For some people with severe spasticity, an implanted baclofen pump can make stiffness and spasms easier to manage. The pump is only one part of treatment, though. Keeping it working well takes regular refills, careful dose adjustments, and a plan for what to do if something changes.
At Spasticity & Movement Partners, Dr. David Park focuses on that ongoing care for patients who have a pump. The goal is to keep treatment safe and useful for the activities that matter in your day.
Baclofen helps calm the nerve signals that cause muscles to tighten and spasm. A surgical team places a small pump under the skin of the belly and connects it to a thin tube near the spinal cord. The pump delivers medicine into the fluid around the spinal cord throughout the day.
The amount of medicine can be changed as your needs change. SMP’s role begins with ongoing pump management after implantation, including refills, dose adjustments, and help when a pump-related concern arises.
A pump may be considered when severe stiffness or spasms affect several areas of the body and interfere with sleep, bathing, dressing, transfers, sitting, or therapy. It may be an option when pills do not help enough or cause troublesome side effects, or when injections into individual muscles do not address enough of the problem.
Spasticity can follow a spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injury, or another neurologic condition. A diagnosis alone does not determine whether a pump is appropriate. If you are considering one, the team responsible for screening and implantation will review your response to other treatments and whether a test dose helps before surgery is considered.
If you already have a pump, those same daily goals remain important. Are nighttime spasms returning? Is it harder to move from bed to a chair, get dressed, or sit comfortably? Share those changes at your pump visit. Your clinician also considers whether some muscle tone helps you stand or transfer, since too much reduction could make those activities harder.
Refills are scheduled before the pump’s medication runs low. At each visit, the team checks how you are doing, reviews spasms and side effects, and confirms the next refill date. Keeping these appointments is essential because an interruption in baclofen delivery can be dangerous.
The dose may need adjustment if spasms are not controlled or the medicine causes too much weakness or sleepiness. Dr. Park can also assess pump-related concerns and coordinate with a neurosurgical team when a device or catheter issue needs surgical attention. Never change the pump settings yourself.
Call your pump care team promptly if an alarm sounds, you may miss a refill, your usual spasms suddenly return, or you notice new weakness or sleepiness. You and anyone helping with your care should know the refill date and whom to contact after hours.
If delivery stops, baclofen withdrawal can become dangerous. A sudden increase in spasms, unusual itching, fever, or confusion needs urgent medical attention. Marked sleepiness, unusual weakness, or slow breathing may signal too much baclofen. Call 911 for severe symptoms or breathing trouble. Do not wait for a routine visit if you suspect a pump emergency.
Good pump care means looking beyond the dose on a screen. Tell your clinician what is easier or harder at home, whether spasms interrupt sleep, and how treatment affects walking, transfers, dressing, or caregiving. Those details help guide dose decisions and other parts of your spasticity plan.
Spasticity & Movement Partners provides baclofen pump refills, dose adjustments, and troubleshooting for patients with an implanted pump in Englewood, New Jersey. When needed, Dr. Park coordinates with neurosurgical teams.
To schedule ongoing pump care with Dr. David Park, call 201-255-5552 or visit spasticitymp.com.
