Is a Drug Pump Right for You?
The treatment option that will work best for you depends on your type of pain, the severity of your pain, and your response to pain treatment.
A drug pump might be right for you if:
- Your pain persists even though you are taking medication as directed
- Your medication is causing side effects that are reducing the quality of life for you and your family
- You have had a successful drug delivery screening test
Screening Test
A screening test helps assess whether the Medtronic SynchroMed® drug delivery system might be right for you. If you achieve satisfactory pain relief or experience reduced side effects during the test, you may be a candidate for intrathecal drug delivery. The screening test gives you a chance to try the therapy before committing to surgery and long-term therapy.
There are two screening test methods: injection or continuous infusion. Your physician will decide which is most appropriate for you.
- Injection method – This procedure consists of a single injection or multiple injections of a small amount of medication into the intrathecal space
- Continuous infusion – This type of screening test takes place over a few days and closely resembles the therapy delivered by the implanted drug pump
After the Screening Test Procedure
After the procedure, you will be taken to a recovery room. You may experience some discomfort in the area of your back where the incision(s) was made if your screening test was conducted with the continuous infusion method. This is temporary and will resolve in the hours and days following the procedure.
Your doctor will discuss the following before you are sent home with your temporary system:
- How to use the external pump
- How to care for the area around the catheter while you're at home
- What activities and movements to avoid during the screening test period
If your screening test involved the injection method, you will:
- Discuss your response to the screening test with your doctor before going home. Your doctor will want to know: Did your pain increase? Did you experience any discomfort?
After the Screening Test
At the end of the screening test period, your doctor will:
- Remove the temporary catheter, if one was used
- Discuss your experience during the screening test
- Ask you if you were satisfied with your experience with drug delivery therapy
- Help you determine if you should proceed with the implant procedure
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.
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