Shoulder Injuries?

[Iceman]

Based on extensive internet investigation, I would say that surgery is for people with out patience and recovery can be just as long regardless of treatment. I have had tears in the right and then a few years later the left. Alternating heat and ice is all I did, along with ibuprofen to reduce swelling and using my bad shoulder as little as possible. It seemed to take forever, but I am 100%

[BT]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Based on extensive internet investigation, I would say that surgery is for people with out patience and recovery can be just as long regardless of treatment. I have had tears in the right and then a few years later the left. Alternating heat and ice is all I did, along with ibuprofen to reduce swelling and using my bad shoulder as little as possible. It seemed to take forever, but I am 100%

Yeah Andy, I am with you there. That is what I am going for. When I had my left shoulder done (labrum tear, torn rotator cuff) I had done rehab for almost a year before I would let the doc cut on me. And he was a good doctor too (sports doc for Chargers and is a shoulder specialist) because he didnt want me to get any surgery I didnt want. Let me PT it until we both looked at each other and figured it wasnt going to heal on it's own. After that I had more PT (8 months) and my left shoulder felt better than my right (before this injury). I know the left injury is worse than this one, just because of the nature of my accident (rolled a truck off a cliff).

I will most likely go and get an MRI to see what I am dealing with, but I have Kaiser now as my health care, and those M'er F'ers take forever, so even if I wanted surgery right now, it is likely a looong time before I get in for that.

So if anyone has any alternate medical advice (besides Hobies and the sticky icky), I would love to hear it. I got a few sports massages that alleviated the pain a bit, and I may try acupuncture next, but I have NO idea where to go for that. I just know that I would be out minimum six months if I had surgery, and I would like to work through it and strengthen it while coping with the pain then having a useless arm for all that time post op.

But in the end if it doesn't heal I will get the surgery. Just trying to see if I can avoid it this time since this one will make it my 6th surgery in the past 8 years.

[MVC]

About a year and 1/2 ago I had the Supraspinatus torn completely from the bone in my left shoulder. No amount of rest and therapy was going to heal it. I would suggest that you go to a good orthopedist and have an MRI done. Then you will know what your options are.

[bigbarrels]

Originally Posted by MVC

About a year and 1/2 ago I had the Supraspinatus torn completely from the bone in my left shoulder. No amount of rest and therapy was going to heal it. I would suggest that you go to a good orthopedist and have an MRI done. Then you will know what your options are.

X2

or have your family doc ordered the MRI and if positive refer you to the orthopedist (if Kaiser works like an HMO). Good luck!

[BT]

Thanks for the advice everyone, and trust me, I have all the appointments made (that I CAN make with Kaiser), but I think what didnt come over in my post was that Kaiser is the biggest problem (HMO on crack). It usually takes 2-4 months to get a date for a procedure there, so I want to check out all the alternatives in the mean time, and maybe avoid the surgery.

My last three surgeries were done as soon as I knew I needed them, I just remember the long road my shoulder was after the surgery.

I have also had doctors tell me they recommended surgery and have healed 100% without it.

So I am just looking for alternative methods in the mean time because I know I will have to wait to get anything done thru Kaiser.

And Stinky Matt, trust me....I NEVER LISTEN TO ANYONE ON THIS BOARD!!! LOL. Just looking for ideas from people who may have alternative ideas. If I have to get the surgery I will, I just would rather not, just like everybody else.

[Jimmyz123]

Remember the longer you wait the more damage you could be doing to your injury.

When I hurt my arm I went to the doctor 2 days later and he had me in for surgery a week later to avoid further damage and to make the surgery as easy as possible. If it was the muscle rupturing the more you use it the more it will travel down your arm making the surgery more difficult if that's what is needed.

[StinkyMatt]

Being that this is a forum for guys that SOMETIMES outsmart a fish, we use a plastic stick to float among whales and sharks, and take chances between crashing walls of water on the beach, we are not the brainiest guys out there!

Dude, I had a shoulder surgery, after trying to take care of it different non surgical ways for a couple of years. Last January I had knee surgery, did not wait on this one at all.

Do not listen to US! You want to dick around with your shoulder.....there is a reason you are not the doctor. Seriously talk to people that can give you GOOD advice, not JUST advice.

If you reallly want help, buy a tendem kayak and lots of beer for your friend.

Hope that it is something that you can take care of easily.

[yakrider]

dislocated the right...and tore something in the left...
for both, physical therapy was the ticket to recovery...both shoulders are 100% for the most part...
just a word of note on physical therapy, both from personal experience and obsevation of others...
physical therapy works...but only if you are a participant...
just going to the apointment once a week don't cut it...they will give you daily excersizes to perfom...they must be done daily...
don't just go to the appointments, do the once a week deal, and then complain how physical theray doesn't work! you gotta do what they say!

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by yakrider

dislocated the right...and tore something in the left...
for both, physical therapy was the ticket to recovery...both shoulders are 100% for the most part...
just a word of note on physical therapy, both from personal experience and obsevation of others...
physical therapy works...but only if you are a participant...
just going to the apointment once a week don't cut it...they will give you daily excersizes to perfom...they must be done daily...
don't just go to the appointments, do the once a week deal, and then complain how physical theray doesn't work! you gotta do what they say!

I have to agree with this post 100%. When I was doing my PT I actually did more than what they recommended because I felt that I could and I was able to be released from PT 2 months early.

For your safety and all go get an MRI so that you know what you are dealing with.

[erinoo]

Originally Posted by yakrider

dislocated the right...and tore something in the left...
for both, physical therapy was the ticket to recovery...both shoulders are 100% for the most part...
just a word of note on physical therapy, both from personal experience and obsevation of others...
physical therapy works...but only if you are a participant...
just going to the apointment once a week don't cut it...they will give you daily excersizes to perfom...they must be done daily...
don't just go to the appointments, do the once a week deal, and then complain how physical theray doesn't work! you gotta do what they say!

Your most correct Josh, you gotta participate in the therapy and NOT just during the supervised sessions. My Daughter is a P/T and she will tell ya, the ones that don't recover or as fast as they could, are the people that don't dont perform the exersizes as and when told to....Eric

[steveooo]

Hobie

[bubblehide]

Originally Posted by yakrider

dislocated the right...and tore something in the left...
for both, physical therapy was the ticket to recovery...both shoulders are 100% for the most part...
just a word of note on physical therapy, both from personal experience and obsevation of others...
physical therapy works...but only if you are a participant...
just going to the apointment once a week don't cut it...they will give you daily excersizes to perfom...they must be done daily...
don't just go to the appointments, do the once a week deal, and then complain how physical theray doesn't work! you gotta do what they say!

Amen brada!