Shoulders

[geargrrl]

Who's messed up a shoulder?

Back in July I went OTB and most likely tore the labrum. The ortho was 50/50 on surgery or not, so we've just been in the no-risk, no-work zone with gobs of rehab exercises.(surgery, not) They did an MRI with dye to see what was maybe going on. Last check up it had progressed to "frozen shoulder" and I am (finally) progressing really well with the addition of broomstick type exercises, finally getting some range of motion.

I am scared to death of falling on it. I could give up ski season if I know I'll be ready by biking season.

Now that my health insurance has reset for the new year, I'm going to check in with a shoulder specialist PT and see how I am doing; see if there are any modifications to my home program I can do. I really want to start building strength but I am waiting, waiting.

One funny thing is that hubby is rehabbing from his own wreck with a pinned collar bone, so we sit at home and whine at the snow cam together.

Thoughts on shoulders, divas?

gg

 

[Slidergirl]

3 years ago I had surgery for a torn labrum and rotator cuff in my left shoulder. It had bothered me starting in March, but I thought it would go away. By May, it was still hurting pretty good, so I went to my Dr., who is also certified in Sports Med. We tried cortisone first, but it did nothing. So, he referred me to the best shoulder ortho around. He did the MRI and said, yep, I needed surgery. But, I couldn't take the time until my co-worker returned from maternity leave. So, I spend the summer doing physical therapy to keep it strong (I couldn't hurt it any more than it was). I had the surgery that October. Lots of rehab after that, and I didn't ski that year. I could have done some in March, but I figured I'd just toss that year and wait for the next one.

Definitely get an ortho to check it. And, if he recommends it, go for the surgery. My fixed shoulder is now my "better" shoulder. If you do the surgery, I highly suggest you get a reclining lounger. It's difficult, if not downright impossible, to sleep with your arm in the sling (I had to wear mine post-op 24/7 for 4 weeks). The lounger made it a bit easier to sleep - kind of like sleeping in a Business Class seat on an airplane.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Oh boy, frozen shoulder, a/k/a adhesive capsulitis.....
This is one condition which, as a secondary, can be worse than the primary condition.

Feeling your pain, it's awful.
The problem with this condition: it has its own schedule, and there's only so much that can be done to hasten it. I was told a year is the average, from start of "freeze" to full "thaw." (mine came from nowhere, no precipitating injury that I recall - this was in 03)

At its full freeze, I could only raise my left arm 30 degrees to the side.

I wept in physical therapy, but this is really the only way to otherwise hasten the (purported) schedule. At about 8 months post-onset, I was at about 90% ROM. Not bad. I relented and took a cortisone injection. It put me over the top. I was never bothered again. But----to this day, I still marvel whenever I use my left shoulder, even to reach up to a high shelf (and remember the weeping).

This will resolve. Hang in there, work HARD, weep if you must, I sure did. It's the only way to get it back. In weights class, I can now lift more weight than DH in the shoulder routine (....but he's having some continuing issues....:(....which he ignores :mad.

The strength will come, but only AFTER you've regained as much range of motion as possible. It was my primary focus. Had little to no arm strength for a year, but at least my range was back.

Feel better! It's one tricky joint....

Addendum: post preceded mine while I was responding to your inquiry which discusses the actual injury and not the adhesive capsulitis. I totally second the recliner idea. Rolling over onto the shoulder is....well, I'm sure you know how it feels. Anything to prevent that.

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

Been there, done that...

And then, I went and broke the same shoulder making my ortho very concerned I would get frozen shoulder again...

The best remedy is the only remedy...PT, and work your butt off in it. I recovered in less than six months...many don't recover for up to two years...

Work, work, work...it's really the only solution.

 

[geargrrl]

Slow, isn't it?

I am already working with the #1 ortho surgeon/shoulder guy in town, and he's the one who suggested to wait it out. If I were to go the surgical route, I would do it in Aug/Sept as that is the slow time for the business that I own. This fall was out as DH had two broken bones!!

It's just sooooo slow.... but I am so much better than six weeks ago, that's for sure. I am, while not sleeping on that side, I can rest on it and doze off now. I can shave under the arm now, and not freak when getting something out of the cupboard...

 

[Slidergirl]

Yep, pt, pt, and more pt. It's gonna hurt something fierce. They have to get that ROM and it's not easy. Work on that ROM and, when your pt believes you have all you're going to get, then worry about strength. The "frozen shoulder" isn't fun at all. I did have a bout of that with my right shoulder years ago. It did take me about 6 months to feel no pain, but it was really a good year before I had total ROM back. Coming back from surgery was really faster than the frozen shoulder. I really would talk with the ortho and, if it's going to be months of rehab just for that, consider going ahead and getting that labrum repaired. I know any surgery is dangerous, but do some weighing the pros and cons right now may be a good thing to do.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I remember the first time I reached up (at home) to the top of a door frame (per pt)....I just wept....but...I DID IT. It's been 5 years, and I still remember the agony of it --- and marvel that now it's as if nothing was ever wrong w/the shoulder. (as I said, mine was in the complete absence of an injury, at least that I was aware of - no skiing falls the preceding season)

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

It's just sooooo slow.... but I am so much better than six weeks ago, that's for sure. I am, while not sleeping on that side, I can rest on it and doze off now. I can shave under the arm now, and not freak when getting something out of the cupboard...

I remember those days well! Every day will get a little better...and eventually you'll be back to movement you feel is 'normal.' I've never gotten back to sleeping with my arm under the pillow, but who cares? Keep at it!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I remember looking around online at various websites....there was one that had this gruesome graphic illustration (not a photo) of what this condition looks like (yech/yikes ) and all the bands of inflamed tissue surrounding the shoulder capsule.....I could not imagine that anything that ugly and overwhelming could possibly resolve.

It does.

Will never take my shoulder ROM for granted again. I still marvel that the thing now behaves as if this never happened.

Hang tough and ask anything. Glad to help/provide moral support.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Follow-up story: a little over a year after resolution, I took a big crash - was skiing the edge of a trail on very lovely soft snow, freshly groomed, and hooked a pine branch/bough which had been completely buried and invisible. Down. Hard. My helmet hit the snow so hard that I saw stars. As luck would have it, ski patrol was almost right behind me. Did an eval, said that many a clavicle has snapped in a fall that hard. And...OF COURSE, it was a left-side fall. Onto THAT shoulder.

Okay, so the rest of the day (which continued - I didn't stop skiing) wasn't wonderful, but I had zero after-effects. Wow.

So when you get to the point of resolution - do NOT baby it! (easy to say, hard to do?) Keep moving!!

 

[KatyPerrey]

Who's messed up a shoulder?

Back in July I went OTB and most likely tore the labrum. The ortho was 50/50 on surgery or not, so we've just been in the no-risk, no-work zone with gobs of rehab exercises.(surgery, not) They did an MRI with dye to see what was maybe going on. Last check up it had progressed to "frozen shoulder" and I am (finally) progressing really well with the addition of broomstick type exercises, finally getting some range of motion.

I am scared to death of falling on it. I could give up ski season if I know I'll be ready by biking season.

Now that my health insurance has reset for the new year, I'm going to check in with a shoulder specialist PT and see how I am doing; see if there are any modifications to my home program I can do. I really want to start building strength but I am waiting, waiting.

One funny thing is that hubby is rehabbing from his own wreck with a pinned collar bone, so we sit at home and whine at the snow cam together.

Thoughts on shoulders, divas?

gg

Both shoulders!!
Four years ago I tore the rotator cuff 95% in the right shoulder and 6 months after surgery and being released by the doctor I had a very severe AC separation (displaced) and tore the rotator cuff in the left shoulder. Two surgeries later on the left shoulder I'm as good as new! I will never have full range of motion in the left shoulder but I'm very close! I have fallen many times and all is good!!

Do what the docs and the PT's tell you to do!! No questions!!!!
Good luck and don't rush the rehab or you will have to start all over again like I did! 26 months of pure HELL!!

 

[Robyn]

Shall we ask Lilabear?

 

[CMCM]

Ah, shoulders....sigh! In Jan. 03 I fell, spraining my shoulder, breaking or at least cracking a rib, and also doing some rotator cuff damage. Being somewhat of a gym rat, I spent well over a year doing careful rehab type exercises, but I'd say my shoulder and r. cuff weren't normal and painless again for closer to 2 years. I thought they would NEVER heal. Very discouraging, but I'm in good shape now. May it stay that way!

 

[LilaBear]

Proximal Fracture of the humerus 10 days ago. Got all of this to look forward to. You've been great with the advice and support.

Not looking forward to PT when you describe the pain, but so far I have had very little pain indeed. It's twinging now, but more "sore" than pain. And I've been overdoing it as I came back to work last Monday, I hope to rest over the weekend.

I was loaned an iceman machine, never heard of one before this, but it's a godsend. It has a wraparound cuff that it pumps iced water around, lasts all night, and much easier than trying to balance my arm on a row of ice packs as I did the first few nights.

The underside of my arm is in technicolor, I don't know if it was blood pooling during surgery or something else, but the elbow to the wrist is amazing, and I found yesterday that there is bruising in my armpit (the swelling has gone down significantly if I can separate my arm from my body and see into my armpit - looked like I had a linebacker's shoulder guard the first few days).

I can still move my arm a reasonable amount, but was told not to. It's difficult to know what to do for the best, but I do have PT on Monday and that will help inform me better.

And here's my wierdest symptom - my right ear and part of my scalp and neck is numb from the shoulder block they put in for surgery. I'm getting used to it, but it was a very alien feeling at first. I'm told feeling should come back over time, but for now I have to take care with all heated hair implements. It's the strangest sensation!

I'm happy to hear of your recoveries and the strength that returns. i don't want to have psychological hangups when skiing, took me years to get rid of the fear, and I'd never had an injury before - which most people tell me causes their anxiety. So I have great ambitions to not ski until next year when I know it will be rock solid and I won't worry ............. any bets on whether I really won't ski in May???

 

[KatyPerrey]

Not looking forward to PT when you describe the pain, but so far I have had very little pain indeed. It's twinging now, but more "sore" than pain. And I've been overdoing it as I came back to work last Monday, I hope to rest over the weekend.

The one thing I learned (3 shoulder surgeries) from PT and the doctor is if it hurts STOP!!!! It is not like a knee where the PT "pushes" the limit of flexablity and pain. I was ALWAYS told to tell them to STOP when it hurt! Good luck!! I have been were you are!!!!

 

[geargrrl]

YAY, got the clearance from the orthopedic surgeon to go back to PT and look at strengthening now.

I've been doing a home program that I got back last summer from a different PT, but I am going to change practitioners now, dissatisfied with the other office for various reasons.

Doc says, soreness OK but no sharp pain. When he gave me the broom stick exercises 6 weeks ago, again we talked about the different kinds of pain. There's the "breath into the stretch and try and get a little bit more" as we try to break up adhesions, and then there's the "oh **** I should NOT have done that. Like the time several months ago when I tried to reach behind me and get something out of the back seat of the car.

 

[itri]

Good news, geargrrl! Yeah, there's definitely different types of pain. I tell patients that a *little* bit of pain and soreness is ok and to be expected, but it shouldn't be much more than that, and they better tell me right away if it is. Breaking up adhesions, holy smokes, that can hurt....but it's gotta be done!

 

[Swamp Dog]

Proximal Fracture of the humerus

X2. Apparently that's what I did 3 weeks ago in the hit-n-run when I was run over from behind.

I love that the ER said nothing was broken and sent me home. Said to call Ortho if it still hurt in a week. So I waited 2 weeks, very afraid that my season was over before it really took off. Then I had to wait a week to be seen, which was yesterday.

You can clearly see the crack in the humerus. It's not very big, it just feels HUGE. And calcium deposits in the join.

Anyhow, not much to do about it. I'm milking it for all it's worth as far as not emptying the dishwasher, changing sheets on the bed, that sort of stuff really is tough. I can't lay on it, and can't even pull up my comforter on the bed. But most of all, I am soooo afraid of falling on it again, especially while it still hurts. Of course that hasn't kept from going out to ski. I never said I was smart.

The left thumb isn't healed yet either, but I can almost hold the pole now.

One of these years I'm going to have an injury free season.

 

[Swamp Dog]

Like the time several months ago when I tried to reach behind me and get something out of the back seat of the car.

yep, that's about the worst. Glad you are getting along with your healing

 

[MaineSkiLady]

You can clearly see the crack in the humerus. It's not very big, it just feels HUGE.
The left thumb isn't healed yet either, but I can almost hold the pole now.
One of these years I'm going to have an injury free season.

:( Oh no, so sorry to read this! (and you're still going to do demo day??) (you're a tough diva!) OW.

Oh, the reaching into the back seat..... Yeah. I think I started my left shoulder onto its malfunction journey from reaching back when there was a kid in a car seat back there. Then, decades later, it froze (from what I have no idea). Breaking adhesions is....well...Grimace Time.

Both of you, keep it moving as prescribed. Ow ow ow. Total empathy. I had 8+ months of...well, why overemphasize. Hurt. Wishing you both well. Final analysis for me: completely healed. I always marvel that it works as well as it does now.