A Medtronic Pain Management Resource

PATIENT'S PERSPECTIVE:
CAROL'S STORY

Carol and Larry

The following story captures one individual's experience with a Medtronic intrathecal drug delivery system. Results vary; not every individual will receive the same results. Side effects can occur. For complete prescribing information, please refer to the last page of this newsletter.

A couple of years after having my first disc surgery, I noticed something wasn’t right when the soles of my feet were becoming numb. Soon my legs and back began to ache. I tried many different treatment options including medical patches, acupuncture, oral medications, and physical therapy. These treatment options did not relieve the pain, and the oral medication had many negative side effects. I was nauseous, had no appetite, and lost over 25 pounds. My physician then recommended I try the neurostimulator. We scheduled the trial. While the neurostimulation felt like a good massage, it did not ease the pain, so we decided not to go forward with this option. I was left feeling frustrated, and didn’t understand what was going on with me.

I requested an MRI. It confirmed I had channel stenosis and a herniated disc. After two months, I was constantly flat on my back. I wasn’t able to complete any of the household chores, garden or go to the store. When I sat or stood, the pain was unbearable even with strong pain pills. I crawled to the bathroom sobbing until I returned to the sofa. My husband Larry took care of me. He did the shopping, laundry, bathed me, and so much more! This was so hard for him as there wasn’t anything he could do about the pain.

After seeing a neurosurgeon, I underwent my second disc surgery. As soon as the anesthesia wore off, I knew the disc surgery hadn’t relieved the pain. I was later told I had nerve damage and too much scar tissue for additional surgery. I was then advised to go to a pain clinic in Portland, Oregon. My physician sat down with me and my husband to discuss the Medtronic pump. My physician asked me if it would relieve even 50% of the pain, would I want it? I said yes! After having the pump implanted, I finally found immense relief from my chronic pain!

The Medtronic pump has changed our whole lives. I had been down, flat on my back for over 4 months. My husband took care of me 24 hours a day. We were feeling so afraid and hopeless. Because of the pump, I am now able to take care of myself. I can do laundry, make the bed, do dishes, and go to the store. We have now returned to a near normal existence. There are a few activities I can’t do at all, and I still have some aches and pains if I overdo it, but they are so minor in comparison to what the Medtronic pump has done for me. My husband and I have our lives back. It means so much to us both.

CAREGIVER'S PERSPECTIVE:
LARRY'S STORY

When the chronic pain intensified, my wife Carol was forced to live most of her life on the couch. I had to watch her crawl on the floor to the bathroom. This was such an unpleasant feeling, knowing that I couldn’t help her. I felt so helpless. I took over all of the household chores. I did the cooking, dishes, laundry, ironing…I did everything. I couldn’t work due to her pain. I needed to care for her. We no longer had a life outside of our home. We couldn’t go out to dinner, the movies, or on vacations. We felt trapped inside our house.

Our kids are grown with their own families and lives away from home. Before the intense pain, Carol was able to visit them and the grandchildren. But because of the pain, she couldn’t leave the house. The kids would call and sometimes stay with their mom so I could go out and have lunch with friends or go to the gun club. The kids kept asking questions, trying to understand. They wished they could do more to help, but everyone felt helpless. The chronic pain was difficult on our entire family.

After the pump, Carol began to build strength. She is now able to do some things independently. She is able to help with the household chores and go to the store on her own. I still wait on her once in a while now just because I want to, because we’re husband and wife, but I don’t have to now. I’m now able to go back to work, go on hunting trips with my brother and not worry Carol won’t be able to take care of herself. We know she’s able to have a life again. The Medtronic pump has made a world of difference in our lives. I don’t know where we would be today without it.