Life Time Update............

[disneydream06]

Why is it whenever I have something actually going on in my life I tend not to post about it? Hmm...

Last Saturday night/Sunday morning my left shoulder started hurt so bad, I almost went to the ER. I have a history of pain/issues with my shoulders, but mostly with the left one. Last weekend though was the first time in years that it hurt that much. Way back when I was told I had tendonitis in my shoulder. No tests or anything, just the every thing is tendonitis diagnosis they like to give out.
Anyway, I held off going to the ER, one because it seems silly to go there for a sore shoulder and two because of the cost, even with insurance.
So I called Family Medicine, where I have my regular doctor, right away Monday morning to try and see him or whomever was available. My doc was out of town, but I got an appointment to see somebody else that afternoon. He examined me and said it sounded like rotator cuff issues. He asked if I had an xray and I said I couldn't remember, but didn't think so. So he sent me off for one. I go back to see doc and he says it shows some arthritis in my shoulder joint and tendonitis of the rotator cuff tendons. He wanted me to get cortisone shots in the joint and the rotator, got that set up for Wednesday, and he took me off work through Friday.
Came in Wednesday and saw the doctor that was going to do the shots and he said from a quick exam that he didn't think the shot in the joint was going to really do anything, so he just gave me a couple of shots in the rotator cuff area. The info they gave me said to do mild activities for the next 7-10 days. Well, work isn't really "mild activities", so I stopped back to see about getting my work release extended. To work on my station you have to be able to lift 35 pounds, not sure that's good for the shoulder/or if I could. So I got an appointment for Friday to see the doctor again, and after talking with him for awhile he took me off work through the 14th. Then I go back to see him and see how things are going.
So now it's Saturday, four days after the shot, and I don't see a whole lot of difference. Ugh... Still have discomfort/pain/and it's hard to have full range of motion with the shoulder.
Wish me luck with getting this cleared up by the 14th. :(

Comments

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

Oh man, sounds like the same damn thing I had several years ago (minus the arthritis)! I ran from one specialist to another for MONTHS, who just gave me cortisone shots and told me to rest it (which - no! Totally the wrong advice! I rested it and ended up with such a limited range of motion that I couldn't lift my arm more than 45° and couldn't put my hand behind my back anymore). You also don't want more than three or so cortisone shots, because those make the tendons porous and you risk tearing a tendon eventually. I went to another doctor after months of pain and he fixed me right up. I got physical therapy and learned exercises to do, and was put on bromelain which zapped the inflammation - no cortisone shots, and I didn't need pain killers just a week or two after starting on the bromelain. It was good as new a short time later.

*hugs*

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I really need to find some of that Bromelain. I think you recommended that for my heels too. :o
The doc that gave me the shot made out a PT prescription if I want to use it. I might have to look into that.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to hear you're in pain. Now, I better understand how you reacted to one of my posts ... Are repetitive stress injuries common in your line of work? Hopefully, rest will help a lot in easing the pain in the rotator cuff .... Wishing healing and better health for you, my friend!!!

HUGS!

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

Not sure it they are common or not.
I would say the old back injuries are more common. :o

[owlstorm_9]

Ouch...
Much Luck to you!!!

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[seaivy.livejournal.com]

Dear One
That is a real B**CH!!!
you are in my thoughts
send some good vibes
Blessings

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :)

[matrixmann]

Hm... I don't know about cortisone shots in body parts, actually the mean itself, there's nothing more effective to get an inflammation gone. It works like a hammer, but for the things they use it it's the only thing that seems to bring relief. The only thing you need to take deep care of is eating (because it stimulates the hunger reflex) and hot flushes.
Well, I don't know from the inside how these things heal, but maybe it's - it gets the inflammation gone, healing the body part itself, back to its normal shape, this is something the body must do on its own. And with such bigger issues, it can take up some time. It only happens slowly.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I am not completely sure how things work either, but I will just be happy if it starts to work soon. :)

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

I hope they manage to get it sorted out. We're getting old, Jon!

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Ain't that the truth. :o

I always liked Cher's response when asked what was good about being older. Her answer was There is nothing good about growing old. :p

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

that all sounds very painful. Now you be careful and don't hold anything heavier than a book and your laptop okay?

and rest!

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

The hardest part about using the laptop is the reaching forward to type. The rotator cuff really effects the range of motion of the whole shoulder. UGH...

[dinky77.livejournal.com]

Im sorry to hear about all that pain. I know exactly what you mean by light work at work. You have to be able to lift heavy things. My back kills me on a daily basis. Are you getting bored staying at home? I kinda wish i could have a leave and get sick pay or even short term disability. Just for a little bit. Then i might get bored

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I am not so much bored with being at home, as it's annoying to have time away from work and having to hurt to get it. :(
My station requires that you can lift 35 pounds in order to work there.

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

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[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

It happens to me too - lack of time sometimes.Hugs.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[britalone.livejournal.com]

Some years ago I had the same problem. They seem to put all problems like this under the heading of "Frozen Shoulder". I had many shots, only one worked and that didn't last long. In the end I had key hole surgery on my left shoulder and then weeks of physio until it eventually healed. I know exactly how painful it is and I sympathise and really hope it gets better soon.
(Strangely enough the same shoulder has been hurting for a couple of days..................)

Take care, try gentle exercise and get some more books.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

The doc that gave me the shots also gave me a prescription or whatever you want to call it for a physical therapy place. He says they are really good with shoulder problems. I am thinking about checking it out.

[howlin-wolf-66.livejournal.com]

Hope the shots kick in soon; take it easy! *hugs*

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :)

[sagittariusbun.livejournal.com]

I hope things get better my dear. I have arthritis in my ankles/feet, so I understand..

I'm going to pray for you. <3

Sam

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :)

[incertum-verum.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Well I hope the shots start making a difference and you get well soon! Hang in there, man.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I think it might actually be a "little" better today.

[fairy69.livejournal.com]

ok one - forget the question I asked in your last post about why you are not working (unless you see that first!) I had MAJOR rotator cuff problems with my right shoulder several years ago from intense modeling and spent an entire summer in physical therapy ($45 a week for 8 weeks...ha ha ha yeah) and it wasn't getting better. Finally I was given a cortisone shot and as painful as THAT was, the problem went away. Pissed off that I spent so much money and time in PT but grateful something fixed it. I know how painful it is. I will think of you and that you heal quickly. *hugs*

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.
Thankfully the shot didn't hurt at all other then being stuck with a needle. I am sure it would have been much worse if they had decided to do the shoulder joint one. Yikes...
I don't want to jinx things, but it might be ever so slightly better. Don't know if it's the shot finally kicking in, all the Ibuprofin I have been taking, or I am tolerating the pain more and using it more through the pain. lol..............

[bangdrum.livejournal.com]

Yikes, sorry you have to go through this! Hopefully the shots have some effect. *hugs*

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :)

[kaishin108.livejournal.com]

So you are still off work? I am sorry I missed this post. I think it is the catch of the draw with those cortisone shots. If they don't get them in 'exactly' the right place, they don't seem to work. I am sorry you are going thru this pain, ugh!

I hurt my shoulder in 2004 and they could never find anything wrong with it, nothing showed on the X-ray, but sometimes it hurts like a _____.
The thing that has helped it the most is deep massage.

Does it bother you to type?

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :)

It doesn't bother me too much to type.
It's better now. Earlier I kind of would lift that hand up to rest on my laptop. I can feel it a little pulling on the rotator cuff.

[peppersneeze.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear this. Okay, you can have the bismark

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you. :)

[ellierachael.livejournal.com]

I hope it's feeling much better soon

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I think the rotator is a lot better, but now that it feels better, I am wondering if they should have shot the shoulder joint too. Ugh........