I had surgery Feb.28th to put in pump. It is a black out for 4 days...I remember nothing. They used a spinal block I was allergic too. Caused severe chest pain and vomiting. No one knows if they gave me any Baclofen while I was out. My sister said she say just demoral, and heart moniter to nurses station she didn't understand. I have appn on the 13th to put in Baclofen. So far no infection.So far no relief just more pain from surgery. Today is 3 day without vomiting. What could of happen from taking Baclofen1 1/2 years then come out of surgery to none for 5 days. I woke up in another hospital still un aware of what was going on. Got cathed and bleed for 24 hrs. and no one thought to give Baclofen? What happened why would I black out?

my guess the black out an all the other stuff was from not having Baclofen. Your not suppose to just stop taking it, they are suppose to wean you off it slowly. You can actually die from not taking baclofen. your lucky cuz it could have been much worse. You should check into a mal practice sute against the dr an the hospital

I'm not sure but your surgery sounds alot more complicated then the average ITB surgery. I had mine and it was same day surgery. I left hospital wit Baclofen because they didn't want me to have withdrawls. A week later I had a follow up and baclofen has been increased slowly. I started with 50 mcgs and am now at 450 and still wan to go higher. Therapists want to go slow until they figure how much tone or cloness I'm using to stand and walk. If I go to high legs will get to limp, so its slow going. As far as pain I guess I was lucky because I feel no pain from the chest down. Good Luck and keep in touch.

Richie aka Motor

Hello,

Sorry to hear of the difficulties which you have encountered during and after the procedure. It may be interesting for you to know that "Withdrawal -syndrome" in its true sense (talking severe reaction wise, not the mild/moderate symptoms), from Baclofen is very rare and usually occurs after the With holding/Cessation of Intrathecal baclofen pump only (Even if large doses of oral are used) This is due to the way which baclofen works. I would think, from what you describe, that the symptoms which you encountered were more likely to be due to the "allergic" reaction to the Spinal Anaesthesia. I put Allergic in inverted commas as the Nausea, vomiting and chest pain can be as a result of a "spinal" anaesthesia which has punctured the dura a little too far. Of course if they said that you were allergic then that is probably the case, with the situation I mention above as a complicating factor.

Just to note that Baclofen withdrawal usually presents as: disorientation, Spasticity, a drop in Blood Pressure, Tachycardia ( high heart rate), High CKs. Chest pain ( but, for info- tachycardia alone can provoke "heart"/chest Pain). Norepinephrine would probably have been used - in the thoughts that it was due to the Baclofen Withdrawal. Did they say why they did not administer the Baclofen? ..Mmmm, ok my thoughts are that there are a couple of reasons why they would with hold it. For eg, if you had Hypotension due to low blood volume -Hypovolaemia, then you may have been considered to not be Haemodynamically stable enough to take the Baclofen. Also, Usually Baclofen pump is sited and then you would take the oral and slowly titrate up the intrathecal Baclofen very slowly. So, if you were unconscious, it would not be possible to do this -safely, and to give you even a small dose of Baclofen via the pump whilst you are unable to give feedback could have been considered risky. You see if you are tachycardic, unconscious etc it is not a good time to be titrating, not a "baseline" situation. However I dunno, perhaps they just didn't because they were incompetent...What I do know is they should have communicated to YOU why. (Rest assured i have been in the situation where the less than great care has occurred to me,..I am just saying how it *should* happen.. )

Other things to consider, did they give you any pain relief? did you lose any significant blood volume ( did they nick anything?), Did you have IV opiates at any point (number one culprit for 'reactions'), etc. You can "black out" due to the things discussed above (Hypovolaemia - low blood volume, Hypotension, shock, misplaced Spinal Anaesthesia etc etc ).


I hope this helps and that you get to see some improvement when they start with the Baclofen and that you are feeling better soon,

Take care,

K

Thanks to all who replied. I'm getting clearer each day. Still can't sleep from the block,It's like I drank 2 gallons of coffee and went to bed. The chest pain is on and off.I'm scared of the black out, and my left eye lid kept closing last Mon. Headache left side, on and off since surgery. I've been alone since last Sat. So I'm hanging in there with no caregiver 4 days. It's nice to have my privacy back...

I have to ask.....Why are you taking Baclofen? I was having pretty bad spazms in my legs about 3 or 4 years ago so my dr. decided to put me on it. After a couple months all spasms stopped and I felt weird. Like I had got used to the spasms and in a weird way let me know that my legs were still there. So I discontinued using Baclofen and something like 4 years later I have not got the spasms back. I actually lost more function taking that for the short time I did. My bladder and bowel seem to have suffer the most from it. I know it sounds weird but it's true.

OMG got the Baclofen today. Oh ya. My reaction was to marcaine. The surgeon said we have a big problem. He cannot numb me Hope all is good for a long time, cause I've had enough for right now

Last night first night with pump OMG I slept like a real person. It's a new life and I might have to change my name...

I'm going in for trial in the next month or so. I became a para in 82 car crash and took baclofen for a couple years about 200 mg/day. I stopped abruptly and two days later was suffering from psychosis and hallucinations. I then went w/o any meds for years and spasms were a non-issue. I had carpal tunnel from racing and computers at work then got started on pain meds and eventually heroin (I've had past chemical issues). Spasms were almost helpful when transferring and dressing, but I broke both femurs in separate incidents in 2006. Since then first with swelling, and then contractions which caused sores that took a year to heal and now I can't get my legs straight enough to get in my handcycle or bent enough to kneel in my racing chair. Even on my EasyStand I can only get to 75% upright.
Having a Baclofen pump is not my first choice, but I still take methadone for pain, dantrium now for spasms and Adderall for ADHD (which is amphetamine not helping spasms). Reading these stories isn't making the choice easier. I've not had best of times with medical lately.
After I developed sores on the back side and lower legs I also dropped 40 pounds and suffered malnutrition with low iron as well.