Pain Pump
Pain pumps are used by patients across the country to cope with the pain that often follows arthroscopic shoulder surgery. The pumps deliver anesthetics directly into the shoulder joint and are used for a few days after surgery. However, scientific studies have linked the use of such post-operative shoulder pain pumps to a rare, life-altering condition known as Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL).
PAGCL is a condition that develops when the cartilage located within the shoulder joint begins to deteriorate after surgery. As the cartilage disintegrates, the patient starts to experience the complications associated with the disorder, including shoulder popping, clicking and extreme pain. The condition leads to a lifetime of suffering.
A study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine (PDF) concluded that the pumps were highly associated with PAGCL, especially when the intra-articular pain pumps delivered a combination of the painkillers bupivacaine and epinephrine to the shoulder joint. In a 2006 presentation at an American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting, research also showed evidence that the anesthetics contained in these pumps, such as lidocaine and marcaine, lead to PAGCL.
Symptoms of PAGCL include:
- Pain at the shoulder, whether at rest or in motion
- Increased shoulder stiffness
- Popping or grinding when the shoulder is in motion
- Decreased range of motion
- Loss of strength in the joint
The only treatment for PAGCL is more surgery. Anyone experiencing symptoms associated with PAGCL following the implantation of a pain pump should seek medical attention immediately.