Shoulder Injuries?

[BT]

Originally Posted by steveooo

Hobie

LOL steveooo...I said that wasn't an option....even though I am eyeing the PA. But since fully loaded that thing weighs almost 140lbs, I am still gonna need some strength before I pick up one of those. And I just looked on Hobie's website. It is listed under boats, and not kayaks?

[steveooo]

Originally Posted by BT

LOL steveooo...I said that wasn't an option....even though I am eyeing the PA. But since fully loaded that thing weighs almost 140lbs, I am still gonna need some strength before I pick up one of those. And I just looked on Hobie's website. It is listed under boats, and not kayaks?

I know, I know. Just testing the water A shoulder injury is what originally got me into a Hobie over 5 years ago. I still have a very limited range of motion in my shoulder, which is most likely due to scar tissue from me being stupid and not taking care of the original injury.

My major in college was Kinesiology/ Sports Medicine. We worked on alot of bum shoulders. I think there is a good mix of sound advice here. I think Charles was going in the direction that I would initially tell you to go. Best thing you can do is let the body try to repair the damage on its own initially. For shoulders, this usually means to immobilize it, which is a pain in the butt, but effective. You can buy a shoulder sling at walgreens for pretty cheap. I'd get one that supports the shoulder, as well as straps it to the body. You use your arm so much in the day, it's too easy to cheat with the ones that don't have the body strap. Even sleep with it, I'm sure you've already woken yourself up with shooting pain from moving your arm around a night? I know I do when I re-injure mine. Strap your arm up with your hand elevated higher than your elbow. For the first week, do ice only for about 20 min, 5X a day.

After the week of rest, light movement is good. Your body will tell you what is appropriate. Like Andy said, you can switch between heat and ice now, and start looking at some PT.

Also, like it already has been mentioned, if you do PT, it will only be as effective as you apply yourself to it. This is where the advice of someone qualified to evaluate your injury would be helpful. You don't want to download a generic shoulder PT program off the internet, because there will be some movements that wont be appropriate to do with certain types of injuries, and you could be doing more harm than good. If you have good insurance, go get it checked out. If not, a good rule of thumb is "If it hurts, Don't do it". No sense in re-injuring it slightly every day...

Geez, throw a little rain into the mix, and we all turn into doctors. I'm fishing this week- Rain be dammed!

[Jimmyz123]

Well stated Steve, Whatever you do we all wish you well and a quick recovery.

[fongman]

Originally Posted by steveooo

....Best thing you can do is let the body try to repair the damage on its own initially. For shoulders, this usually means to immobilize it, which is a pain in the butt, but effective. You can buy a shoulder sling at walgreens for pretty cheap. I'd get one that supports the shoulder, as well as straps it to the body. You use your arm so much in the day, it's too easy to cheat with the ones that don't have the body strap. Even sleep with it, I'm sure you've already woken yourself up with shooting pain from moving your arm around a night? I know I do when I re-injure mine. Strap your arm up with your hand elevated higher than your elbow. For the first week, do ice only for about 20 min, 5X a day.

After the week of rest, light movement is good. Your body will tell you what is appropriate. Like Andy said, you can switch between heat and ice now, and start looking at some PT....

Be careful if you decide to immobilize your shoulder. A few years back I had a skiing accident and had a slight tear of the labrum. I had previous experience with shoulder problems and PT, so I thought I would immobilize it and then do some of the exercises I used before. Unfortunately, it didn't take very long before I had a frozen shoulder.

I was covered by Sharp PPO and they were great. I got a referral to a Orthopedic surgeon, got an MRI, and was given a surgery date. I decided I didn't want to be cut, so they gave me a cortizone shot and I started PT therapy 3 times a week, plus at home while watching TV. It took 2 years to get full mobility back.

Brian, I know what you are going through with Kaiser. One of the guys I worked with was having shoulder problems at the same time as me, but he had Kaiser and the doctors wouldn't let him have an MRI until he had x number of cortizone shots. The treatment wasn't helping, but they still wouldn't do the MRI. Good luck with your injury......and with Kaiser!

[BT]

Well good news! I went to the docs yesterday expecting to get a referal, but Kaiser actually has specialists working with their doctor staff during the day. The doctor brought in a sports medicine specialist and he ran me through a rigor of tests (all movement, nothing fancy). He said since I didnt have any pain that he doesnt think there is any tears, just that I stretched out the superspanateous (sp?) and that it will just take a while to (6-8 weeks) to get back to normal. He didnt feel or see anything that would warrant an MRI at this point. As far as the weakness he is sending me off to a nueorlogist to see what is going on with the nerves. He said the superspanateous may have rolled out of place and is pinching a nerve causing me to loose grip strength.

He actually gave me an exercise called a beer can exercise. And yes its in the paperwork! WOOHOO! I told him I dont like canned beer and he said a bottle would be ok too. That and I should be getting massages! all in the paperwork! Had to show the wife. Told her I would start off with the 12 oz exerciese and work up to 16, then 22s.

[old_rookie]

Was there anything in there about sitting on the sofa on Sundays watching NFL? Or getting help loading/unloading the kayak?

[-scallywag-]

If you have dislocated you shoulder more than once in the past then you'll need surgery. If you're having dislocating problems I'd pay outta pocket for the MRI's. If they end up doing the surgeries then I'm sure they will eventually comp you for it, although every Ins. company I've had (anthem and Kaiser) have been complete scum and will do anything to get out of paying....really pretty sad. Just be diligent with the paperwork and jumping through their hoops, eventually they will have to pay or face a bad faith lawsuit.

Having had extensive shoulder surgeries in the past, and one recently I can safely say that the doc's don't know sh!t until they do the MRI...after a year or so of being past around my sports doctors telling me to "rest it" and getting shots I finally figured out that my PPO ins allowed me to get an MRI without a doctors request.

After bringing the MRI's to one of the better doc's, he said something about looking like Evel Knienevil's shoulder and I was under the knife with-in a month. My shoulder is much better than before....almost 100%.

FYI: the shoulder MRI cost to the Ins. company was under $600

[BT]

Originally Posted by old_rookie

Was there anything in there about sitting on the sofa on Sundays watching NFL? Or getting help loading/unloading the kayak?

LOL...the first clause was written into my prenuptuals with my season tickets.

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

If you have dislocated you shoulder more than once in the past then you'll need surgery. If you're having dislocating problems I'd pay outta pocket for the MRI's. If they end up doing the surgeries then I'm sure they will eventually comp you for it, although every Ins. company I've had (anthem and Kaiser) have been complete scum and will do anything to get out of paying....really pretty sad. Just be diligent with the paperwork and jumping through their hoops, eventually they will have to pay or face a bad faith lawsuit.

Having had extensive shoulder surgeries in the past, and one recently I can safely say that the doc's don't know sh!t until they do the MRI...after a year or so of being past around my sports doctors telling me to "rest it" and getting shots I finally figured out that my PPO ins allowed me to get an MRI without a doctors request.

After bringing the MRI's to one of the better doc's, he said something about looking like Evel Knienevil's shoulder and I was under the knife with-in a month. My shoulder is much better than before....almost 100%.

FYI: the shoulder MRI cost to the Ins. company was under $600

He did mention the MRI, but wants to do an EMG (nerve study) before since it is all weakness now and not pain. I actually went out last night on a buddies boat and pulled some hoops and it felt fine. It seems to be the fine motor skills of my hand that are problematic. I could pull the nets, but when I have to cut the zip ties at the end of the night to get my bait cages out, I had to use both hands. But I feel good today. Gonna get on my yak next week...I think that will be the real test.