Patients who used pain pumps after shoulder surgery never imagined that a device designed to relieve their temporary discomfort would cause permanent shoulder damage -- but that is exactly what has happened. Researchers say the use of pain pumps following joint surgery has left dozens of patients with a permanent and painful condition known as Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis, or PAGCL.

If you have been diagnosed with PAGCL following the use of a pain pump, you need legal help -- and you need it now. You're facing more surgeries or a costly shoulder replacement. The "MedLaw Legal Team of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC can help you obtain compensation to pay for those surgeries, as well as compensation for the permanent injury you've suffered. Fill out our online contact form or call us at 1-888-4-MED-LAW for an evaluation of your case.

The MedLaw Legal Team of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC is dedicated to representing victims harmed by the use of medical pain pumps, especially patients injured after shoulder surgery. The attorneys of our firm have more than 150 years of combined experience in medical malpractice negligence. We are national leaders in the litigation involving cartilage destruction following arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

If you suspect that you have PAGCL, you have many questions about your legal rights. This site can help with the answers.

What is PAGCL?
PAGCL is condition in which the cushioning cartilage between bones in the shoulder or other joints is destroyed. That leaves bone grinding upon bone. Symptoms include shoulder stiffness or pain, as well as popping, grinding and a decreased range of motion. The condition can be both extremely painful and permanent -- and about half of all PAGCL sufferers will require costly shoulder replacement surgery.

Why did I develop PAGCL?
If you developed PAGCL following joint surgery, a pain pump may have been used in a way that was not authorized by the Food & Drug Administration. The devices were initially placed in the muscle or outside the shoulder joint, but lawsuits claim the manufacturers began encouraging placement directly into the shoulder joint space, leading to catastrophic shoulder injuries for unsuspecting patients. We have a full page on our Web site devoted to this issue.

What kinds of pain pumps caused PAGCL?
PAGCL has been associated with intra-articular elastomeric infusion pain pumps used to administer a local anesthetic after joint surgery. While the pumps have been in use for years, PAGCL has apparently developed from the unapproved use of pain pumps inserted into the joint space.

What does the FDA say about pain pumps?
The Food & Drug Administration has issued a warning about the improper use of pain pumps -- and has received 35 reports of destroyed cartilage in at least 35 joint surgery patients. We have a full page devoted to the FDA warning.

Why didn't the pain pump makers warn me about the risk of PAGCL?
The FDA now requires pain pump makers to warn about the danger of PAGCL. We believe the FDA action came too late -- pain pump manufacturers should have alerted the medical community to the risk of PAGCL months or years ago. We are working tirelessly to hold drug and medical device makers accountable for pushing an off-label use of pain pumps, and for not alerting doctors and patient of the catastrophic side effects.

Did the medicine used in the pumps contribute to my injury?
The FDA says certain medicines that were used in the pain pumps may have been a contributing factor in the development of PAGCL. We have a page on the medicines typically used to ease pain after joint surgery.

How can the Medlaw Legal Team help?
If you have developed continuous pain after having received a pain pump, the knowledgeable lawyers at our firm can help you immediately by investigating your legal rights. The MedLaw Legal Team of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC has filed cases against pain pump manufacturers across the United States and has retained some of the nation’s leading experts.

If you or someone you love has been injured by an intra-articular pain pump infusion, or have the symptoms or diagnosis of PAGCL, you may have valuable legal rights that we can help you protect. Our legal team has handled difficult product liability cases and is well-equipped to recover compensation for your injuries. We offer a hands-on approach to carefully investigate all of the evidence, including a thorough review of your medical charts and hospital records.

How do I get in touch with MedLaw's Legal Team?
A national firm in Baltimore, MD, Columbia, SC, and Asheville, NC, the MedLaw Legal Team of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC also maintains satellite offices in Atlanta, GA, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, PA, and Minneapolis, MN. Please contact the MedLaw Legal Team of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC by completing our online contact form or calling us at 1-888-4-MED-LAW.