How long does it take for the Baclofen pump to work?
The Intrathecal Baclofen Pump placement procedure takes about two hours, during which the pump is filled with medication before it is placed in the body. After placement, the pump delivers a continuous low dose of Baclofen, and doctors work with the patient to determine the appropriate dosage to effectively reduce their spasticity after they come out of anesthesia. Patients may experience immediate relief after surgery, but it may take weeks or months to steadily increase the dose to a functional level. Frequent visits with the doctor are necessary to regulate the dosage amount and timing, and it may take up to eight hours to feel more relief after the dose has been increased. The doctors use an external programming system to adjust the dosage.
Why would you need a Baclofen pump?
Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) therapy is primarily used to treat spasticity caused by neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, and brain or spinal cord injury. Patients who have tried oral Baclofen with no improvement and have moderate to severe spasticity can benefit from ITB therapy. Conservative treatments should be tried and failed before considering this treatment.
How does a Baclofen pump work?
The placement of an intrathecal Baclofen pump is done under general anesthesia and on an outpatient basis. The procedure takes about one to two hours, and after a small incision is made on the side of the abdomen, the 3-inch SynchroMed II pump disc is inserted, and a catheter connected to the pump is placed in the spinal cord. The medication Baclofen is released from the pump to be absorbed by the spinal nerves, effectively reducing spasticity. The dose is regulated by doctors through an external program, and the low initial dose is slowly raised until the patient feels effective relief. The medication is delivered directly to the spine, resulting in less severe side effects than oral medications.
What are Intrathecal Pumps for Spasticity?
Intrathecal Pumps are a targeted drug delivery method designed to reduce spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and acquired brain injury. The pumps can be programmable or nonprogrammable, and the dose, rate, and timing can be adjusted using an external programmer. The pump reservoir can be refilled every 2-3 months by percutaneous injection, and the pump is replaced at the end of the battery’s life span, which is approximately 5-7 years.
Am I a candidate for Intrathecal Pumps for Spasticity?
Candidates for intrathecal baclofen infusion are patients with spasticity who have intractable spasticity uncontrolled by drug therapy or who experience intolerable side effects to oral baclofen.
If you want more information or want to book an appointment, you can visit the Ramos Center for Innovation and Functional Pain Medicine’s website or call their office. They are accepting new patients at all eight of their locations and serve patients from various areas.