Rob, I'm sorry you had the headache after your procedure. I remember the four days of "migraines" I had after my lumbar puncture. I don't get headaches and wonder how people survive who have them regularly.
Please keep us posted. I think I would have to pay out of pocket, but not having muscles pulling me in every direction would be great. Patti - Michigan On Jul 11, 2013, at 7:48 PM, Robert Pall <robthe...@aol.com> wrote: > Here is my first journal after having the Baclofin Pump placed in my > body. > The surgery took place on 6/28 early morning....it took about 2 1/2 hours. > After waking in recovery I was transferred to the ICU where I spent the next > 24 hours and was then released to go home. Almost as soon as I woke from > surgery I could feeol like a weight had been taken off my legs. The banding > was significantly reduced. That being said after being released from the > hospital I began to suffer severe headaches and nausea. The neurosurgeon > advised that I lie flat on my back and drink lots of caffeinated beverages in > order to replenish my spinal fluid which he felt was leaking at the catheter > site. I did this and still the headaches got worse and worse...to the point > where I had to be readmitted to the hospital. At the hospital I was told to > stay flat 24/7 and was given antibiotics and a low dose of steroids.After 3 > days in the hospital I had them release me even though I was still suffering > from headaches and fatigue. Today it is almost 12 days since my surgery and I > am finally starting to feel better. The headaches are gone and the fatigue is > less. Not everyone getting the Baclofin Pump goes through the leakage...they > say one in 10....I was one of them. > I know that so far everything has been negative...yet I am still very > happy I had the procedure. My legs feel better than they have in 15 years and > they are likely to improve even more as the dosage is increased. The pump > does stick out of my left side lateral to my naval and is the size of a > powderpuff. It is made of titanium and is only slightly under my skin. The > surgery consisted of placing the pump on the left side of my naval and the > catheter is inserted through a separate cut near my spine. The catheter is > placed in the spinal fluid as near as possible to my lesion. The pain from > the surgery is minimal and if it were not for the side effects I encountered > would have been a piece of cake.The pump is refilled approx. twice per year > by an injection through the skin directly into the pump. The pump is > programmed by the neurologist via a handheld computer. > It is my hope and expectation that this pump will greatly benefit the > quality of my life. I should be able to walk better,faster and with far less > fatigue and banding. I have no restrictions on physical activity once the > sutures have healed (about 2-3 weeks). I can resume swimming and almost any > activity my body allows me to do.I will be able to walk my 70 lb Golden > retriever and not have a problem even when he sees a rabbit and starts to > pull me. I will have to carry a special medical card when I fly as the pump > will set off airport alarms. The only other thing I cannot do is get an MRI. > I am not ready to recommend and or endorse the pump for everyone. The > people who it will help the most are the ones suffering from spasticity and > banding. > I will keep everyone up to date on my progress....and that being said I > would recommend anyone considering this procedure to first go through the > hospital trial. At the trial a 3 hour dose of the medicine is injected into > your spine (similar to a lumbar puncture). Once the injection is done you > should see major changes in the way you feel. That is what happened to me and > I felt I would never forgive myself for not trying the procedure. > To get more information you should google the pump manufacturer and read > all about it. Google"Metronics". > Please let me know if you want me to continue a running commentary I my > own personal experience. > > All the best! > Rob in New Jersey
