| r this hypothetical scenario. Jane Doe is working at | | | | expensive shoulder replacement surgery? |
| her job when she is injured in a fall. She makes a | | | | Unfortunately, these are questions that many |
| workers compensation claim with her employer | | | | people are asking themselves after having used |
| because her shoulder is pretty banged up. She | | | | the pain management pumps during shoulder |
| goes to see her primary care physician and he | | | | surgery. |
| refers her to a shoulder specialist, called an | | | | Litigation is pending across the country against the |
| orthopedic surgeon. After undergoing some | | | | manufactuers of pain medicine pumps, or pain |
| diagnostic tests and x-rays, the orthopedic | | | | balls. Doctors used these pumps to inject a |
| specialist tells her that she needs arthroscopic | | | | continuous stream of pain medication into the |
| surgery because she tore her rotator cuff during | | | | patients’ shoulders after surgery. Doctors |
| the fall. Jane is afraid of getting the surgery | | | | followed the advice of the pain pump |
| because she doesn’t want to miss too | | | | manufacturers because there was no medical |
| much work. She has bills to pay, and a family to | | | | literature that suggested that intra articular |
| feed. The specialist tells her not to worry because | | | | placement was harmful for patients. This |
| the procedure is relatively safe and minimally | | | | information only started to surface around 2006 |
| invasive. She should have her back to work in no | | | | when a medical journal started to see a link. |
| time. | | | | Between the pumps and cartilage damage. |
| The day of the surgery arrives and everything | | | | This pain medication can destroy the cartilage in |
| goes smoothly. Her doctor explains that he is | | | | the shoulder joint if the catheter is placed directly |
| going to be using a pain pump device that delivers | | | | into the joint, instead of around the surrounding |
| a numbing medicine into the area of the surgical | | | | tissue. This condition is known as PAGCL or |
| site through a catheter. This will allow Jane to get | | | | Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis. |
| back to normal faster. Her doctor tells her that | | | | How do I know if I have a claim? |
| the pain pump might not necessarily eliminate the | | | | PAGCL side effects don’t usually appear |
| need for some pain pills, but it can greatly reduce | | | | right away because the patient is being gentle |
| it. Jane agrees. | | | | with the shoulder and limiting its use. However, as |
| Jane thinks she’s on the road to recovery. | | | | a few months progress, patients complain of |
| She is back at her job, but is having difficulty | | | | severe pain in the shoulder area and problems |
| doing her work like she used to. She has lost a | | | | with mobility. Some patients also complain of a |
| significant amount of strength in her arm and | | | | serious lack of strength and a grinding sensation in |
| shoulder. This is making short tasks take a long | | | | the shoulder joint. If you have been diagnosed |
| time to complete. Her co workers are getting | | | | with PAGCl, you may have a legal claim. Cartilage |
| upset with her because she’s not pulling | | | | deterioration is a serious and disabling problem. |
| her weight. | | | | This condition is permanent, and in some cases |
| One day she is called into her manager’s | | | | patients may need a complete shoulder |
| office and gets an ear full. She explains that her | | | | replacement surgery. This procedure involves the |
| shoulder is bothering her. It is making a popping | | | | replacement of the shoulder joint with metal and |
| and grinding sound, and she can’t lift as | | | | plastic components. |
| much weight with it anymore. Jane is confused | | | | If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with |
| because her doctor said that she would be back | | | | PAGCL or are suffering from the symptoms, you |
| to work in no time, that this wasn’t a | | | | should click the link at the end of this article and |
| major surgery. On her manager’s request, | | | | contact a pain pump lawsuit attorney for free, no |
| Jane goes back to her doctor for a check up. | | | | obligation consultation. These attorneys take |
| After running some tests, Jane’s doctor | | | | cases on contingency fee basis which means |
| comes back with some bad news. Her shoulder | | | | there is no money down and no legal fees unless |
| cartilage has started to deteriorate, and if it gets | | | | a recovery is made for you. Remember, every |
| any worse she is going to have to have an | | | | state has a different time limit or statute of |
| artificial shoulder put in. | | | | limitations which determines when a case needs |
| How did this happen? Who is responsible? How is | | | | to be filed. If you do not file your case in time, |
| Jane going to keep her job and pay for an | | | | you can be forever barred from making a claim. |