Comments on: Shoulder Pain Pump Lawsuits

By: gary

gary — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:24:14 +0000

I can identify with 95 percent of what I have heard from others that suffer.Ortho doctors (ones responsible for pump placement) want to hide and deny what looks to be very coman w/pain pump complaints.i had my shoulder surgery in October of 2009 and a Breg pain pump was used.The pain pump drained both vials of the leathal numbing agent in my arm in less than 12 hours and flushed through out my shoulder,regaurdless of the placement of the tube injuries are happening and it seems unconcienable if not crimanal to continue useing pain pumps in surgery that are not approved by the FDA.I personally believe the pump that was used on me was defective to have drained all of the concoction in to my arm in that short of a period. I would hope that these pumps that were set up for up to 72 hours of delivery can not be set for such a fast rate that they can empty in 12 hours or less.Well good luck to all who suffer on compensation these greedy pharmactical companys should pay,they did not care there product was rejected all they cared about was profit and SHAME on the doctors that abandon there patients in fear of admitting there is a proble w/these pumps regaurdless of where they are placed.

By: Alfred

Alfred — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:16:03 +0000

I have had two surgeries for a rotating cuff, first one in March of 2007 and another in June 2007 and the pain was still there. On the second surgery the surgeon placed the OnQ Pain Buster Pump. I have never recovered from pain and this pain is worse then ever. My pain management doctor says I will probably have to have a total replacement on my left shoulder. I have had a Laminectomy Spinal Fusion from my C-4 to C-7 for a tumor mass and that was in May 2008 and I don’t have the pain that I have with my left shoulder. Doctors tried to say that the pain on my shoulder was coming from my neck, this was before my cervical surgery, but after the cervical surgery, the pain is still there on my left shoulder.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:04:27 +0000

Since my April 2004 surgery, I have been through all of the hoops and wringers! My latest MRI shows that no cartilage remains in my right shoulder. It’s bone to bone! One huge point that sticks in my craw – The pain pumps were never approved by the FDA, yet doctors and hospitals continued to use them. In court, Judges don’t/won’t make the/a decision regarding the fact that an “non-FDA -approved,” device was used for treatment, specifically after the FDA denied the approval to the Mfrs. Judges want specific proof that the device or medication dissolved the cartilage. What is the difference? Neither would be legal/ethical, as FDA approval was never received. Guess any Physician can stick whatever they want in an incision and hope for the best!

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:00:35 +0000

I don’t know of anybody that has won or got anything from the pump makers. What is the hold up. How many total cases are there? I am one of the few to have a total replacement at the age of 32. Still haven’t found a lawyer to take my case. I remember after my last surgery the quack doctor got it stuck in my joint and had to pull on my arm to get it out. That was in 2008. So there was some doctors using them the wrong way after 2007. Good luck to all of you.

By: rick

rick — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:05:56 +0000

i had my first shoulder surgery on my right shoulder in 2003 no pump was put in shoulder doing ok i had my second shoulder surgery in 2006 on my left shoulder to this day my arm is useless it seems its taking forever for help! ssi they are dragging thewre feet and the lawsuit well we all now how thats doing dont we! the bad p[art is i have no income or medical insurance since 2007 because of this sucks !!!! sorry im just venting

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:51:43 +0000

I had rotator cuff surgery in May of 2008. I experience ALL of the symptoms of PAGCL…….and continue to get worse. I had one attorney tell me that it is highly unlikley that I would have PAGCL due to the fact that Dr’s were made aware of the pain pump issue and after 2007 they no longer placed the device in the joint….only in the surrounding tissue. She said there has not been any reported cartilage damage from placement in the tissue. Does anyone have any other info…anyone know if this is completely accurate? I am scheduling an appt next week…and will ask for either x-ray or MRI, but thought I would check here…thanks

By: Hope

Hope — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:25 +0000

I have had two shoulder surgeries, from the first one I ended up with my shoulder frozen. Another dr. did the second. He removed some of my clavical due to bone spurs,( how did the first dr. miss this just six months earlier when he was in there) tendon clean-up, un-froze my shoulder. My first surgery an On-Q pain pump was used, it was disposible after three or four days and my son took it out for me as directed from the dr. I’ve been through theraphy, a cortisone shot ( worked for three hours) I’ve been to five dr’s no one will give me a straight answer. They give me weight restrictions and have no answers, soon as I mention the pain pump they say OH thats not the problem and are in a hurry to get me going. I used to work two jobs and enjoyed them. My daughters barrel race horses, I’ve rode all my life, they don’t ask me anymore to go ride with them because they know the next day I will be on the couch with a sick migraine. I have to hire someone to help with stall cleaning. If I try to pick any kind of weight up with that right side I just feel like vomiting. Does any one else have this problem?

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:40:29 +0000

I originally had surgery in 2004. A pain pump was inserted into the shoulder. During Pt I experienced grinding and popping and had severe pain. I was basically made to feel that my pain and complaints were not valid and I should be feeling better. Month after month the Ortho Surgeon told me I should be feeling better. I finally had to agressively request another MRI. After the results I was told by the doctor that he needed to go back in. After that surgery again popping and grinding had become worse and the pain never stopped. Again I was told that I should be feeling better. Because this was a work injury I was forced back to work after a manipulation to assist with range of motion. I simply gave up trying to explain to the doctors and WC that my problem was not solved. Recently the pain became truly unbearable and I went to see another doc. I had a 4th surgery in June 09 and the surgeon told me that I had no cartilage and would probably need a shoulder replacement or would be in a high level of pain for the rest of my life. I am only 40yrs old and I am tired of this pain. I truly believe that had the doctors came forth about the pump issues they would have known I was not trying to play the system and diagnosed my problems earlier. I truly do appreciate my last surgeon because he made me aware of the pain pump issues. He was straight forward with me and realizes how much pain I am in. My bones have been ruined do to constant bone on bone contact and that is why I need a replacement. It was horrible to search pain pump on Google and find out that this was huge and was not a unique situation for me and no one ever said anything at all in reference to these pumps causing PAGLC which is documented in my post op report from June09. I have been dealing with this for five years and for at least 3 and a half I thought the pain was in my head and not in my shoulder because thats how the DOCS and INSURANCE made me feel . It is still a mental challenge dealing with this but at least I know that I am not crazy. I have done everything in my power to get better mentally and physically. Never have I missed a PT or Doctor’s appt. I did everything I was told and the above mentioned is my results. The craziest thing about all of this is that I can identify with 95% of the comments listed in some form or another. Now is that a coincidence that most of our stories are alike?

By: sabra

sabra — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:44:05 +0000

I’m 19 years old. I hurt my shoulder 2 years ago working in a nursing home and have had two surgies since. The last surgery in March I got one of those damn pain pumps. Now my shoulder grinds and pops every time I move it. And of course its my dominant arm. The last 5 months have been hell! I’m in more pain then I ever was, I can’t do anything and I’m getting depressed because NOTHING gets ride of my pain. This is so ridiculous. I was never even told I was getting a pain pump. I woke up and it was there.

By: Meg

Meg — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:46:23 +0000

Hi all. This all sounds so familiar. It’s scarey! I tore my right rotator cuff at work in April of 2007. Had my “1st” Rotator Cuff Repair surgery on 9/5/07. At that time, I had the On-Q pain pump installed. Went to PT as directed. I followed all the instructions to the T! I was getting worse, not better. Doctor decided I had frozen shoulder. After my WC benefits were reduced, they approved a manipulation under anesthesia to “un-freeze” my shoulder. This was January of 2008. Immediately followed by aggressive PT (which started same day of surgery). Finally, in May 2008, my Ortho doctor decided he didn’t know what to do with me because I, too, was “one in a million”, so he referred me to another shoulder specialist in the practice. In October of 2008, I underwent yet another surgery which included some of the following procedures:
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”.
This was also followed by agressive PT which started the DAY of my surgery. Pain is worse than ever. Very limited range of motion with lots of clicking, grinding and popping. My rt arm and hand go numb. The pain goes all the way up my neck and across my upper back. I have not been able to lay down, in bed, since shortly before my first surgery in 2007! I sleep sitting up in a recliner! I cannot stand any pressure on the right side of my body. My Ortho told me to “suck it up and live with it!” My rt arm even hurts to dangle, like normal people. My rt shoulder is “humped” so when you look at me from the front or back, that side is raised significantly over the left side. I am 45 and I don’t think I will ever be right.. Don’t know what to do next???? Any thoughts?