Baclofen Pump
July 27, 2008
Tomorrow, July 28, I undergo surgery to implant the baclofen pump (ITB Pump-Intrathecal baclofen Therapy Pump). Medtronic makes the pump; click Medtronic to learn more about the pump. I will on a short hiatus while I go into rehab. Then I’ll be back blogging about my experiences. Hopefully, someone else that has to go through the same surgery can read about this and get a real world understanding of what happens.
I undergo surgery around 7:30AM tomorrow. The procedure takes about 90 minutes. A small incision is made just below the skin into the layer of fat at waist level on either right or left side. The pump is wrapped in cloth and inserted into the incision. The another smaller incision is made in the lumbar region of the back at the spine. A small catheter is tunneled from the pump to the lumbar region and inserted into the intrathecal space of the spine. I am stitched up and recovery begins while liquid baclofen begins it drip into the spine.
Afterwards I need to lay flat for 24 hours to avoid a massive headache as this procedure is like one mega lumbar puncture. Then I am whisked away to the rehab hospital for four to seven days. Probably seven days.
Why rehab? Well, mainly to wean me off the oral baclofen. Additionally, rehab will help to strengthen muscles that are currently spastic, teach me how to use muscles the correct way again. You know, things like that. My oral baclofen will be reduced from 110mg a day to 80mg a day. Rehab will adjust the pump will continuing to reduce the oral baclofen.
Within seven days I will be released, sent home and hopefully feeling much better than I do right now. I am hoping the painful spasms will end so I can stop taking pain pills. Potentially, fatigue will lessen as 110mg daily of baclofen increases fatigue.
I am both eager to have an ITB pump and work at rehab. Having a positive outlook has been an advantage for me through Atypical Mulitple Sclerosis, most likely Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. I know I have a choice in my outlook. I do not expect certain things to happen so I am usually pretty happy most of the time.
I went through the ‘Why Me’ phase years ago. It wasn’t helpful. I came to the conclusion why not me. What made me so special that I actually thought I was above getting sick, hurt, etc. Because I am surrounded by people who care, love and support me I am glad that I have Multiple Sclerosis. Sounds weird?!? I guess it is, but I hope that because I have MS, maybe I can lessen the hardship of one other person who also has MS.
I can send out good thoughts and feelings to others who are suffering from MS. And not just the physical and mental effects of MS, but also the emotional toll it takes on their spouses, children, friends, families. So often I hear from others about domestic upheaval from the sheer emotional and financial toll from MS, espeically Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. I mean PPMS can be a very isolating disease as sufferers have great difficulty moving about their communities for both daily living issues and SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.
In any event I will blog more when I return. Until then I wish you all well.
ITB Therapy screening test
June 28, 2008
Yesterday, I went for my ITB Therapy screening test. Or my test dose for the Baclofen pump. Currently, I am on 110 mg daily of Baclofen, which I’m sure adds to my fatigue issues. And lately, it isn’t enough to loosen my hips and torso. The pain from the spasticity is bad enough that I am also on Vicoden.
My test dose was administered in the recovery room of the day surgery unit at the hospital. I was ushered into a small private room, with the help of my hubby I changed into the surgical patient uniform- the johnny. My nurse inserted an IV, drew blood, checked my oxygen levels and blood pressure. All good.
Finally Dr. Calm (of course not his real name), the neurosurgeon, entered. Reassuringly, he numbed my back then administered the Baclofen via the lumbar puncture. Within a few minutes the procedure was complete. As with all LP’s I was ordered to lay flat for an hour or so.
Here is the great part. By the end of the hour I felt some effects. My legs bent without pushing, without pain. But the real test was in my hips and torso. As one doc put it, I “lost my wiggle”. My torso is so tight I cannot reach over my head. Again, my hubby helps my dress and undress. He, my son and a trusty grabber all help me reach into cabinets, cupboards, and even pick things up off the floor.
When I was able to get up, I was able to get up. I was able to get off the bed without help, without pain, without having to adjust myself just so. I shot my husband a look but he was two steps ahead with a smile. During the next few hours I took the short walk, long one if you have trouble walking like I do, to the bathroom. This was a beautiful moment. For the first time in two years, I felt as if I was walking, really walking. Not just dragging the two dead cement columns attached to my waist around. My hips moved, my wiggle wiggled.
Hubby escorted me to the bathroom, but returned to the recovery room. Coming out of the bathroom without forearm cructches and walking, really walking, was a feat worthy of Olympic Gold. As I turned the corner I saw the face of my husband. The face of the man I married. Not the face of the man I have looked into for the past three years, the one distorted with stress, worry, and fear. But the happy smiling face of the man I married fifteen years ago.
When I got back to the room I stretched like a bear waking from hibernation, a two year hibernation. It felt GREAT! But the best part of the day was seeing the smiling face of my husband. I don’t worry about the future because I know that he worries enough for the both of us. I have learned that life is what you make of it. No one is given a life without obstacles, we all suffer. That is the great equalizer, that is what unites us. Whenever I look into another’s eyes, I can’t help but see suffering like mine. In this way, I have learned to take what I have because all we ever have in now, this moment, and it IS precious.
So, now I wait for a few weeks until Dr. Calm surgically implants a Baclofen pump, ITB Therapy, into my body.
Atypical Multiple Sclerosis 