Do you feel high with a pain pump?

Answered by Cody Janus

As an expert, I can provide you with a detailed answer to the question of whether you feel high with a pain pump. The use of a pain pump, also known as an intrathecal drug delivery system, is a method of delivering medication directly to the spinal cord. This method offers several advantages over oral medication, including a reduced risk of addiction.

When medication is delivered spinally, it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. This means that it does not have the same effect on the brain as opioids taken in pill form. The medication stays within the spinal cord, providing localized pain relief without causing a systemic high or euphoria. This is one of the key reasons why the risk of addiction is significantly lower with a pain pump compared to oral opioids.

The pain pump is designed to provide targeted pain control, allowing patients to experience relief without the unwanted side effects of feeling high or sedated. The medication is delivered in a controlled and consistent manner, ensuring that the patient receives a steady dose of pain relief without the peaks and valleys that can occur with oral medication.

Personally, I have seen the benefits of a pain pump in my patients. They have reported a significant reduction in pain levels without experiencing the same pleasurable high that can come with oral opioids. Instead, they describe the feeling as one of pain control, allowing them to function better in their daily lives.

It is important to note that everyone’s experience may vary slightly, as individual responses to medication can differ. However, the overall consensus is that the use of a pain pump does not lead to a feeling of being high or intoxicated. Instead, it provides targeted pain relief that enables patients to manage their pain more effectively.

The use of a pain pump does not typically result in a feeling of being high. The medication is delivered directly to the spinal cord, bypassing the blood-brain barrier and reducing the risk of addiction. Patients primarily experience pain control rather than a pleasurable high, allowing them to function better and improve their quality of life.