seriously.
The surgeon that fused my spine with 2 rods, screws and baskets said that I should get the morphine/dilauded pump, installed into me. He told me I'd get very small amounts injected in the area on a prescribed plan.
Then I talked to a couple of his patients while I awaited his partner who sold patients on pumps then installed them. Big money.
One fellow said he got spinal meningitis twice because of the intrusion into his spinal fluid. I lost a friend to that disease. It was from something else. You don't want to go that way. Took three years to kill him.
Before you take that step read this article. There are many studies that are now proving the same results. I believe the reduction in inflammation plays a huge pare in reducing my pain dramatically enough to have quit the narcotics, on my own, after 7 - 8 years on them.
It's very real. GOOGLE this:
UCSF Study Finds Medical Marijuana Could Help Patients Reduce Pain with Opiates

Good luck

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Medical Marijuana does not assist Nerve pain. It may make you forget about it yes however there has been study after study that the THC in Marijuana will not help break through such as that in CRPS. The reason people get Meningitis from infusion pump implants? There are what is called upper essilion and lower essilion Pain Management Doctors. The pain pump has been around long enough now to where it has made it into the hands of the lowest of essilion Doctors. Workers comp insurance companies are using these Doctors to save money. The results are horrifying. A patient goes into see these DR's at the recommendation of these BIG insurance companies to get relief and end up 100 times worse in the out come then they were to begin with. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Don't accept a Dr just because an insurance company made the recommendation to do so. INSURANCE companies these days ARE CORRUPT! Even the ones that give you a warm fuzzy feeling all over! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU!

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Hello, I also have a Dilaudid pump. I know from experience, that the medicine that I receive through my pump, doesn't effect me with any side effects that are sedating in any way. But, I'm sure that not everyone has had the same experience for me. I can only advise you to go with her to her next pump appt. to speak with the PA-C or doctor who is caring for your Mom and her pump rate. Possibly the rate is too high? Any chance you know what rate she is at? I am at a very low rate, which is 1.56 mg for a 24 hour period, slow continuous release. I do have to say that in my opinion, that if a pump helps a person like myself who wasn't able to get adequate pain relief through the oral meds, that I would hope that she would keep it. And it is quite normal for your Mom's body to have become dependent upon the medication. I have lost a few pumps and trust me, you wouldn't want to see the shape that your Mom would be without her pump. Maybe she is at too high of a rate? My PA-C only increases me 10% at each refill apt and as I wrote earlier, I have no side effects of sedation whatsoever. The people around me say that they haven't noticed a difference in me either. I hope that this will help you.

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My husband has had the pain pump since December 2011 and had to replace the first one because of complications one year later. He too has chronic pancreatitis and could not find any pain relief until the pain pump. December 2012 he had another implanted in a better area of his abdomen and has went from morpheme to a combination of dilaudid and the numbing medication that starts with B. I don't have his printout in front of me to tell u what the name of the medicine is. He has had some great no cream no Ola miles and it is other area and now seems to have relief, but he does show signs of falling asleep standing up falling asleep with coffee in his hand he constantly has problems falling asleep. He is afraid to inform his doctor because he does not want to be a decrease in his oral medication it is also helping with this pain. It's been a challenge to find a regimen of meds to help him. I encourage you to have a good pain management doctor as well as a GI dr that acknowledges the facts behind pancreatitis! A lot of nurses that don't have any experience with pancreatitis does NOT understand the dynamics of how bad it can be when the pain is NOT controlled. My husband spent 17 days in the hospital after his pain management decreased his oral meds even though his disease has worsened and his pain wasn't managed. I begged them not to do that and sure as I'm sitting here, they ignored us. He ended up in so much pain that he was begging for help the day I called 911! It was horrific! Please feel free to contact me {edited for privacy} if you need any advice. We've been to Cleveland Clinc, OSU Mecial, IUHealth and I can refer you to one of the best GI doctors in this area. Good luck And God Bless. Do the pain pump but make sure you do research as well. Look into a QOL (quality-of-life) representative to assist you as well. I've recently read online about how patients need a representative to observe the patients quality of life and to help them.

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You should do a living will and a regular will as soon as you can. You could be in a car accident on the way to work in the morning. God never garanteed anyone tomorrow. It will save your loved ones from all the fighting and stress of having to make decisions for you.

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The choice is addiction or pain. I too have a pain pump and use Dilaudid in it. It's lower dose than than OxyContin and Oxycodone I was on and the pain is better controlled. If your Mom is old she normally would sleep a lot.
Pain or enough medication to control the pain? What would your choice be?

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Hi,

My name is Mark. While I'm not a doctor I do know a lot about chronic nerve pain, I've suffered with it for 20+ years. I have had 3 major surgeries & dozens if smaller procedures to try & get relief, but I've gotten little to nine. Recently had a pump inserted into NY left buttock. The first med they tried from all the tests that failed is Prialt (Ziconotide). I had such severe side effects that at my last programming they had to decrease the Orialt by 50%, & they added Dilaudid, which failed in the bolus test, but meds act differently when they r given in track the really (direct into spinal canal. I tell u this so u can understand where I am coming from.

Let me reassure you that anyone that gas had to take opiates for an extended amount if time ends up with dentures, as soon as I can lie in the dental chair I an getting mine, U can't wait to be able to really eat. For the past 10+/- yes. I have eaten with 1 molar, yep, 1 on top & 2 on the bottom, so it's actually normal for your teeth to rot if you've had to take larger amount if narcotics for chronic pain. So don't feel bad. My dentist says there's absolutely nothing I could have dine to stop it from happening other than not taking my meds, if I did that I would have no life at all.

Now, concerning falling asleep, I would 1st ask your mom how she is sleeping at night. I rarely get more than an hour if sleep, as I am awake ALL night dye to the pain. When I fall asleep its not long til I move in my recliner (can't lay in a bed yet, no way!) Anyhow, if she is not getting enough rest at night, her body will become chronically fatigued as nine is, & you will find her falling asleep at any moment in the day. I usually will conk out for a nap after I eat something, or when my wife is speaking to me. It was pointed out, & I see some merit in it, that you fall asleep when you r peaceful & feeling secure. Do I fall asleep in my wife, not because I want to be rude, but because she makes me feel secure & at peace & my body HAS TO have rest, just like ur mom. Also, if not that, she could have been given a little too much if one of her meds. Ask her doc. About it & maybe they can change a med for another it slowly reduce the 1 most suspicous until the med is still effective but not knocking her out. Believe me, the very worst thing you can do is blame mom for taking to much medicine. My wife used to do that to me & it hurt me deeply. I was following my doctors orders & wasn't sleeping, so it really helped by her putting a guilt trip on me that also led to stress & even more non-rest. But, she is frustrated that nothing seems to work & she just wants her husband back, so I understand. Remember, chronic pain affects the whole family & also close friends, along with the person directly experiencing the pain.

Finally, the pump is the best way to deliver opiates to your mom. First, much smaller doses can be given thru the pump than can be given orally. Secondly, get over it. Your mom IS DEPENDENT on drugs to live. That is far different than a perfectly well person seeking out drugs to feel high, that's addiction. Your mom IS NOT AN ADDICT & don't ever tell her she is, 1st its not true & 2nd it only makes the pain worse. Hey, I know u r hurting too emotionally, but for your moms sake, get over it, & understand the HUGE difference between addiction & dependency. I've been taking opiates for 20+ years & yes, I am
Dependent on opiates to be able to have some kind if quality if life. Okay! The #1 thing you can do for mom is 1 LOVE HER NO MATTER WHAT! & tell her you do. 2. SUPPORT HER DECISIONS IN MANAGING HER PAIN. Go to her next appt. With her & ask the Dr. What can I do to help my mom have the quality of life she deserves. You'll be surprised at how mom responds to your unconditional love & support. For me these 2 things were a stronger medicine for my pain than anything the doctors were giving me.

I salute you for being concerned about your mom. I hope it helps you to know there are a lot of us out here just like your Mom & we are just doing our best to survive & try to live life to the fullest that we can. Sorry for the lengthiness, but I hope this helps. Oh, I go back in another week to get the Dilaudid they added turned up, while the Prialt will either stay put it be decreased more depending on my bodies reaction to this first cut if 50%. I'll be praying for you & mom! Oh yeah, I'm a pastor, with a masters in Psychology, & a doctorate in Theology. So I am a doctor, but not medical one, bur a spiritual.one!
God's Best To You & Mom, & BE WELL!

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It won't attack your organs! You actually use a much smaller dose than you would orally and having a pump keeps the dilaudid from being metabolized by the liver and kidneys

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She needs her dosage adjusted. Sounds like its too high. I have had mine for 3 years however I hate it and I am not on a high dose. My next appt is the 19th and I am going to have them start to reduce the dosage and wean myself and have it removed.

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From what my doctor told me, the medicine goes directly into the spine. It lessens addiction since it doesn't go into the blood. If you want to go off it though, they would need to do it gradually. I've had mine for over 10 years now. The only they need to do is change it out around the 7 year mark

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