Shoulder Pain Pumps Causing Shoulder Pain

Memphis, TNA shoulder pain pump is supposed to relieve a patient's pain—at least, that's what patients are told. However, some patients say they have even more pain after a shoulder pain pump is used than they ever had before their shoulder surgery.

"I had surgery on my right shoulder on November 23, 2007," Goldie [not his real name] says. "I had rotator cuff surgery and I had the pump in my shoulder for about 5 or 6 days. When I had the pump, it wasn't doing me any good. I didn't have problems, but it wasn't stopping the pain.

"I started having problems when they took the pump out and I was released from the hospital. I can't even hold a cup or anything with my right hand. So, I have to work [as a bus driver] but I'm in pain all the time. The doctors say I'm okay. They did another MRI because the doctor thought it was another torn rotator cuff, but the MRI shows that there is no tear. But there is damage to my cartilage.

"My right hand tingles and I can't raise my right arm above chest level. When I'm driving, if I try to turn a corner I have to use my left hand. If I'm holding something with my right hand, my fingers tingle and my pinky finger gets numb after a while. Right now, I'm holding the phone but my fingers will start tingling and I'll have to change hands. I didn't have this problem before my surgery.

"I'm 58 years old and this has had a big impact on my day to day life. I can't ride my motorcycle, I can't lift weights and I can't do pushups or pull-ups. My arm pops and when that happens, it hurts like hell. But all the doctor will say is to take some Tylenol and go home.

"The pain depends on what I do and how long I do it. I'm right-handed, which makes it worse because it's my right shoulder. When I'm combing my hair, I have to take my left hand and use it to put the right hand up to comb my hair. When I'm sitting on the couch I can put my arm up on the back of the sofa, but my shoulder aches. I can't even sleep lying down—I sleep in a chair at night.

"All they told me was that the pain pump would deliver pain medicine. That's it. I don't even know what was in the pump. My medical papers say nothing about the pump. I wouldn't have known about it causing these problems if it hadn't been on television one night.

"I still have pain and it's been a year since my shoulder surgery. I thought my rehab and therapy would repair the problem with my shoulder. I don't understand it."