Pain Pumps

Pain pumps are a device frequently used to deliver post-operative pain relief following arm, shoulder, knee, hip, ankle, or back surgery. A recent study that appeared in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, as well as a paper presented at a meeting by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, suggests that the use of post-operative pain pumps—also called intra-articular pain pumps—is associated with a condition called Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL).

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with PAGCL after using a post-operative pain pump, contact Newsome Law Firm and fill out a case evaluation form today. Our team of attorneys has experience specific to complications associated with post-operative pain pumps. Not only can they give you the legal guidance you need, they can help you get the compensation you deserve.

How Pain Pumps Work

A pain pump is designed to deliver pain medication directly to the area that is being operated on. A catheter that delivers a programmed, controlled amount of medicine is placed in the area of the joint before surgery, and remains there for several days following surgery. The pain pump not only allows for pain management of the area being operated on, but also on the surgical wound.

What is PAGCL

PAGCL is a type of chondrylosis specific to the shoulder joint, in which a significant amount of deterioration of cartilage in the shoulder joint causes life-altering symptoms. In most cases, this loss of cartilage can be easily diagnosed by x-ray, which generally shows an obvious narrowing of the joint space. Common symptoms of PAGCL include:

• Pain in the shoulder joint
• Loss of mobility or range of motion in the shoulder; shoulder stiffness
• Loss of strength in the shoulder
• Grinding or popping noises accompanied by shoulder movement

The Link Between Pain Pumps and PAGCL

The study done by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons looked at 152 patients who had undergone arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Of these 152 patients, 12 had gone on to develop PAGCL. The 12 patients who had developed PACGL following surgery had one thing—and only one thing—in common: each had used an intra-articular pain pump for pain management.

Treatment of PAGCL

PAGCL can be a debilitating condition that significantly affects the quality of life of those who suffer from it. While further surgery may be done in an effort to relieve some of the pain and symptoms associated with PAGCL, the integrity of the shoulder is often permanently compromised. Those who suffer from PAGCL may be limited by the condition for the rest of their lives.

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with PAGCL after using a post-operative pain pump, contact Newsome Law Firm and fill out a case evaluation form today. Our team of attorneys has experience specific to complications associated with post-operative pain pumps. Not only can they give you the legal guidance you need, they can help you get the compensation you deserve.