Hydrocephalus Support Group

My husband has a VP shunt of 37 years and takes pain pills for his back. He has a degenerative disk, etc..

I just wondered if there was anyone else that had experience or that is taking pain medication. He has been taking them for awhile. I believe he is dependent on them now.

Thanks for the input!

Hi Ginky,

Are you telling me your husband has had the same shunt for 37 years or he is 37 years. I don't have any back probles unless I have not positioned the pillow right under my head and sometimes my wrench my back. I know what a sore back is then I can hardly walk as if I ca walk now lately with constant ataxia(unsteady gait) just learned that word thought I make use of it.lol Myshunt is 24+ years and I think it is starting to show its age.

Well I hope someone in the group can answere you as I am bringing in new members everyday they all love me man.lol Plas the more members the more hugs please don't tell them my scheme.lol

No, he is 37. His current shunt is about 14 years. He had the tubing in his stomach come out of his abdominal cavity. Once they went in to correct the problem- staph! The entire system had to be replaced and he spent 2 weeks in the ICU. It was so crazy, they even tried to keep it out at one point, but it didn't work. My question about the pain pills is because he has back problems non-shunt related, just taking them now. I was curious if anyone else had taken them? I know that if the shunt is bothering him, he gets grumpy, but these pain pills really make him extra grumpy!

It seems he experiences more nausea and headaches...just curious...

thanks

well I am 47 Gingy and still living with my parents so I am not sure if it the pills that make me grumpy or my parents they are set in their ways.lol

I've had chronic stomach pain as a result of all my surgeries and have taken naproxen. After one of my surgeries, I was also given Tylenol #3 and Norco. The Tylenol #3 and Norco (similar to vicodin, but easier on the stomach) are narcotics, but I never got addicted to them. The naproxen, I still take though. I also take a lot of pepto bismol.

oh... my current VP shunts are only 3 months, 2 weeks, and 5 days old as of today. I've been shunted since 11/26/90 and I'm 18 years old. I was shunted at 1 week old.

To take pain meds he has to make sure to eat when he takes them. If not it will burn a hole in his stomach causing the sickness and headaches.

Also pain meds can cause headaches. Or more often when they wear off what is called a rebound headache. If the meds are effecting his temper they need to be changed to something that does not work on the nervous system.

If he builds up a tollarence to the meds when he has a shunt problem or other thing that causes pain the meds wont work as well.

Thanks guys. His primary prescribes them, he does not typically follow with his neurosurgeon. He has become dependent on them for sure! He does get a lot of headaches, it is good to know that these cause the rebound h/a's- see the primary MD is not as familiar with the shunt and the neurosurgeon is to arrogant to even deal with FMLA forms much less anything else...

Hope everyone is having a pain free day!

The issues of rebound headaches isn't related to Hydrocephalus but a recognised side effect of continual use of painkillers. If you are concerned about him being dependent on the pills, you should discuss the possibility of reducing his doses with him and his doctor. He may need to replace it with something else but alternating pain medication reduces the chance of addiction to a specific medication. But it has to be his choice otherwise this is unlikely to be a success.

Has he had any treatment (other than pain killers) for his degenerative disk? How long has he been taking the pills? If pain killers aren't helping him, it may be a good idea to get him to see a pain specialist who may be able to provide a better management plan for his pain.

He does go to a chiropractor for his back, but other than that he pretty much refuses any other type of medical treatment. He feels he has spent so much time in the hospital during his life he does not want to volunteer to do anything. (not to mention the increased medical bills) We have discussed it, he has tried to stop taking them without success. I will suggest the pain specialist to him, I think that would be better management than his family physician. Thanks for all of the information. I really appreciate it!