Having my baclofen pump replaced

Richard_Scope

This is posted on behalf of @Globster

On the 7th January 2026, I had to have my baclofen pump replaced because it reached the end of its battery life.

The procedure took place at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham under general anaesthesia, and it took 2 hours in total because they also had to check whether the Catheter was still working correctly.

To do this, they just made a small opening in the surgical pocket under my abdomen where they had to disconnect the catheter from the old pump. The old pump was removed and replaced by the new pre-programmed pump by a specialist nurse who was able to copy the information from the old pump to the new pump. Once this was done, the new pump was reconnected to the catheter, and the reservoir of the pump was filled with baclofen. Which will last for 6 months before I will need the pump refilled again.

Before I was brought out of the operating theatre, the medical staff tested everything to make sure everything was working properly. I then spent some time in the recovery area where the specialist checked on me regularly. I was then taken to the spinal surgical ward to stay over for one night. While I was there, I was given some antibiotics as a precaution. My mum also stayed with me.

The next day, the specialist nurse came to see how I was healing and gave me some dressing to take home. I was also given a booklet about my Baclofen pump and a card to notify airport staff that I cannot go through the scanners when I go on holiday, as it could affect my pump!

I was given contact numbers from the hospital in case I had any problems with the pump once I got home, but luckily, I have no problems with my new baclofen pump. My baclofen pump nurse, Jenny, is goingto keep in contact with us to check how things are going with me afterpump replacement surgery.

So far, mylegs are feeling less tight, and the new pump is working well for me.

If you would like to know more about livingwith a Baclofen pump, please get in touch