Baclofen Pump Information
Questions and Answers
What are the age and weight requirements to install a baclofen pump? Can a baclofen pump be installed in a 4-year old child who weights 23 kilograms and has severe spasticity as a result of cerebral palsy?
TweetyBird replied: "For a baclofen pump implant, your child must meet the following criteria:
1. Have severe spasms that affect the arms, legs or both.
2. Have spasms that intefere with self-care or daily activities.
3. Have painful spasms
4. Have enough body mass (not necessarily weight) to support a pump and be at least 4 years old.
5. Have adequate strength in the neck and trunk.
6. Have had a good response to a trial of baclofen.
The infusion system itself consists of an implantable pump (6.6cm wide and 2.2cm thick), an intrathecal catheter and a computer. The pump runs on a 3-5 year lithium battery.
You will need to have your child evaluated to find out if he/she is a good candidate."
Has anyone had the Intrathecal Baclofen Pump procedure done? As an educated, active adult with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, I am planning the above procedure to improve my daily functioning. I have tried Botox, oral Baclofen, and had several orthopedic operations when I was a lot younger. Upon talking with various medical professionals, I had 3 options-orthopedic surgery again, selective dorsal rhizotomy-irreversible, and the baclofen pump. I would like to hear from others who have had this procedure done and can give me a better insight as to what to expect, opinions, results, etc. Any first-hand info would be very much appreciated!
Jifr replied: "Hiya:
I have MS and have actually talked to a Baclofen rep at a MS Exp and know someone with a pump although I haven't had one myself. (I've been on MAX doses of Baclofen - and have had botox for hemi-facial spasms- but my issues were only temporary)
From what I've been told - the pump is a life saver (In that it lets you function more normally). My only concern with it is tolerating the side effects of the baclofen. If you tolerated the side effects well.....I'd say go for it.
(if you do - make sure the pump does not run out of medication. I've heard that can be a nightmare.)
Goodluck!
~jifr!"
Hello! I had a baclofen pump installed in my stomach for Dystonia. It makes a ticking noise. What is it? Baclofen Pump for Dystonia and Spasticity! Questioning a ticking noise it makes
Loz replied: "Hi Natasha.
I also have an intrathecal pump (with a mixture of baclofen and other meds). I occasionally hear mine tick, but after nine months I generally don't notice it any more. I've never actually asked, but have always assumed that it's just due to the mechanics of the pump as it meters out the correct dose for infusion.
Hope that helps."
is there any continual feed system similar to a baclofen pump, that can be used to deliver valium? Looking for a better delivery system for valium other than by pill. Need to have a slower and more even release. Injection into the muscle works but not fesiable. An IV injection is too much too fast.
Momma P replied: "I don't believe so. At least not that I have heard of yet. Would be nice though, I agree."
what radiology procedures can be done with a baclofen pump? we were it had to be shielded when having an x-ray but that he could have a ct scan. Is this true?
Loz replied: "I'm not 100% sure regarding a baclofen pump, but I do have a spinal cord stimulator (SCS).
I questioned whether x-ray could damage the device, and was told probably not, but to have it shielded just in case- basically the biggest problem is that it will cause what is known as 'artefact' on the x-ray. With SCS, CT scan is fine, and I can't imagine why this wouldn't be the same with a pump. It is just things like MRI and diathermy that CANNOT be carried out, and I have to be careful with ultrasound because that can apparently cause interference with the implant (though I think that it because of the electrical activity of the SCS).
Hope that helps :)"
Does "ANYBODY" Know a Doctor for Refilling the Baclofen Pump?!? Hi, and my name is Mahnazi Shams. I have disability called Dystonia [or Distonya]. Also, I have a baclofen pump transplanted into my belly. Every month the doctor refills my pump, but my doctor has moved to another place [which is far away]. So, please help me! Please leave name of the doctor, tel-phone number, address, and website or emails.
Guy 29 replied: "have you tried to asked your doc to recomend some closer to you"
mrs.skripnik replied: "Depends on where you are. My dad was at Craig Hospital in Denver, CO actually Englewood, CO. But he has a Baclofen pump and they refilled it there. I am sorry that I can't remember any other information other than that so hope that it might help. Good luck!"
My son has a spinal cord injury and a Baclofen pump. He has been having trouble with spacticity. Please help 12 yrs ago he received a C6,C7 incomplete injury. He has had a Baclofen pump for a few years. He just received a new one because the old one malfunctioned. A couple of months ago he began having spasms and "weird itching" all over his body. The doctor tried increasing the Baclofen the pump was putting out, but it didn't help. Then he even tried adding Baclofen pills, but the doctor theorized the pump would ebb and then surge. My son took one of the pills as instructed and at the same time the pump surged. He got an overdose and nearly died. He stopped taking the pills (it frightened him), but the pump malfunctioned again, and stopped breathing again. So, they replaced the pump a few weeks ago. The first couple of weeks his spasms were under control, but now they have started again. He is about at the end of his rope. They keep upping the dosage. He got the pump plus the tube that goes to the spinal cord replaced. They did an MRI on his neck, but no abnormalities. Pleas help
Blueladybug replied: "Hi mountaindew25,
To be honest I don't know anything about Baclofen pump but thought you might try. I lost my 12 year old son almost 9 years ago so I know what your going through. Good Luck to you and your family: Blueladybug :-)
P.S. Please over look this_is_a_du.... He's a 13 year old boy who likes to use Yahoo as a toy. God Bless"
navycorpswife replied: "My little sister has hersprung's disease and hydrocephalus. (her intestines are 6inches and she has water on the brain) I really dont have much advise for what your going through. but I just want to let you know that everything will be okay. Shes 13yrs. old and has 15 surgeries. 11 of them the first year of her life. but give him a squeeze for me and no matter what happens, God will be there for you!"
mompoo replied: "I would suggest that he see a neurologist. If he has had surgery on his spine it could very well be pinched nerves of some sort. Is he having any kind of physical therapy? He should be."
Baron Karza replied: "I'm a bit confused about the timeline here. It sounds like he has a bad pump, so are you saying he just had that replaced and it's still happening, or that it was happening and since then, you had the pump replaced?
The ebb and surge of the pump might indicate that it's not working right. I'd have it looked at by another doctor, possibly in another city, if you haven't already.
Baclofen pumps are usually a temporary solution until physical therapy or another solution presents itself. Is he undergoing any other treatment at this time?
FWIW, Injuries above T-7 increase the likelihood of side effects, so I wouldn't worry about the itching--it's a known side effect of the drug, and completely normal. ANNOYING AS HELL, but normal."
A question about the Baclofen Pump??? We recently ecieved a letter from a neurologist about my brother in law that has cerebral Palsy, and it stated that he is a canditate for the bacolofen Pump. He has been taking the Baclofen oraly. He is also in a group home may hours away. They cannot do this without our permission, this is an implant. I will do research and also call the doctor. I will not aloww my brother in law to be some ginneau pig for a pharmacy. I don't know how this would differ from it being taken orally compared to an implant pump besides it getting into the blood stream faster. Of course the Home nurse mothers give him the medicine. So I want to know if anyone out there had any expierience with this medicine or pump. My brother in law is 46 years old. He does have some paralysis. he does good though, even worked in some estalbishment and has a work shop too. Please anyone with this expierience would be appreciated. Please serious answers only. It could happen to your relative.
chee1.rm replied: "I can't give you an answer from any personal experience of receiving ITB (intra-thecal baclofen). But, I did attend a seminar on it presented by Medtronic. They have more consumer information at there website, under, "Severe Spasticity.""
marlene s replied: "Hi There
The doctors are suggesting to implant a baclofen pump into my son,
I have been doing some research on it. It is a little scary for me as my son can't talk to say if it is ok. Far as I know they do general anaesthetic, implant a little reservoir in the front hip area and a little tube goes under the skin around to the back, right at the area of release, it is not a needle and doesn't go into the spine just in the area outside, I've been told.
the pump releases the baclofen a little at a time and gets refilled at the hospital outpatient and last around 4-6 weeks, I was afraid of it leaking cause my son couldn't tell me if he was faint or anything and they said it wouldn't leak just maybe get blocked
or kinked. But they want me to pay, It was around $18000. Canadian
The difference from taken orally it passes the side effects to the brain"
I have multiple sclerosis and have now had a baclofen pump fitted .? Does anybody else have one fitted, and how does it help them?
BARROWMAN replied: "Baclofen can be taken orally as a pill or delivered directly into an area of the spine called the intrathecal space. The intrathecal space contains the cerebrospinal fluid -- the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots. Often MS patients receive intrathecal Baclofen because oral Baclofen causes unpleasant side effects, such as confusion, weakness, and sleepiness. But intrathecal Baclofen delivers the drug right to the target site in the spinal cord. Since the medication does not circulate throughout the body, only tiny doses are required to be effective. Therefore, side effects are minimal.
A friend of mine has multiple sclerosis and she had been taking baclofen orally and recently changed to a pump and the side effects disappeared."
sss replied: "Hi Tina,
Actually, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease which destruction of Myelin in the Central Nervous System (CNS).
Baclofen is not mainly for MS; however, since some patients (pts.) develop weakness in their muscle as one of the clinical manifestations of MS, so Baclofen can deal w/ treatment of MS pts. w/ painful muscle spasticity.
There is a black box warning of abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal administration which may worse the symptoms more and back again " withdrawal symptoms" So it required programming and monitoring of the infusion system, procedures, pump alarms. It is very important to keep scheduled refill visits for clinic.
I hope you will be better soon. Take Care!"
what do you do when baclofen pump stops working? having problems with my pump
SZO replied: "The pump usually has an alarm that will beep softly when it should be checked. If you hear the alarm, call your doctor to determine the cause and make the necessary adjustments. The pump could stop because the battery has run out or because of component failure. Please contact your healthcare provider immediately since failure of the pump can cause an underdose with baclofen."
Find More Websites
Find More
intrathecal baclofen pump, baclofen pump spasticity, baclofen pump catheter, intrathecal baclofen, baclofen pump,
zoloft max dosage,
cetirizine hcl zyrtec,
depakote depression,
how to find tadalafil,
testosterone injection therapy,
when beginning lithobid,
lamictal affordable,
ingredients in zocor,
singulair withdraw,
caffeine in bariwise cappucino,
ibuprofen safe breastfeeding,
cheap silagra,
generic zocor united states,
battery ion kodak lithium,
warfarin sodium tab,
imitrex prescription online,
cetirizine effects side zyrtec,
offical site of the drug avapro,
lingerie carisoprodolBaclofen Pump © 2009
