RE: Re: shoulder pain & cortizone shot....Xpost

[Guest guest]

If it is a rotator cuff tear, speaking from experience, I say ask for

surgical repair. I tore mine in 1983 and the orthopedic surgeon was one of

those who is really only interested in athletes - it was a sports medicine

medical group. He said that if I were a professional athlete, he would

recommend surgery, but since I was not, I should just let it heal naturally.

I still do not have full range of motion 20 years later, although most of

the pain was gone within a few years. The pain was intense for close to a

year when my arm was in certain positions.

My mother, at age 78, fell and tore HER rotator cuff. At my insistance, she

persuaded her doctor to repair it surgically, and she was virtually

pain-free within weeks, and back to almost full range of motion within a few

months.

I'm still pi**ed at the ortho surgeon who thought I was just a couch potato

(at 250#) who didn't need full use of her arm.

---

365/194/160

Lap RnY, Distal - Dr. s

Vanderbilt University Hospital

Surgery date June 3, 2002

----- Original Message -----

>

>

> Lorraine -

>

> I don't know is wrong with the shoulder, but I had trouble about

>

> a year ago and spent 6 months doing physical therapy...and it

>

> worked. It was something in my rotor cup of the shoulder and

>

> my doctor doesn't believe in giving shots...only as a last resort

>

> before surgery.

[Guest guest]

I can't blame you. I would be pissed too!!!!! I had calcification of my

right rotator cuff and was sent to a surgeon in Australia (where I was

living at the time) who's area of expertise was wrists, elbows and

shoulders. His practice was mainly the professional Footy players (Aus.

Style football) and Rugby players. I have had full use since it was done in

1992. Basically he did a roto-rooter job and got rid of the little spiky

things that was hanging things up. It still works well.

Debbie &

in Gig Harbor

(170cm medial)

ladybostons@...

http://www.cafeshops.com/copsstore

http://www.marykay.com/debbiemcneice

-----Original Message-----

From: B. Bass

I'm still pi**ed at the ortho surgeon who thought I was just a couch potato

(at 250#) who didn't need full use of her arm.

---

365/194/160

Lap RnY, Distal - Dr. s

Vanderbilt University Hospital

Surgery date June 3, 2002

[Guest guest]

Hey Ruth: it never fails, every time I give medical " advice " I get myself

into trouble! LOL! Here's specifically what the PT treated my husband

with: high intensity ultrasound, which he said " felt " hot (ergo my confusion).

No hot compresses, I was mistaken. Cold compresses were offered after just

to soothe the area. And he was given a cortisone shot initially, which

really didn't help him too much. Mind you, he is not on coumadin. He was

given

a bunch of exercises which he continues to do at home. It seemed to take

FOREVER for him to get better, well over a year. And for the person who

recommended surgery: I am glad surgery worked for you! But be warned, with

some

shoulder injuries, surgery can actually help the relieve the injury initially,

but make it worse eventually (esp for diabetics). I know this cause one doc

wanted to operate, and we went for other consults, and of course, another doc

said " not recommended. " The " not recommended " guy was right. Another thing

I do recall " not recommended " doc saying was that (for some reason) diabetics

are MORE prone to " frozen shoulder " and always take alot longer to heal from

it. For diabetics, attempts to surgically remedy frozen shoulder are often

ultimately not successful. This is what we were told. Hubs is feeling

pretty good now, FINALLY, but it was really really lousy for a long long time.

So Lucille says (in her best Faye Dunaway doing Joan Crawford voice) " NO

HOT COMPRESSES EVVVVVVVVVEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR! "

Thanks for correcting my error! I was mortified that some misinformation I

gave out might have caused someone else some harm.

In a message dated 11/18/2003 7:01:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Graduate-OSSG writes:

> Lorraine -

>

> I don't know is wrong with the shoulder, but I had trouble about

>

> a year ago and spent 6 months doing physical therapy...and it

>

> worked. It was something in my rotor cup of the shoulder and

>

> my doctor doesn't believe in giving shots...only as a last resort

>

> before surgery. Being a diabetic, and on Coumadin, he doesn't

>

> like to " inject " because I can bleed for awhile while a " normal "

>

> person won't. Incidently, if you or your hubby are dabetic, DON'T

>

> use heat!!!! It does something ike burn from the inside out and

>

> will create havoc with your blood. Check on the carton that a heating

>

> pad comes in and in big block letters it should say DO NOT USE IF

> DIABETIC. And if you go for therapy, DO NOT let them apply

>

> heat. I also had that happen to me and it took about 3 months for the

>

> 2nd degree burn to surface, and then it lasted for about 6 months

>

> more...and it was painful!!!!!

>

> Just my 2 cents worth...hope it was helpful.

>

> ruth

>

>

>