About the Drug Delivery Therapy Screening Test
Thousands of people have experienced pain relief with Medtronic drug delivery therapy. With a screening test, you can find out if it will work for you, too.
How the screening test works
During the screening test, your doctor will administer medication into the area surrounding your spinal canal to simulate the drug delivery therapy. A much smaller dose of medication—compared with the dose you take orally—is required because the medication goes straight to the source of the pain.
Screening test procedure
There are two screening test methods for drug delivery therapy: injections and continuous infusion. Your doctor will recommend the method that makes the most sense for your situation and discuss the risks of the screening procedure with you.
With the injection method, your doctor will inject a small amount of medication into the area surrounding your spinal cord. After several hours of monitoring in the hospital, you will be able to return home. Multiple injections may be administered by your doctor during this process.
The continuous infusion method works much like the actual drug delivery therapy. During a minor procedure performed under a local anesthetic, your doctor will place a temporary catheter (small tube) in your back. The catheter connects to an external pump that delivers the medication directly to an area near your spinal cord. Afterwards, you'll be monitored in the hospital before resuming your regular activities and trying the therapy for up to four days.