baclofen pump question

[gsyoyo_59]

I am a 50 year old female that had a spinal cord injury due to a steph infection. My doctor was able to remove one of the two abscesses; however the 2nd one was the trouble one. The infection attack C5-C6 which needed surgery to stable this area. I then spent 3 months in a rehab facility due to paralysis.

I am classified as a spinal cord injury patient however I have paralysis like a stroke patient. The only part of my body that is paralyzed is my left side. My left hand is completely curled up and has minimum use of left arm and only quad muscle with my left leg. I have spasms through out the day and while doing therapy. My right side is fully functioning at about 80 -90 percent.

My rehab and neurologist wants me to have the baclofen pump put in.

Help I need to know in my situation with the pump be my best option?

[SCI-Nurse]

How long have you had your SCI? A baclofen pump is rarely appropriate sooner than a year post injury.

What other meds have you tried?? A pump should only be considered after you have exhausted the other medication such as oral baclofen, tizanidine, dantrolene sodium, etc.

Intrathecal baclofen will help more with leg spasticity than with hand or arm spasticity. It will not remove a contracture if you have already developed one.

Intrathecal baclofen should not be used to take away all spasticity (the same applies to oral meds) but just reduce it enough so that it does not interfere any more with function or mobility. It can make you weaker in muscles that you have control over, or spasticity that you use for gait stability.

You would first have to have a test bolus dose. Has that been done?

You must also have an excellent experienced neurosurgeon who has done many pump implants, and a reliable physiatrist or other specialist who will work with you on an ongoing basis to adjust the dose and do refills of your pump (approximately every 90 days). The pump will also have to be surgically replaced every 6-8 years.

(KLD)

[gsyoyo_59]

All this occurred with me in January 2009.

I am currently taking baclofen orally of 10 mg 3 times a day. While I was in rehab, I was up to 50 mg 3 times a day. To date I have not tried any of the other meds that you have mentioned.

I am scheduled for the test for June 15 and my neurosurgeon will be doing the test. In talking with my neurosurgeon and my rehab doctor, my neurosurgeon will do the test and the implant and then I will follow up with my rehab doctor with doing a week stay at the rehab hospital and then continue with out patient therapy there so that he can monitor the pump and dosage.