Third pain pump patient comes forward

ATTLEBORO, MA. (WPRI) - Another pain pump patient has come forward with years of complaints about a device that was implanted by a former Providence doctor.

Wade LeBlanc thought he might be alone until he saw Target 12 reports on WPRI.com about 2 other patients with similarly frustrating and painful experiences a device designed to help ease their pain.

LeBlanc, an Attleboro resident who lives part of the year in Michigan, said his problems with his Medtronics pain pump date back 10 years.

“It never worked how it was promised,” LeBlanc said over the phone. “It never eliminated the extreme jerking of my limbs, caused by Multiple Sclerosis.”

LeBlanc contacted Target 12 after seeing reports about Dee Morrison of Burrillville and Pat Bowen of West Warwick. All 3 men were patients of Doctor Gerhard Friehs when he worked for the Neurosurgery Foundation in Providence.

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According to a letter provided by Bowen, Friehs left the Providence facility in March of 2008. Target 12 contacted his current office in Temple, Texas but he was unavailable to comment about the problems his 3 former patients say they are dealing with now.

Morrison said a pain pump was removed from her body about a month after it was implanted in 2007 but she claims a piece of catheter was left behind and a tube shaped object could be seen protruding from her waste area. Morrison said she has since had that item removed.

Bowen's medical records indicate a pump was implanted in his body in 2001 and revised by Friehs in 2005. Bowen said the pump was eventually removed but he said the electronic leads that can be seen in an X-ray he showed Target 12, continue to be a painful problem for him.

LeBlanc said he has had a series of issues with the pump, the leads and the doses of medication that he blames for causing spasms and twitches.

“It's like you become a puppet. Someone is dangling a string connected to your limbs and you can't control it.”

Morrison is in the process of filing a lawsuit, Bowen cannot find a surgeon who will remove the leads from his pain pump and LeBlanc is considering a lawsuit.

A spokeswoman for the Neurosurgery Foundation would not comment about the complaints but Darlene Trew Crist did confirm that Dr. Friehs was an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University from March 1, 1995 to March 31, 2008.

Send your news tips to Walt Buteau at wbuteau@wpri.com and follow Walt on Twitter: @wbuteau