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How does one go about getting the

How does one go about getting the "finesse" of pitching back after shoulder surgery? I had a labral tear repair and can pitch the baseball okay. But I'm noticing some difficulties with pitch control and wondering how I can get the "wobble" out of my pitches. Nothing I've tried so far has helped. Many overhead throwing athletes find that pitch accuracy, speed, and endurance can be compromised by injury and/or recovery after reparative or restorative surgery for that injury. And as you already kno...

Are there some exercises I can do to go along with the injection treatment for my frozen shoulder?

I had one steroid injection for my frozen shoulder so far. There's been no change that I can see so far. Are there some exercises I can do to go along with the injection treatment? Before prescribing the best treatment for your shoulder, it's always important to know you have the correct diagnosis. For example, the terms frozen shoulder and adhesive capsulitis are often used interchangeably. The two terms describe the same painful, stiff condition of the shoulder no matter what causes it. A mor...

What can I do to stop the loud snapping sound and instant pain when I lift my arm up overhead?

Everytime I life my arm up overhead, I get a loud snapping sound and instant pain. It feels like it's coming from my shoulder blade. This is becoming a major problem in my life because I am a lacrosse player on a college scholarship. What can I do to stop this from happening? You may have a problem that involves the scapula (shoulder blade). Without a properly functioning scapula, smooth and coordinated motion and function of the arm is compromised. Problems affecting the scapula that can disrup...

Explain why my rotator cuff surgery never healed

Three years ago, I had a very severe rotator cuff tear repaired. When I went in for a check-up the surgeon did a follow-up X-ray and ultrasound of the shoulder. Found out the tendon never really healed but I'm still much better. How do you explain that? According to a recent study from Washington University in St. Louis, adults with very large tears of the rotator cuff (the four tendons/muscles surrounding the shoulder) can get pain relief and improved function after surgical repair -- even if ...

What kind of rehab should I expect after arthroscopic surgery?

If I have arthroscopic surgery to stabilize my chronically dislocating shoulder, what kind of rehab should I expect? The surgeon will use an all-arthroscopic "bony bank bridge" method of reconstruction. Surgeons from the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Colorado recently wrote about their experiences using of an all-arthroscopic Bony Bankart Bridge (BBB) surgical technique for chronic shoulder instability. It was a fairly small study with only 15 patients. This is a fairly uncommon injur...

Physiotherapy first for shoulder instability?

I have multidirectional shoulder instability from playing hockey as a kid. My surgeon has suggested I try some physiotherapy before thinking about surgery. Will this really help? Patients are often sent to physiotherapy for strengthening when the shoulder joint is unstable. But physiotherapists don't prescribe the same exercise program for everyone. The therapist uses clinical skill, expertise, experience, and evidence-based information to decide which mode (type) of exercise to use. The same de...

For my frozen shoulder, is it true that I don't need any special treatment?

The nurse practitioner I am seeing for a frozen shoulder told me it is a "self-limiting" problem and I don't need any special treatment. Just wait and the body will self-correct. Is this really true? Many adults (mostly women) between the ages of 40 and 60 years of age develop shoulder pain and stiffness called adhesive capsulitis. Sometimes this condition is referred to as "frozen shoulder." But, in fact, adhesive capsulitis and frozen shoulder are two separate problems.As the name suggests, ad...

Where do I go after acupuncture, physiotherapy, and massages for shoulder impingement syndrome?

I developed an impingement syndrome of my shoulder slowly over time. I've had acupuncture and physiotherapy and also massages and still have pain all the time. Where do I go from here? Pain can be a good thing. For one thing, it is protective. It is a normal response of the body when there is an injury. The body uses pain to protect itself while it is healing. But in time, the healing processes are completed and the pain goes away. That is the normal healing response.But in cases like yours, a p...

Why did a steroid injection for a painful rotator cuff problem not work?

I had a steroid injection for a painful rotator cuff shoulder problem. I was expecting relief from the pain fairly quickly but nothing happened. The surgeon wants to inject the shoulder again. If it didn't work the first time why do it again? Injection of a steroid (antiinflammatory) and a numbing agent into the subacromial bursa is a fairly common treatment for rotator cuff problems. An inflamed bursa (a fluid-filled sac between the muscle and bone) can cause pain when the arm is raised (forwa...

My hands go numb after playing more than one hour on the piano

I am a semi-professional pianist with a serious problem that could put the kibosh on my career. Anytime I play for more than an hour, my hands start to go numb. I've heard that it's possible to do some technical retraining but I don't know how to go about this. What do you recommend? As you well know, musicians often spend quite a bit of time in awkward positions. The pianist may get in the habit of slouching or hunching over the keyboard. Some piano music requires the pianist to stretche the fi...

My shoulder blade rubs against my ribs causing a grinding feeling. Is this a new problem or part of an ongoing shoulder problem

Last fall I suffered a shoulder injury that still plagues me. Now I'm starting to have problems with my shoulder blade. Whenever I raise my arm up overhead, the shoulder blade rubs against my ribs causing a grinding feeling. Is this a new problem or part of the ongoing shoulder problem? The scapula (more often referred to as your "wing bone" or shoulder blade) is a key reason why your shoulder and arm normally move and glide smoothly and easily. Not only does the scapula give the shoulder muscle...

Is a core training program important for a shoulder scapula problem

I went to an exercise physiologist for some help with a shoulder/scapula problem. She was adamant that I have to do a core training program as part of the rehab. Is this just a craze or is it really all that important? Core training (strengthening the muscles of the belly and trunk) has become quite popular but for good reason. The more we learn about the influence of the center stabilizing areas of the body, the more we realize how important core strength is to movement of the arms and legs.Th...

Injection for Adhesive Capsulitis (shoulder problem)

I am seeing a physiotherapist for my shoulder problem (adhesive capsulitis) and I'm doing pretty well. I was looking on the Internet and saw you can get the same injections to the shoulder as they say work for the knee. It's not a steroid injection but something else. You might be thinking of hyaluronic acid, a substance that is present in the fluid structure outside, around, and between cells. It is a thick substance that is a normal part of the matrix that makes up cartilage.. It's found in th...

Please provide information on SLAP injury of the shoulder for my daughter.

I'm looking for any information I can find for my 16-year-old daughter who has a SLAP injury of the shoulder from playing volleyball. There are many different ways to treat this problem. What do you recommend? SLAP stands for superior labral anterior posterior and refers to a tear of the labrum located around the rim of the acetabulum (shoulder socket). The labrum is a ring of fibrous cartilage around the shoulder socket. It helps support and hold the round head of the humerus (upper arm bone) i...

What causes rotator cuff tears?

I've been doing some research on the internet about rotator cuff tears. Both my husband and my sister were diagnosed with this as the cause of their shoulder pain when they didn't do anything to injure themselves. We are all in our 40s and healthy (but not athletic) so I'm just wondering what causes this to happen? Rotator cuff tears are actually very common -- perhaps one of the most common injuries to the shoulder. From what we know about this problem, there can be multiple factors that contri...

What is the typical treatment for a problem of shoulder instability?

Can you walk me through the typical treatment for a problem of shoulder instability? I don't know how it happened, but I ended up with one shoulder that just doesn't work normally. The physician who examined me called it unidirectional instability. I'm set up to start physiotherapy next week but what's the big picture look like for something like this? Shoulder instability can be very complex ranging from painful loss of motion to shoulder dislocation. Surgery to restore a pain free, stable join...

After rotator cuff tear surgery, would it really hurt anything to give a tiny bit of movement?

I had surgery for a rotator cuff tear two weeks ago. I'm wearing the abduction sling but I truly hate it. I've been given instructions by the surgeon but told not to do anything more than dangle and do circles with the arm while dangling. Would it really hurt anything to give it a tiny bit of movement? The nonhealing rate after rotator cuff repair is fairly high (20 to 90 per cent). This is the case despite all the improvements in the surgical technique and the less invasive aspect of arthrosco...

How many weeks should I wear a pillow splint before rotator cuff tear surgery?

I am getting ready to have surgery for a rotator cuff tear. The surgeon said I would be wearing a pillow splint under my arm for "four to six weeks." I'm just wondering how they know which it is: four, five, or six weeks? I'd like to be done with all this as quickly as possible. Here's the drill after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: you are in an abduction brace for four to six weeks. During that time, you may be given a series of passive exercises to complete. Passive exercise indicates that ...

Surgery or PT for shoulder impingement problem?

I am totally for this new approach to medicine demanding evidence that treatments prescribed really work. Right now I'm personally dealing with a shoulder impingement problem. I've been seeing a physiotherapist but wonder if I shouldn't just have the surgery and be done with it. What's the evidence for or against this idea? Many people suffer from subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Manual laborers are especially susceptible when they are engaged in repetitive motions overhead, handling heav...

For a separated shoulder, is there anything better than putting it in a sling and resting it?

Our granddaughter separated her shoulder playing volleyball. They put her in a sling and said to rest it. That's it. Seems like that's how this problem was treated 40 years ago in my day. Haven't they come up with anything new or better than that in all this time? The acromioclavicular (AC) joint has come back into sharp focus in recent days. Because of changes in surgical technology, new advances have been made in the surgical treatment of this problem. You mentioned this condition by its more ...

What's the latest I should know about surgery to stabilize my AC joint?

I am going to have surgery to stabilize my AC joint. It keeps dislocating and exercising it hasn't helped. What's the latest I should know about surgery for this problem? The acromioclavicular or AC joint is the connection between the scapula (shoulder blade) and the clavicle (collarbone). Another term used to describe AC joint injuries is shoulder separation. A shoulder separation is a fairly common injury, especially in certain sports. Most shoulder separations are actually injuries to the acr...

Bad arthritis of my AC joint from an old football injury, and the surgeon is going to lop off the end of the bone. Anything I should know?

Well, I'm ready to throw the towel in. I have bad arthritis of my AC joint from an old, old football injury. I've tried everything and the pain is unrelenting. I'm going to have the surgeon lop off the end of the bone. Anything I should know before I head in this direction? The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is located in the front of the shoulder where the acromion meets the clavicle (collar bone). The acromion is a curved piece of bone that comes from the back of the scapula (shoulder blade). It...

Have you ever heard of something called platelet-leukocyte gel?

Have you ever heard of something called platelet-leukocyte gel? I saw an article in a magazine that said it is used to speed up healing after surgery. I'm having a decompression procedure for shoulder impingement. Is it something I should ask the surgeon about? Platelet-leukocyte gel is a substance containing of a mixture of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), white blood cells (leukocytes), and thrombin (for blood clotting). It is taken from the patient's own blood and applied to the surgical site.It c...

Do you think it's true that volleyball players have more shoulder dislocations than anyone else?

Do you think it's true that volleyball players have more shoulder dislocations than anyone else? What about second or third dislocations? Two girls on our team are out with their first shoulder dislocations and we are all worried. Shoulder dislocation is a fairly common problem among many athletes. Athletes at greatest risk seem to be those involved in collision sports. Anyone of any age whether involved in sports or not who has ligamentous laxity and/or who works with the arms above chest level...

My shoulder popped out of the socket and went right back in. Will I be okay?

I injured my shoulder playing touch football. It popped out of the socket but went right back in. The orthopedic surgeon I saw thinks it will be okay but there is a risk or it popping out again. If it went back in okay, and I don't stress it, will it stay there? There are many possible reasons why a shoulder dislocation might occur more than once. We call this recurrent shoulder dislocations. One of the main reasons is if there's been damage to the stabilizing features of the shoulder. One of th...

How is it possible that I have a rotator cuff tear and don't remember injuring it?

The orthopedic surgeon who is treating me showed me the MRI results and I definitely have a tear in the rotator cuff. But I don't remember ever injuring this arm so how is that possible? The shoulder joint is a very complex anatomic structure. In the absence of injury, chronic overuse can be one potential cause of a rotator cuff tear. Sometimes the natural angle of the shoulder or perhaps a too-shallow shoulder socket predisposes a person to microtears or other nontraumatic damage. There could b...

What results should I expect from joint resurfacing for shoulder arthritis?

I'm thinking about having a procedure done for my shoulder arthritis called joint resurfacing. The surgeon tells me this has been around a good 30 years so it's not new. If that's true, what kind of results are people getting who have this operation done? Does it hold up? Would I end up with a shoulder replacement anyway and should just start there in the first place? Joint resurfacing has been around since the early 1980s. That gives us 30-years of data to examine in order to see how well this ...

Doesn't it usually take more than a soft fall to dislocate a senior's arm?

I was walking out to the car to take my 86-year-old father to a dental appointment when he went down. No warning at all. One minute he was up and going, the next he was down and out. He didn't fall hard, just kinda melted to the ground. Even so, he ended up with a shoulder dislocation and fracture. Doesn't it usually take more than that to dislocate the arm? Now I'm worried it will happen again. The type of injury you just described is called a low-energy trauma and accounts for a large number o...

Is it normal when a doctor pops a dislocated shoulder back into place and a senior can't seem to move it after 3 months?

I'm a little concerned about my 72-year-old mother. She fell at home and dislocated her shoulder. The emergency room doctor was able to pop it back in place but she still can't seem to move it normally and it's been three months. Is that normal for this age? What do you suggest? If your mother did not have a follow-up appointment with anyone to re-evaluate her after the closed reduction of her shoulder dislocation, now would be a good time for that. In fact, given your description of her inabili...

Where can I as an orthopedic surgeon find a report on postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis?

I am an orthopedic surgeon and thought you might be able to help me out. I saw a report on postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis somewhere recently but can't find it again. I seem to recall there were some specific recommendations for surgeons to help prevent this condition. I'd like to review those again. Can you help me out? You may be referring to a recently published report from surgeons at the well-known Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. The topic was postarthroscopic glen...

Why do I need more tests if everyone tells me I have a shoulder impingement problem?

Everyone I see tells me I have a shoulder impingement problem yet I keep having to go for more tests. First it was X-rays, now it's an MRI. If they know what's wrong with me, why do I need another expensive test? A very good question. Let's start with the type of problem you have. The term impingement tells us something is getting pinched. But with so many different soft tissues around the shoulder, exactly what is getting pinched can vary from one person to another.The most common shoulder imp...

Can I move on after completing pendulum exercises after rotator cuff surgery?

Two weeks ago, I had rotator cuff surgery. I'm doing the pendulum exercises the physiotherapist showed me but I think these are stupid. I'm really ready to start using the arm more. Is there any reason why I can't move on now? It's understandable that you want to progress your exercise program and resume more activity and motion. But we must caution you to follow your surgeon's and your physiotherapist's counsel.And here's why. There's evidence to show that with large tears (complete rupture), t...

Is rotator cuff operation better now than it was 10 years ago?

My sister had a rotator cuff repair 10 years ago and had a rough time of it. The tear reopened after surgery and she ended up having two more operations. Now I find myself in the same position of needing rotator cuff surgery. Is there any chance things are better now that another decade has passed -- maybe safer, better ways of doing the operation? I definitely don't want to go through what she has.Surgery for the shoulder has changed over the years. A wide incision and open surgery has given wa...

How soon will I be able to get back into action after rotator cuff surgery?

I just had rotator cuff surgery and start rehab in about a month to six weeks. I don't have a job that involves manual labor but I do enjoy a high level of sports activities on the weekends. How soon will I be able to get back into action with those activities? Your level of sports activity and how much demand you place on the shoulder will definitely be a guide to your rehab program. The first variable is how badly was the tendon injured -- full-tears take longer to rehab compared with partial ...

Is there an explanation why ultrasound would show a muscle tear that isn't torn?

I had an ultrasound picture of my rotator cuff that showed something weird. The muscle that was starting to show signs of wear and tear wasn't torn. It was the other (healthier looking) muscle next to it that went. Is there any explanation for this?

Treatment time for shoulder dislocation

I saw a physical therapist after dislocating my left shoulder. She put me through a complete program until I was ready to get back to work. From start to finish, I was back on the job in eight weeks. How does that compare to other people?

What does Physiotherapy for Snapping Scapular Syndrome Involve?

I confess I'm not much for exercise, so when I was diagnosed with snapping scapula syndrome, I skipped the surgeon's recommendation for physiotherapy and just took the antiinflammatory pills. But six weeks later and I'm still not any better really. Maybe if I knew what was involved with therapy, I might be more motivated to go. What can you tell me?

What causes pinching pain in the shoulder?

I just found out my shoulder pain is caused by something getting pinched in there. We're not sure just what's getting pinched but the MRIs should help clear up the anatomy of the problem. What's the cause of this condition? You know -- what brings it on?

How is laser used to treat should impingement problems?

Have you ever heard of using laser to treat a shoulder impingement problem? How does it work?

Are rotator cuff tears linked to age?

I was very active in sports during my high school and college years. I never hurt myself and always felt proud of that fact. But now it turns out I have a rotator cuff tear in both shoulders and didn't even know it. Could these have been there all this time or is this a new development?
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