The baclofen pump system is the intrathecal (directly into the spinal fluid) method of delivering the medicine. The system consists of a catheter (a small, flexible tube) and a pump. The pump a round metal disc, about — one inch thick and three inches in diameter is surgically placed under — the skin of the abdomen near the waistline. The pump stores and releases prescribed amounts of medicine through the catheter. The pump is refilled by inserting a needle through the skin into a filling port in the center of the pump. With a programmable pump, a tiny motor moves the medicine from the pump reservoir through the catheter. Using an external programmer, your treatment team can make adjustments in the dose, rate, and timing of the medicine. Patients must return to their doctor's office for pump refills and medicine adjustments, typically every two to three months. The pump is taken out and replaced at the end of the battery's life span, which is usually five to seven years. Who is a candidate for the pump system? Anyone who has spasticity and is not responsive to oral medicine can be considered for the baclofen pump system. What are the advantages of the baclofen pump system? It efficiently reduces spasticity and involuntary spasms, promoting a more active lifestyle, better sleep, and reduced need for oral medicines. It continuously delivers baclofen in small doses directly to the spinal fluid, increasing the therapeutic benefits, and causing fewer and less severe side effects compared to the oral medicine. It can be individually adjusted to allow infusion rates that vary over a 24-hour period. It can be turned off if spasticity reduction has shown no benefit. Pain and discomfort from spasms and spasticity are trial reduced or eliminated. Baclofen therapy evaluation If you are considering intrathecal baclofen therapy, you will likely have an initial evaluation by a treatment team that might include a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation (physiatrist), a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a nurse, and a social worker. All of these
The baclofen pump system is the intrathecal (directly into the spinal fluid) method of delivering the medicine. The system consists of a catheter (a small, flexible tube) and a pump. The pump — a round metal disc, about one inch thick and three inches in diameter — is surgically placed under the skin of the abdomen near the waistline. The pump stores and releases prescribed amounts of medicine through the catheter. The pump is refilled by inserting a needle through the skin into a filling port in the center of the pump. With a programmable pump, a tiny motor moves the medicine from the pump reservoir through the catheter. Using an external programmer, your treatment team can make adjustments in the dose, rate, and timing of the medicine. Patients must return to their doctor's office for pump refills and medicine adjustments, typically every two to three months. The pump is taken out and replaced at the end of the battery's life span, which is usually five to seven years. Who is a candidate for the pump system? Anyone who has spasticity and is not responsive to oral medicine can be considered for the baclofen pump system. What are the advantages of the baclofen pump system? It efficiently reduces spasticity and involuntary spasms, promoting a more active lifestyle, better sleep, and reduced need for oral medicines. It continuously delivers baclofen in small doses directly to the spinal fluid, increasing the therapeutic benefits, and causing fewer and less severe side effects compared to the oral medicine. It can be individually adjusted to allow infusion rates that vary over a 24-hour period. It can be turned off if spasticity reduction has shown no benefit. Pain and discomfort from spasms and spasticity are reduced or eliminated. Baclofen therapy evaluation If you are considering intrathecal baclofen therapy, you will likely have an initial evaluation by a treatment team that might include a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation (physiatrist), a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a nurse, and a social worker. All of these trial