Shoulder Injury ?

[caymin last]

Shoulder Injury, pic after surgery!

A few weeks ago, I was walking my daughters dog and sat down on a walking trail bench for a breather, the leash was in my left hand and binoculars over the left shoulder, the dog got spooked and yanked me off the seat, the binoc's slid down off my shoulder and as I was reaching to stop them hitting the ground, I stumbled and went down on my right shoulder pretty hard. It's been a few weeks now and I still can't lift my arm above my shoulder without extreme pain, combing my hair or anything that requires rotating my shoulder is excruciating. My orthopedic doc has been on vacation so I can only see him next Monday the 10th.

Anyone else had a similar problem? Torn rotator cuff maybe?

 

[Underground]

Bursitis, Labral Tear, Possible Rotator, Possible fracture of collarbone?

Hard to diagnose over the internet.

I had all three plus more in my left shoulder due to a gym injury, arthroscopic surgery, after 3 cortisone injections, MRI, ultrasound and xray was my eventual cure - but you're not really going to know what's going on until you have had it checked out by someone who knows more than me.

 

[hpiguy]

Agreed, no way to know without a diagnosis. Had my right one rebuilt in '09, SLAP tear of the labrum with bankarts lesion and some bone fragments floating around just for good measure. After surgery, PT, and quite a while weight training on my own, it's great now. Good luck whatever the case may be.

 

[snapon boy]

I got the rotator cuff and slap tear in auto accident. You might try k tape or rock tape until you can get in to see the Dr. Mine recommend it until I get in for surgery. Just a suggestion.

 

[caymin last]

Thanks for the replies and tips, much appreciated. Until I get to see the Doc (in three days time) and he figures it out, I'll take it easy and not worry too much. Not a good idea to try and self evaluate, based on what you find on the web. My vehicle is "Dad's taxi" and a stick shift, I need two hands to shift after first and second gear, so my daughter will have to start learning to drive real soon,.... OMG! that's a scary thought. I will have to try the tape idea, thanks again.

 

[72Blazer]

Last year I high sided my ATV and was bodyslammed on my left shoulder.Ended up with a level 3 AC separation of the shoulder.Basically nothing is holding my collar bone at the shoulder blade. Took it a full year to heal.Fine now but I have a visible bump. Hopefully its something else.

 

[Dostradamas]

Sounds like mine when I dislocated it.

Went to the ER (urgent care for you youngins) they gave me an x ray and said "doesn't look dislocated you have advil right?" and sent me home.

After 3 years and 5 or so "physicians" I found out I had an uncommon dislocation that had ground the ball & cup away.

Surgeon gave me 3 options (due to it being dislocated for 3 years all the soft tissue had readjusted to out of socket as well)

1- fuse the joint, zipper to mouth movement of my left arm for the rest of my life and no more pain or surgery.

2 - leave it alone and it will continue to get worse.

3 - let him try to replace the joint and rework the soft tissue.
The odds he gave were 20% no help and chronic dislocations for life
50% dramatic improvement, much less pain, much more motion, less than normal strength / durability.
20% chance of no real change in pain or motion
5% chance of losing the arm!

I gave him the shot in 03' and it has been GREAT.
Titanium ball & plastic cup, rework went good.

Shoulders are very unique as far as joints go.
Could be muscle, tendon, ligament , joint etc.

When you get your xray have it looked at by an ortho that knows shoulders.
My surgeon estimated less than 10% of physicians out there would have been able to identify my dislocation as one with the standard xray angles.

Damaged soft tissue should be usable in a few days.

You have done serious damage IMO.
MRI & xray if you can.
Xrays are no help in identifying soft tissue damage.

Good luck

 

[crawlhog]

I tore my labrum on my right shoulder and it took 7 months to heal, a year later i tore my rotator cuff on the same shoulder and it took over a year to heal up somewhat. both hurt like a bitch and I still feel it everyday.

I didnt want the surgery for either because I didnt want to sit on the couch for 7 months, but I did eat Aleve , Tylenol & Ibuprofen like candy but the MMJ always helped much better.

If you do have either of those the pain will slowly ease up after a month or so, just watch how you use the arm.

 

[caymin last]

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and tips.
I went to see my orthopedic doc on Monday, x-rays showed some bone spurs. He sent me to have an MRI that same afternoon. Today I went to see him again for the MRI results, I have a full thickness tear in my supraspinatus that also involves the infraspinatus, with a partial thickness tear in the attachment of the subscapularis and a separation of the posterior-superior labrum. Now I know why it hurts so damn much. So I'm scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder next Thursday the 20th. I'll be out of action for about six weeks he said.
He did give me a shot in the back of my shoulder which has helped a little, but it still aches all the time.

 

[Underground]

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and tips.
I went to see my orthopedic doc on Monday, x-rays showed some bone spurs. He sent me to have an MRI that same afternoon. Today I went to see him again for the MRI results, I have a full thickness tear in my supraspinatus that also involves the infraspinatus, with a partial thickness tear in the attachment of the subscapularis and a separation of the posterior-superior labrum. Now I know why it hurts so damn much. So I'm scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder next Thursday the 20th. I'll be out of action for about six weeks he said.
He did give me a shot in the back of my shoulder which has helped a little, but it still aches all the time.

Keep up the theraband therapy post opp, and you'll feel like Magic in 6 weeks.

good luck!

 

[Natedog]

Last year I high sided my ATV and was bodyslammed on my left shoulder.Ended up with a level 3 AC separation of the shoulder.Basically nothing is holding my collar bone at the shoulder blade. Took it a full year to heal.Fine now but I have a visible bump. Hopefully its something else.

Been there with left shoulder seperation several times, got the bump and now a bigger bump to show for it. Didn't go to doctor either time, first time I didn't know what I did and was much younger, last time was several years ago when I took a good body slam to hardpack and river rock on my mountain bike, got up, shook it off and finished my ride. Had to take about 6 weeks off the bike due to pain.

I tore my labrum on my right shoulder and it took 7 months to heal, a year later i tore my rotator cuff on the same shoulder and it took over a year to heal up somewhat. both hurt like a bitch and I still feel it everyday.

I didnt want the surgery for either because I didnt want to sit on the couch for 7 months, but I did eat Aleve , Tylenol & Ibuprofen like candy but the MMJ always helped much better.

If you do have either of those the pain will slowly ease up after a month or so, just watch how you use the arm.

I've taken more Advil/Ibuprofen than I care to remember, take it to reduce swelling and inflammation, but don't stay on it too long as it can hinder healing imo and is not good for liver and kidneys.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and tips.
I went to see my orthopedic doc on Monday, x-rays showed some bone spurs. He sent me to have an MRI that same afternoon. Today I went to see him again for the MRI results, I have a full thickness tear in my supraspinatus that also involves the infraspinatus, with a partial thickness tear in the attachment of the subscapularis and a separation of the posterior-superior labrum. Now I know why it hurts so damn much. So I'm scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder next Thursday the 20th. I'll be out of action for about six weeks he said.
He did give me a shot in the back of my shoulder which has helped a little, but it still aches all the time.

Good luck and speedy recovery, do what you can, walk for aerobic exercise and don't push it too soon. "thumbsup"

 

[caymin last]

Thanks again guys! Had the surgery today, I'm all trussed up like a thanksgiving turkey, thought I'd post a little update before the nerve block wears off. Doc said he repaired two very bad full thickness tears in the rotator cuff, fixed separated labrum, and got rid of some nasty bone spurs. It's all good, like my older brother used to say, 'Cowboys don't cry in front of their horses'.

 

[Dostradamas]

Thanks again guys! Had the surgery today, I'm all trussed up like a thanksgiving turkey, thought I'd post a little update before the nerve block wears off. Doc said he repaired two very bad full thickness tears in the rotator cuff, fixed separated labrum, and got rid of some nasty bone spurs. It's all good, like my older brother used to say, 'Cowboys don't cry in front of their horses'.

Follow their advise for recovery.
Once they get you moving in physical therapy WORK HARD what you do after is as important as what your surgeon fixed.

I had an immobilizing sling on for 2 weeks, when that came off the real work started.

FYI I had 2 stages of the nerve block wearing off.

First was while I was in the hospital when the bag ran dry and they took too long getting it re set.

The second came after about a week of being home. I was sick of the oxy's and morphine so I cut myself off.
Felt fine for about 12 hours then that nerve finally woke back up completely.

ZOWIE THAT HURT!

After 3 years dealing with the pain of a dislocation when that nerve woke up it was a new level of pain.
Fire from the tip of my thumb up my arm and high up my neck till the oxy's started working again.


Be careful and ready for some fresh pain in a couple weeks when that nerve gets fully operational.

Ice Ice baby.

Good luck

 

[caymin last]

Thanks for the advice about physical therapy, I intend to follow all instructions, and get back as much as possible.

 

[struhall]

Good luck with the recovery!!

I had a shoulder injury January 2013 and spent the next year in dealing with it, I didn't hurt or dislocate anything, just sore and couldn't lift my arm one morning. First was physical therapy, surgery in August, then more physical therapy until December. Mine was Labrum, Bursa and arthritis (28 when it happened) and everything was messed up except the actual "rotator cuff." They repaired everything and did some shaving on my collar bone.

When I had the surgery the nerve block never took and I was in pain from the time I woke up. They warned my wife I was angry when I was in recovery and apparently when they asked if I needed a drink I said "I want a f**king whiskey and coke."

Best advice I can give is to do the physical therapy and that basketball shorts and tank tops are your friends. I still have pain but nothing bad, just a slight reminder every now and again.

 

[Dostradamas]

Nice pic.

Oh those are wee little entry wounds.

I have a 6" scar inline with my humerus where he popped it out, cut the ball off and drove about an 8" Titanium spike into it.

You should heal fast compared to my chop job.


That's what I have in there.

Keep strong!

Didn't you just love the sharpie confirming "yes" on which arm to cut?

 

[caymin last]

Nice pic.

Oh those are wee little entry wounds.

I have a 6" scar inline with my humerus where he popped it out, cut the ball off and drove about an 8" Titanium spike into it.

You should heal fast compared to my chop job.


That's what I have in there.

Keep strong!

Didn't you just love the sharpie confirming "yes" on which arm to cut?

OMG! that looks like it must have hurt a lot!
Is your shoulder healed up now, did you regain full function and range of motion? It is amazing what modern medicine and new technology can do. In comparison I just had a little boo boo!
I have to go for a check-up and have the stiches removed on Friday, the doc told me he will explain what he found and the repairs he did. So far my only problem is getting in a comfortable position so I can sleep, only had about three hours max each time, stopped taking pain meds on the third day after surgery, I'd rather handle some pain than the nausea and upset stomach from the meds. Every day it seems to get a little better.
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.

 

[badhoopty]

Re: Shoulder Injury, pic after surgery!

i did something back in late march that originally was a tender pain right above my elbow, and the pain would creep up to my shoulder and back. i figured i pulled a muscle or had an inflamed whatever. but since then its isolated itself in my shoulder and it feels a tad gritty... doing things like putting my arm through a jacket or pulling the seat belt are much much painful. lifting heavy things above my head creates a sharp pain.

ive been putting off going to get it checked out... meh.

 

[Dostradamas]

Is your shoulder healed up now, did you regain full function and range of motion?

I had the replacement in 05' so yeah its healed and MUCH better than it was when dislocated for those 3 years.

More range of motion, when dislocated it would stop in certain directions and randomly hurt like FAWK (always grinding and aching but you get used to that.)

I have a week left wing, no overhead strength or stamina but everyday movement is fine.

I feel I have normal function mostly. I just have to be very aware of what I am doing with it.

So far my only problem is getting in a comfortable position so I can sleep, only had about three hours max each time,

Sleeping is a bitch!
That was the worst part for me. It added to an already poor sleep pattern and headed into chronic insomnia for a while.
It gets better.
You will get more used to it and comfort will come back.

Once you start working it and those pain meds are flushed out you will start getting that "it hurts, good" kind of feelings.
Like when you know your building kinda sore.

stopped taking pain meds on the third day after surgery, I'd rather handle some pain than the nausea and upset stomach from the meds. Every day it seems to get a little better.
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.

Good to hear!
Keep chugging.

One thing my doc told me about that helped relax and relieve the joint was this.

Lean forward over a desk or table resting with your good hand on the table allowing your bad arm to hang straight down like a pendulum.
Let the hanging arm relax completely, then start swinging your hand in tiny little circles.
You only use enough shoulder strength to gently get the arm kinda swinging around. Let the momentum do most of the work, and only use enough shoulder strength to keep it going.
Then just let it hang.

That and shitloads of hot showers got me through my rehab and now I just have regular stretching .

For 3 years I could not reach my left above my head, now I can touch the ceiling, the first time you do it will feel great.

Keep strong!

 

[Dostradamas]

Re: Shoulder Injury, pic after surgery!

i did something back in late march that originally was a tender pain right above my elbow, and the pain would creep up to my shoulder and back. i figured i pulled a muscle or had an inflamed whatever. but since then its isolated itself in my shoulder and it feels a tad gritty... doing things like putting my arm through a jacket or pulling the seat belt are much much painful. lifting heavy things above my head creates a sharp pain.

ive been putting off going to get it checked out... meh.

3 years of misdiagnosis allowed my joint to deteriorate to the point of replacement.

Clocks ticking if it is grinding.