Intrathecal drug therapy, also known as intrathecal drug delivery (IDD), is a specialised approach for managing chronic pain. IDD is used particularly for patients with chronic conditions who have not responded to traditional pain management methods.
This therapy involves the direct administration of medication into the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord using an implanted pump and catheter system. Let’s discover more about how this works.
How Does Intrathecal Drug Therapy Work?
The intrathecal pump uses an implantable pump placed under the skin. This device/pump is used to store the medication and is programmed to deliver the medication at specified rates and times. The beauty of this treatment is that it can be tailored to the patient’s needs, allowing for flexibility and precision in treatment.
A flexible tube is connected to the pump and runs to a space near the spinal cord. This tube acts like a delivery route, carrying the medication from the pump directly into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. This approach of drug administration continually facilitates treatment without pain by assuring that the pain is adequately managed.
Benefits of Intrathecal Drug Therapy
Intrathecal pain management has numerous advantages, such as:
- Targeted Delivery: Direct action on the pain pathways located in the cord.
- Reduced Medication Doses: Uses fewer amounts of drugs than their oral counterparts.
- Fewer Side Effects: Reduces the systemic adverse effects which come with higher doses.
- Improved Quality of Life: Ensures effective pain control resulting in better function and quality of life.
- Customisable Dosing: Enables adjustment to the individual patient.
- Alternative Treatment for Drug-Resistant Pain: IDD can be used to treat patients who fail to respond to any other traditional treatment options.
- Continuous Pain Relief: Offers long-standing relief from pain that is not characterised by ups and downs as with the oral methods.
Conditions Treated by Intrathecal Drug Therapy
Intrathecal drug therapy is effective for treating patients suffering from:
- Spasticity
- Cancer pain
- Chronic abdominal pain
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Failed Back and Neck Surgery Syndrome (FBSS)
Treatment Process
When engaging in intrathecal drug therapy, the treatment method used is not the same as the session format ordinarily used in other pain management therapies. Instead, this process comprises of different important steps:
- Initial Consultation and Evaluation: This portion determines the patient’s readiness for therapy, including evaluating the condition and the current pain management.
- Trial Period: This is a preliminary evaluation of whether or not a patient will benefit from the treatment. This evaluation usually lasts up to a few days or a week.
- Permanent Device Implantation: Following the successful trial (total or partial pain relief), the pump and catheter will be placed with a single operation.
- Follow-Up Adjustments: Postoperative follow-up appointments are important to change the amount of drug administered and pump settings if necessary.
- Regular Refills: After every 1 to 6 months, depending on the size of the implant and the dosages required, the pump reservoir will require filling with fluid.
- Ongoing Monitoring: These are routine examinations critical to check the status of the device and the level of the medication system. This is so your pain specialist can adjust the medications accordingly if the treatment warrants changes.
Every patient will have a varying number of visits. The number of visits may change owing to how many visits a person requires to address and/or prevent any possible condition, which makes it individualised in the management of pain and for a prolonged duration.
Final Thoughts
Intrathecal drug therapy is a formidable approach that seeks to enhance the welfare of patients with chronic and unrelenting pain to have proper treatment.
Should you need total pain relief and consider treatments such as intrathecal drug therapy, Total Pain Specialist Clinic can assist you. Our specialists will help you determine how to develop and implement a modern pain control regimen for your needs. Contact us today for an appointment to begin the process of improving your quality of life.
Total Pain Specialist