Many patients who have developed PAGCL (Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis) by shoulder pain pumps which were inserted directly into the intra-articular joint space are athletic and young – generally under 30. However, many of them are now looking at reconstructive shoulder surgery that can cost upwards of $250,000 and are watching their dreams of playing professional sports crushed.

Watching professional sports dreams unravel

Many young and talented athletes have seen their dreams of playing on professional sports' teams crushed because they say that manufacturers told surgeons to insert shoulder pain pumps directly into their shoulder's intra-articular joint space , or synovial cavity, after shoulder surgery. As a result, they've developed PAGCL – a debilitating condition in which the cartilage begins to deteriorate causing permanent pain, loss of mobility and possibly the complete removal of the shoulder joint and the requirement for the installation of a prosthetic shoulder. These young athletes understand PAGCL too well:

• 27 year old ex-football player who developed PAGCL after shoulder surgery. He was good enough to play professional football, but never got the chance due to his injuries. He is now considering shoulder replacement surgery which can cost upward of $250,000.
• 23 year old ex-football player who developed PAGCL after being prescribed an I-Flow shoulder pain pump after surgery. He was also good enough to play pro ball, but now his potential career is over and he's also looking at shoulder replacement surgery instead doing what he loves.
• 22 year old sports-oriented college student who developed PAGCL and has already undergone complete shoulder replacement surgery at that young an age.
• 16 year old high school wrestler with the possibility of attaining pro status who developed PAGCL after being prescribed a pain pump after shoulder surgery and can no longer wrestle.

There are hundreds more like them who have filed product liability lawsuits against pain pump manufacturers throughout the country alleging that they told surgeons to use their products in a way that was specifically forbidden by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Shoulder pain pump lawyers say that manufacturers have made millions of dollars off of these defective medical devices while patients continue to suffer. Although pain pump manufacturers have settled many of these lawsuits confidentially, others will begin to be tried in January 2010.