| Implanted Shoulder Pain Pumps Used to Treat | | | | evidence that shoulder pain pumps may cause |
| Post-operative Pain: | | | | PAGCL. The reported study involved 152 patients, |
| | | | | 12 of whom developed PAGCL. |
| | | | | |
| A shoulder pain pump is a medical device that is | | | | In October 2007, the American Journal of Sports |
| implanted into the shoulder to relieve post-operative | | | | Medicine reported that 63% of patients using |
| shoulder joint pain from arthroscopic (joint) surgeries | | | | shoulder pain pumps were at risk of PAGCL. With |
| by infusing pain medication directly into the shoulder | | | | destruction of cartilage comes a decreased range in |
| through a catheter. This disposable pump is | | | | motion, stiffness, loss of strength, with a life-long |
| generally used for 2 to 5 days and then removed. | | | | disability. Extreme pain is present whether the |
| The pain medications that are commonly infused | | | | shoulder joint is at rest or in motion, and can |
| include lidocaine and bupivacaine. In particular, with | | | | escalate. This study recommends that patients not |
| the combination of bupivacaine and epinephrine as | | | | use these pumps until further studies are done. At |
| painkillers, cartilage can be damaged and even | | | | present, other than shoulder replacement, the only |
| destroyed, leaving patients with limited range of | | | | treatment for PAGCL is pain therapy. In other |
| motion and serious pain for life. This condition | | | | words, the only real treatment for PAGCL is more |
| caused by the pain pump is called postarthroscopic | | | | surgery. |
| glenohumeral chondrolysis (PAGCL). Chondrolysis | | | | |
| refers to the destruction of collagen. | | | | If you have experienced a limited range of shoulder |
| | | | | motion, loss of shoulder strength, constant joint pain, |
| Studies Reveal Shoulder Pain Pumps Linked to | | | | or any other shoulder related problems with a |
| Permanent Joint Damage: | | | | shoulder pain pump implant, you may be entitled to |
| | | | | financial compensation for lost wages, pain and |
| A paper presented in 2006 at the American | | | | suffering, and medical expenses. Shoulder pain pump |
| Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting provided | | | | lawsuits are currently being filed across the country. |