Shoulder injuries are not uncommon among athletes. Hard and repetitive throwing motions like those needed for football and baseball leave many players with shoulder problems, many of which require surgery. While a full recovery is usually possible, some patients’ injuries were worsened by shoulder surgery.

The phenomenon even confused doctors who performed the shoulder repair surgeries. They were finding a growing number of patients months or years after surgery were back in their offices complaining of pain, stiffness and loss of motion. Upon further inspection, doctors found those patients had developed a condition known as chondrolysis, caused by the breakdown of cartilage. As the cartilage wears away, bone begins to rub against bone causing even more pain and damage.

What doctors finally deduced was that it wasn’t the surgery that was causing this specific type of chondrolysis known as postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis (PAGCL), but the pain pump used during and after surgery. The pain pumps are devices that have a balloon filled with pain-deadening medication. That medication is fed directly into the wound site through a catheter for up to 72 hours.

The pumps were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the catheter placed in the shoulder tissue. But pain pump manufacturers began telling doctors to place the catheters in the shoulder joint, which allowed the joint space to be bathed in medication. What doctors didn’t realize is that constant drip of medication into the shoulder joint was slowly eating away at the cartilage, resulting in chondrolysis.

Since this discovery, published in a recent issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine, patients who have suffered serious disability from the wrongful use of pain pumps have sued the manufacturers of pain pumps. If you are experiencing the symptoms associated with chondrolysis or PAGCL, you too may have a claim against the manufacturer.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

SOURCE: Pain Pumps › FSU quarterback faces shoulder repair surgery

“It gives me a little peace of mind to go get (the surgery),” Hall told the Chronicle. “Seeing the MRI and seeing what I’ve been dealing with the last couple of years, it kind of puts me at ease to go get it fixed. That way I can get back out there (as) the player that I used to be and be healthy (and) go out there with two labrums.”

The labrum is located in the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder. Since the shoulder socket is very shallow, a cuff of cartilage called the labrum allows the arm bone to move within the shoulder socket, giving it more stability and range of motion. The labrum, however, is susceptible to injury. Most labrum tears do not require surgery, but patients with persistent symptoms after trying other treatments unsuccessfully may need surgery to correct the problem.

Shoulder surgery often requires the use of pain pumps for post-operative pain management. The pain pump is implanted into the shoulder joint during surgery and delivers a steady amount of medication to the wound site.

A recent study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine identified post operative pain pumps, or intra-articular pain pumps, as a likely cause of Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis, a debilitating condition in which the cartilage in the shoulder joint breaks down, causing the bones in the shoulder to rub together. The condition can cause chronic pain and can limit mobility. Additional surgeries may be required.

The Astros will void Hall’s minor-league contract, as he will be out at least four months for surgery as opposed to just one month if he had tried rehab without surgery.

SOURCE: Pain Pumps › Astros Toby Hall opts for shoulder surgery to correct torn labrum

The study analyzed data from the 2005-2007 National High School Sports Injury Surveillance System and showed that shoulder injuries made up 18 percent of all injuries caused during both baseball and wrestling, and 12 percent of injuries caused during football. The report identified that shoulder injuries were three times more likely to occur during competition.

Overall, six percent of shoulder injuries required surgery. The sport that caused more surgeries to shoulders was wrestling. When shoulder surgeries are performed, they most often require the use of a pain pump to deliver medication directly to the surgical site for post operative pain management.

However, these post-operative pain pumps, also known as intra-articular pain pumps, can cause severe problems in some patients. Many patients who have used pain pumps have suffered from Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis, (PAGCL) a painful condition that occurs in the shoulder when the cartilage between the ball and socket of the shoulder breaks down causing the bones to rub against each other.

Individuals who have used a pain pump to manage pain following shoulder surgery – or any other joint-related surgery – should consult their physician if they experience continued pain; weakness; clicking, popping or grinding; or decreased range of motion.

SOURCE: Pain Pumps › Study: Shoulder injuries happen more often to high school boys than girls

This sort of story is happening to more and more young athletes due to the pain pumps used after shoulder surgeries. Shoulder problems are occurring in young athletes, causing them to look to surgery to relieve the pain and get back into the game. Little did they know that after the surgery, the pain pump used to alleviate their pain would leave them with permanent damage and little hope of returning to sports.

Since nothing can be done about past cases, the only thing to do is try to prevent shoulder injuries for young athletes in the future. Some of the sports that put pressure on the shoulder include swimming, baseball, softball and motorcross. No matter which sport, the steps to shoulder injury prevention are all the same.

First, using the proper technique is very important when throwing or using shoulder motions. When fatigue sets in, more strain is put on the shoulder causing problems to increase. Know the correct technique!

Next, flexibility of the shoulder is crucial. The rotator cuff muscles are dependent on good positioning of the scapula, which create the ability for the muscles to produce power. However, flexibility does not automatically mean stretching. Recent studies have shown that static stretching for flexibility should not be done prior to training. Static stretching is used to stretch muscles when the body is at rest. It is recommended that instead of static stretching, dynamic stretching is best for the shoulder. Dynamic stretching uses speed of movement, momentum and active muscular effort to bring about a stretch, according to Sports Fitness Advisor.

The next step to preventing shoulder injuries is core strength and stability. The important areas for the shoulder include the lumbar spine (lower back), cervical spine (neck) and the scapulothoracic joint (shoulder). If these areas are strained, it is passed onto the shoulder joint. It is crucial to strengthen and stabilize these areas.

The last step is muscle strength. Once the core is stabilized, it is important for the shoulder and arms to be strengthened. This can be done through weights or Thera-Bands.

Practicing these steps can help prevent shoulder problems that would eventually lead to surgery. Practice them. It’s worth it.

SOURCE: Pain Pumps › Steps to prevent shoulder injuries