Chronic pain: pain pump implant?

[katidid]

Hi all - reaching out for some advise. Looks like I'm going to be on pain medicine longer than I would have hoped. It really saddens me because I feel that I no longer have the brain power that I used to and combine with the fog, mentally I'm just so out of it most of the time. But, my recent tests show considerable joint damage beyond the lupus and PsA, so while I am going through PT (estimated at at least a year, 3-4 days a week) I'll be medicated.

My questions are:

1. Can we get implants? I am reading conflicting evidence on the immune system attacking the implant and my docs aren't being very helpful.

2. Do any of you have an implant (of any kind or a pain pump)?

I really want to bring some materials to my next appointment so that I can get a straight answer from them. I understand they don't like surgical risks, but it seems extreme to me to say that autoimmune patients can't have implants of any kind.

Any guidance, advice or reading would be much appreciated!

[Paloma25]

I have never had one, but my brother, who has severe pain from injuries and fibromyalgia, had a pain pump and it was very disappointing. It did not help much with the pain and there were numerous large and small problems, from invasive adjustments to a part dislodging and traveling up to the base of his skull. He tried it for over a year, but had it removed last week. The quality of the medical care in his rural town might not be as good as in your area, so you may have better luck with it.

[katidid in reply to Paloma25]

Thank you for this info! it's always good to hear what could go wrong. I'm not sure what model they were planning on, but the doc was concerned about my body rejecting it. i am concerned about going through something that doesn't really help and has a big risk of side effects. May I ask, did he find that he was less "fuzzy" in the head with the implant?

Again thanks for sharing!