Please explain the pain pump

I've googled it, looked at pictures, but I don't quite get how it works. Can someone explain? My surgeon said I'd have one for a LBL.

Do you know what a JP drain is?  If so, think of the pump as a reverse drain.  It's a plastic bulb filled with a numbing med (lidocaine, I think) that gets fed to the incision site to numb it.  There's a plastic tube that runs under the skin to deliver the meds.

I asked my doc about the pump and he said he doesn't use it.  It only helps with the incision sites, not any muscle repair.  And the muscle repair is where all the pain comes from.  Believe me, that part of it is true!  The incision line gave me no trouble at all.  A little sore, but mostly numb because the nerves have been severed.  The muscle repair was spasming and hurting like crazy - at least when I didn't take my pain meds on time!

I did have the pain pump and felt it helped tremendously! It was in effect all night after LBL, the next morning after shower, when putting my garment on, they accidently left the pump clamped off.  An hour later started having a LOT more pain - that was when they discovered it was shut off.  The pain med bathes the interior with a numbing medicine.

I had a pain pump and it was wonderful.

I was numb in the whole region...... Not just the incision line.

i had my surgery on a Thursday morning, went home with the pain pump in a little pouch that went around my waist.

it was empty by Saturday afternoon so I took off the bandaid and gently pulled the tubing out and threw it all away.  No pain, no muss, no fuss.

the tube is very, very thin and it is about 24 inches long .... It allows the anesthetic to slowly drip into your wound for 48 -72 hours post op.

I stayed numb for days afterwards.

We used to use them frequently, but it's something we stopped a few years back. It just didn't seem to be that much better then injecting some local into the rectus sheath at the end of the case. It's one of those things where it may not be worth the extra $300 or so cost when you're trying to control the price IMO.

Thanks guys. I am QUITE familiar with the JP bulb. He offered me TWO pumps, as I'm having an LBL. One pump in the front and one in the back. He said most people find the pain is worse in the front and don't need the one in the back, but it's an option if I want it.

I'm a Vicodin girl, but I'm down with numbing as much as possible.