Shoulder Pain Pump Lawsuits
Last Updated: October 2008 • 20 Comments
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The use of intra-articular pumps, also known as pain pumps or pain balls, to deliver medication to the shoulder following arthroscopic shoulder surgery has been linked to the development of a painful and debilitating condition which causes the loss of cartilage in the shoulder. The condition, known as Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis or PAGCL, has no consistently successful treatment and often results in permanent shoulder pain.
STATUS OF SHOULDER PAIN PUMP LITIGATION: Lawsuits are currently pending and potential cases are still being reviewed by product liability lawyers. Motions have been filed to consolidate all Federal shoulder pain pump lawsuits and transfer the cases to one court for pre-trial proceedings.
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OVERVIEW: Various manufacturers sell disposable pain pumps which are used to deliver medications through a catheter for a few days after surgery. Although these medical devices have not been approved for intra-articular use following arthroscopic shoulder surgery, lawsuits allege that the manufacturers encouraged the use and misled doctors about the dangers the devices could pose.
The July 2007 issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM) contained a study which provides evidence linking the use of intra-articular shoulder pain pumps to the development of postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis (PAGCL), which is associated with the progressive destruction of cartilage.
SYMPTOMS OF SHOULDER PAIN PUMP PROBLEMS: Symptoms of PAGCL typically manifest3 to 12 months following the arthroscopic shoulder surgery. As the shoulder is used more, the loss of cartilage causes new problems, which is usually more severe than the pain experienced before the surgery.
Symptoms could include:
- Shoulder pain whether in motion or at rest
- Clicking, Popping, Grinding
- Shoulder Stiffness or Weakness
- Decreased Range of Motion
Have a Potential Shoulder Pain Pump Lawsuits Reviewed by Lawyers
Shoulder pain pump lawyers are evaluating potential lawsuits throughout the country for individuals who have suffered cartilage damage or symptoms consistent with PAGCL following arthroscopic surgery. Submit information regarding a potential claim to be sent to an attorney for review.
Pingback by Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL) — AboutLawsuits.com on 21 May 2008:
[...] in the shoulder joint. The painful and debilitating disease has been linked with the use of intra-articular shoulder pain pumps which are sometimes used after arthroscopic [...]
Pingback by MDL Petition filed for Shoulder Pump Lawsuits — AboutLawsuits.com on 21 May 2008:
[...] attorneys in federal product liability lawsuits involving the use of pain pumps following arthroscopic shoulder surgery, have filed a petition seeking to consolidated all cases for [...]
Pingback by Federal Court to Consider Consolidation of Shoulder Pain Pump Litigation : AboutLawsuits.com on 30 July 2008:
[...] PagesMDL Petition filed for Shoulder Pump LawsuitsShoulder Pain Pump LawsuitsPostarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL)Federal Heparin Lawsuits Consolidated in Toledo [...]
Pingback by Shoulder Pain Pump Lawsuit Consolidation Petition Denied : AboutLawsuits.com on 19 August 2008:
[...] PagesShoulder Pain Pump LawsuitsPostarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL)Federal Court to Consider Consolidation of [...]
Comment by dean on 16 November 2008:
hello im dean 2 years ago i received surgery for my rotor cuff and the surgeon implanted a cathetor to that site with a disposible pain pump, i underwent months of therapy with no preval and my pain is as bad if not worse than before the surgery,i cant count 50 1 dollar bills without my back and shoulder and arm hurting bad as if i was lifting weights and couldnt lift no more, these pumps destroyed my life and my livelyhood and havent been back to work since,im very disapointed and depressed.
Comment by richie on 19 November 2008:
I had two pumps installed within two months in the same shoulde…Does this mean I’m twice as screwed than the normal dose of the poison in my cartilage. Dam now what?
Comment by Allen on 28 November 2008:
both shoulders had pain pumps in 2000 & 2001….. now in done with playing any kind of sports!
Comment by Jessica on 9 December 2008:
My mother had Rotercuff surgery in the beginning of October 2008, She passed away of a heart attack October 28th 2008, just a week or so after discontinuing the use of her pain pump. I’ve just recently begun to see commercials about faulty pain pumps that result in congestive heart failure and/or heart attacks. What if thats really what happened? If something were done differently maybe she would have lived?
Comment by Shelley on 23 December 2008:
I had surgery on June 18, 2008 and have been rehabbing every since. I still have stiffness and weakness. My range of motion isn’t real good yet either. I have a lot of soreness in my bicep like I’ve been doing a lot of exercises or something. Usually when you exercise you get sore at first but then it goes away. I had a lot of inflamation afterwards and didn’t make much progress until my Dr. gave me a cortizone shot. I don’t know if It has anything to do with the pain pump or not. I haven’t been back to my Dr. since he released me.
Comment by DAVID on 2 January 2009:
I TOO HAD A PAIN PUMP INSERTED IN MY SHOULDER FOLLOWING SURGERY.I HAVE CONSTANT PAIN AS WELL AS RESTRICTED MOVEMENT. THE DOC WANTED TO GO FOR A THIRD SURGERY WHICH I DECLINED. I FELT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. DAVID
Pingback by Shoulder Surgery Pain Pump Lawsuits Filed in Arizona : AboutLawsuits.com on 27 January 2009:
[...] shoulder surgery pain pumps, like the ON-Q PainBuster made by I-Flow, Inc. and similar devices sold by Stryker Corp, DJ [...]
Comment by Gail on 18 February 2009:
My Mother had shoulder surgey twice within 2 months, she had a pain pump with both surgeys. Today 7 months later she still has no stregth, soreness (pain) and limited to use. I even think it has effected her memory also.
Comment by Horhay on 25 February 2009:
I was able to play several rounds of golf 26 days after my surgery. Recovery seemed to go well for about 6 weeks. Then I developed adhesive capsulitis (sp) aka frozen shoulder. That has been improving with two cortizone shots however I am now regressing again after very strengthening exercises, lots of stretching, icing and just babying my shoulder. I am now 15 weeks post surgery and the pain is returning. My surgery consisted of:
1) acromioplasty
2) bursa removal
3) removal of the end of my clavical because of bone spurs and arthritis
4) lots of tendon repair or “clean up”.
I am sure that I still have many months until full recovery. However, knowing about the pain pump effects is quite un-nerving.
Comment by Lisa on 26 February 2009:
I have had 10 surgeries on my right shoulder, used the pain pump in the later of surgereis 3 times, and am now looking at having my shoulder replaced. I am olnly 42 years old. :{ I followed all the post-op prodicalls, blaming myself for the continued pain, thought I was going nuts as I didn’t “over-wrok” the shoulder. Now at least we know there is a reason for all the years of pain ans suffereing, the damn pain pump!!!
Pingback by Shoulder Chondrolysis Trial to Begin July 2009 in Breg Pain Pump Lawsuit - AboutLawsuits.com on 24 March 2009:
[...] appears that the first trial of a pain pump lawsuit, involving the development of shoulder chondrolysis after arthroscopic surgery, will begin this [...]
Comment by Mary B on 31 March 2009:
I had surgery to repair 2 labral tears in 2007. I had been experiencing
night time pain in the shoulder so i went to an ortho. Subsequent MRIs
indicated something called an enchondroma/osseous lesion in the
shoulder. I can’t really find any realtionship between this and the pain pump I was given after surgery but, I wonder if anyone else had this experience. This condition was never dicussed with me pre surgery
so I an concluding that it is a recnt incident.
Comment by Jayne on 6 April 2009:
I see that the first trial will be in July 2009 - wasn’t there a trial in Oregon in February 09?
Comment by Nick C on 16 April 2009:
Well im 22years old and I tore my labrum my senior year of high school with high hopes of getting drafted and playing baseball as my career, I had D1 scholoarships ahead of me, the whole deal. I ended having the surgery after my senior year and the pain pump was put right in the joint (not FDA approved). 2 years later of playing Baseball in JUCO I had to have a shoulder replacement. Doctors made it seem like it was just a once in a million case that it happen to me, but now I know the real reason. I plan to persue this in the very near future.
Comment by Yvonna on 5 May 2009:
My husband was a certified pipe welder, He had become interested in under water welding and started looking into that career. In June of 2004 he was injured on the job. He had his frist surgery in november of 2004 on his left dominant arm. They installed the pain pump to help with the pain after arthroscopic surgery.
Shortly after removal he began to have alot of pain, loss of movement with poppin in shoulder in therapy. He kept having more and more pain, more and more loss of movement. Therapy did not help. The doctor stated he never seen this before. So we ended up seeing another doctor. He told my husband it was a frozen sholder there wasn’t anything more they could do. That therapy and pain management would not help. He was one in a million that he needed to go on with the cards he was dealt. well needless to say he has not worked since, he deals with major pain daily, with lots of pain meds. We have never gotten any straight answers. He has become very depressed, and withdrawn.
Comment by Bobby on 30 May 2009:
Stryker Corp. Settled with all 6 Plaintiffs 2 prior to the trial the last 4 during the trial here in Oregon in Febuary 2009!! I personally have had 2 Total shoulder replacements 4-1-04 the next 4-8-09 since my SLAP & Bicep tendenis repair in 2002 which included 4 Stryker Pain Buster II pain pumps.I had to filed in Minnesota due to legal mumbo jumbo. I am 50 years old have very limited use of my right arm and I am hoping to see the inside of a court room sometime the end of 2012.