Shoulder Injuries? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

BT · 12-18-2010, 02:08 PM

Looking for some help trying to get my shoulder back to normal.

Two weeks ago I was hooping and while pulling up a net I felt a nasty pull/tear/something in my right shoulder. By the end of the night, it felt like I was pulling up nets filled with concrete. Started the motrin, ice, heat, rest and that didnt work. Got some stronger anti inflammatory medication and that helped with the pain, but my right arm from the shoulder to my hand is weak. Unfortunately I have had this before in my left shoulder, and it was a torn labrum which I got surgery for and was down and out for 6 months. I dont want that, so I am seeing if anyone on here has had a similar experience and if they had any sort of alternative treatments that worked.

I am going to try and get some physical therapy, but I dont want to get the surgery, and I want to get back on my yak (and behind my drum kit) ASAP.

I have been told glucosimine (sp?), helps joints and I am going to try that.

Any other ideas? I am sure there are a decent amount of people on here that have had shoulder injuries due to paddling, and just looking for some help!

Thanks in advance!

Jimmyz123 · 12-18-2010, 02:35 PM

Well unfortunately it sounds like you tore something for sure, and it's possible that you tore Labrum and/or possibly the upper part of your bicep. I know that it is not a good sound to be told that you may need surgery, but unless you have it repaired correctly it's not going to get better on its own. Back in March I ruptured my Bicep tendon and had to have surgery. I am just about 9 months post op and I'm telling you right now it was the best thing I could ever have done for it. If you are a relatively young person you do not want to be living with that much loss of strength the rest of your life. My suggestion would be to have the surgery, but I would for sure discuss it with your doctor and see what options you have. If the Motrin and such is not helping then it's going to need more than just pills. I wish you the best on this, it's a frustrating journey, but worth it.

tattuna · 12-18-2010, 03:01 PM

I tore my rotator cuff at the gym a couple years ago. Supraspinatus torn from the humerus. Still isn't healed. MRI shows it's about 30% torn, but because of the way I have to hold my arm when I tattoo, it won't heal. I did physical therapy for a while, but it seemed to hurt more than it helped. Got the swine flu and was out for a week. After I got over the flu it felt like my shoulder was healed. Turns out rest is what I needed. To this day rest is the only cure for me and I can't spend as much time on the yak as I used to. The surgeon said if I could take 3 months off of work it will probably heal on it's own. I wish I could afford to do that!

I don't want to do the surgery so I'm spending more time on boats and lakes and using more machines than free weights at the gym these days.

My best guess is you'll probably have to get an MRI to see exactly what's going on and treat it accordingly. If an MRI is out of the question at least see a good sports doctor and they should be able to pin point the problem. Make sure it's a SPORTS doctor though, general physicians won't cut it for something like that. I never had any idea how much a shoulder injury sucks till it happened to me.

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

Iceman · 12-18-2010, 04:34 PM

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 · 12-18-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

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 · 12-18-2010, 07:35 PM

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 · 12-19-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

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!

Jimmyz123 · 12-18-2010, 08:34 PM

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 · 12-18-2010, 09:53 PM

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.

12-18-2010, 02:08 PM	#1
BT Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Carlos Posts: 202	Shoulder Injuries? Looking for some help trying to get my shoulder back to normal. Two weeks ago I was hooping and while pulling up a net I felt a nasty pull/tear/something in my right shoulder. By the end of the night, it felt like I was pulling up nets filled with concrete. Started the motrin, ice, heat, rest and that didnt work. Got some stronger anti inflammatory medication and that helped with the pain, but my right arm from the shoulder to my hand is weak. Unfortunately I have had this before in my left shoulder, and it was a torn labrum which I got surgery for and was down and out for 6 months. I dont want that, so I am seeing if anyone on here has had a similar experience and if they had any sort of alternative treatments that worked. I am going to try and get some physical therapy, but I dont want to get the surgery, and I want to get back on my yak (and behind my drum kit) ASAP. I have been told glucosimine (sp?), helps joints and I am going to try that. Any other ideas? I am sure there are a decent amount of people on here that have had shoulder injuries due to paddling, and just looking for some help! Thanks in advance! __________________ if your brain had fists, you could only hurt yourself!

12-18-2010, 03:01 PM	#3
tattuna Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pasadena Posts: 329	I tore my rotator cuff at the gym a couple years ago. Supraspinatus torn from the humerus. Still isn't healed. MRI shows it's about 30% torn, but because of the way I have to hold my arm when I tattoo, it won't heal. I did physical therapy for a while, but it seemed to hurt more than it helped. Got the swine flu and was out for a week. After I got over the flu it felt like my shoulder was healed. Turns out rest is what I needed. To this day rest is the only cure for me and I can't spend as much time on the yak as I used to. The surgeon said if I could take 3 months off of work it will probably heal on it's own. I wish I could afford to do that! I don't want to do the surgery so I'm spending more time on boats and lakes and using more machines than free weights at the gym these days. My best guess is you'll probably have to get an MRI to see exactly what's going on and treat it accordingly. If an MRI is out of the question at least see a good sports doctor and they should be able to pin point the problem. Make sure it's a SPORTS doctor though, general physicians won't cut it for something like that. I never had any idea how much a shoulder injury sucks till it happened to me. Good luck and keep us updated on your progress. __________________ IG @tattuna

12-18-2010, 04:34 PM	#4
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	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% __________________

12-18-2010, 02:35 PM	#2
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	Well unfortunately it sounds like you tore something for sure, and it's possible that you tore Labrum and/or possibly the upper part of your bicep. I know that it is not a good sound to be told that you may need surgery, but unless you have it repaired correctly it's not going to get better on its own. Back in March I ruptured my Bicep tendon and had to have surgery. I am just about 9 months post op and I'm telling you right now it was the best thing I could ever have done for it. If you are a relatively young person you do not want to be living with that much loss of strength the rest of your life. My suggestion would be to have the surgery, but I would for sure discuss it with your doctor and see what options you have. If the Motrin and such is not helping then it's going to need more than just pills. I wish you the best on this, it's a frustrating journey, but worth it.

12-18-2010, 07:35 PM	#6
MVC Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Costa Mesa Posts: 278	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.

12-18-2010, 08:34 PM	#8
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	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.

12-18-2010, 09:53 PM	#9
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	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.