Shoulder Injuries?

[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.

[-scallywag-]

.....HOBIE?......

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by BT

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



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.

This is Kaisers Standard M.O. My wife was having issues also in her shoulder with similar to what you are talking about and they scheduled her the same way to rule out Nerves. However the process is not fun, you are going to get shocked my friend. They hit you in various parts of your arm, hand, and shoulder area to see what's going on.

[maui jim]

The Older I get, The Better I was........

[StinkyMatt]

Your doctor does not work for you!

Seriously, they work on behalf of the insurance company to minimize the company's financial outlay. If you believe otherwise you may be in for a lot of BS.

About 3 years ago I became a "pain in the ass" patient, I always:

Ask that everything my doctor writes down is printed (they hate this one)
What is the idea for doctors writing anyways?

Ask for a copy of your charts every time you go in.

Ask for a couple of alternative medication choices. (even if you do not plan on using them)

After every single thing that is explained to you ask why ?

Insist on services, call (yes this takes lots of time) I pretty much spent 2-3 weeks getting approval from my HMO for an MRI.

Like a previous post says" Thay don't know squat before an MRI" they just have a good guess/ opinion.

Get you moneys worth!


Get well soon or learn to reel with your other hand.

[BT]

Originally Posted by Jimmyz123

This is Kaisers Standard M.O. My wife was having issues also in her shoulder with similar to what you are talking about and they scheduled her the same way to rule out Nerves. However the process is not fun, you are going to get shocked my friend. They hit you in various parts of your arm, hand, and shoulder area to see what's going on.

I have had an EMG before. I had carpal tunnel in both of my wrists and thats how they determine the extent of the nerve damage. It doesnt hurt really, its like getting electric stimulation after a physical therapy session. It warms up the area and causes your muscles to twitch. It is really nothing, but I also have a pretty decent pain tolerance level.

Originally Posted by StinkyMatt

Your doctor does not work for you!

Seriously, they work on behalf of the insurance company to minimize the company's financial outlay. If you believe otherwise you may be in for a lot of BS.

About 3 years ago I became a "pain in the ass" patient, I always:

Ask that everything my doctor writes down is printed (they hate this one)
What is the idea for doctors writing anyways?

Ask for a copy of your charts every time you go in.

Ask for a couple of alternative medication choices. (even if you do not plan on using them)

After every single thing that is explained to you ask why ?

Insist on services, call (yes this takes lots of time) I pretty much spent 2-3 weeks getting approval from my HMO for an MRI.

Like a previous post says" Thay don't know squat before an MRI" they just have a good guess/ opinion.

Get you moneys worth!


Get well soon or learn to reel with your other hand.

Kaiser does print out everything which is nice. And I know where you are coming from about insisting on services. The only reason I didnt push the MRI issue, is because the last time I had weakness in my hands it was the carpal tunnel and I had no pain. So I see where they are going, but if this shows nothing I am going to push the MRI.

[cowboybill]

Sorry to hear about your injury.

I had an old Dirt bike injury that I never got checked out, I just lived with it. Slowly, and because I am stubborn, I worked through it, although every now and the then I would get "the twinge"...

Then I got a Kayak, and started paddling...lots! Usually trying to keep up with Kevin aka "the kid" to try and get a bit of wisdom, or maybe even a left over fish or two!!

There have been days I have paddled for 12 hours, and could hardly move in the morning, but I can say my shoulder is back to 100%!!! In fact, although I can see huge advantages to the hobie peddle system, I love paddling for my shoulders!!

I hope for you your shoulder injury works out as well as mine did...

cowboybill