I have just been told by my physiatrist that I should not play any contact sports with my Baclofen pump. Has anyone else been told that. I was to start sled hockey on March 15th and now am a little disappointed! What are the dangers?

Thanks

if something happens to the pump an it shuts off or dumps a shit load of baclofen in your system it can kill you.

If it were that dangerous and/or fragile, one would think they would not be used very often.

Some of the falls I've taken in my normal activities would not have been any worse were someone to have caused them.

I am lucky enough to not need the pump, so obviously, I am not a good example, but I am sure that there are many with pumps who are just as clutzy as me.

Basketball is not classed as a contact sport, but having watched both that and sled hockey played,,,I think that wheelchair basketball ranks right up there with wheelchair rugby when it comes to contact. Sled hockey comes in third as I see it.

Ask your doc if some kind of padding would be enough protection. The game looks to be a blast for those playing. I'ld hate to see you miss out on the fun.

ed

I'm a hard core athlete with a baclofen pump. I play rugby, basketball, softball, and soccer all competitively. My physiatrist is aware of it and does not frown upon it. I wear an abdominal binder and the strapping I use completely protects it. It is a risk, but I minimize it as much as possible. The pump is not as fragile as people think. You do, however must be aware of baclofen withdraw symptoms. Your biggest risk is a kink in the catheter. I have mine checked out under XRAY every 3 months to ensure proper placement. Hope this helps.
Jaz

Have you gone through withdrawals with your pump or had any issues? I'm going in for trial fairly soon and still trying to decide if I can deal with more crap. I broke both legs in 2006 and since then my spasms have been out of control. I can no longer straighten my legs at all.
Thanks

Hi,

You'd have to land pretty hard on the pump to damage it. The biggest issue around the pump would be skin breakdown if you landed on it hard.

The biggest risk it twisting if you fell out of your chair, damaging the catheter, or pulling the tip of the catheter out of the spinal canal.

I did it once when I fell out of my chair playing rugby, pulled the connector apart.

Simon

I have had a pump in now for around 7 months. For the last 4 months I have been playing wheelchair rugby 3 times a week (sometimes more when tournaments are on) and have had no problems. I had a catheter come out a week after the pump was first implanted, but after that was replaced I've had no problems since (touch wood). I think as long as you wait a good 3 months after the surgery for everything to heal well you should be right to go ahead and do what you like.

I see this is an old thread... did you end up getting the pump, playing the sports? I hope all has worked out.

Adam