An intrathecal pump relieves chronic pain. It uses small amounts of medicine applied directly to the intrathecal space (the area surrounding the spinal cord) to prevent pain signals from being perceived by the brain. Pump candidates include people for whom conservative treatments have failed and surgery is not likely to help.
Commonly used to treat pain due to:
- Spinal stenosis (Narrowing of the lower spine)
- Radiculopathy (Nerve damage that causes pain to radiate to limbs)
- Degenerative disk disease (Break down of disks between vertebrae of the spine)
- Facet arthritis (Inflammation of the joints of the spine)
- Nerve compression