An intrathecal pump is an advanced therapy designed for patients with pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments. The system consists of a thin catheter placed in the fluid around the spinal cord, connected to a small reservoir under the skin that contains medication. A computer carefully delivers tiny amounts of analgesic directly to the spinal cord, targeting pain receptors while reducing side effects that can occur with oral medications.
Intrathecal analgesia can be used for a range of chronic pain conditions, including nociceptive (tissue-based) pain, neuropathic (nerve-based) pain, or a combination of both. Patients typically have their reservoir refilled every one to six months at the clinic, where a small needle is used to replenish the medication. This therapy is also used to manage progressive cancer pain and has been in practice since the mid-1970s, maintaining a vital role for patients in whom other treatments have not been effective.
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