Thread: ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES

I've had Bowen therapy exercises for right shoulder nerve issues and found it very helpful, so I would certainly recommend trying physio before rushing into surgery.

I'm starting to have a few issues in my left shoulder so the thread is of interest. Not sure if it's a rotator cuff or just some minor impingement on the tendon as I lift and rotate...maybe you lads can help.

If I keep my arm straight, with my palm facing down and lift it up in front of me until it's vertical, up above my head, I have to do it slowly once it gets to horizontal or it'll hurt somewhat. Once veritcal, if I put it back down I have to turn my palm around to face upwards as it comes down or the pain is acute and colourful language fills the room and parents have to cover the ears of their children.

Sound familiar?

In terms of treatments mentioned above, for anyone wondering about how effective cortisone is, I've had two corticosteroid injections in my right elbow for chronic tennis elbow and all it does is remove inflammation...'cortisone' is simply a supercharged anti-inflammatory. It's an effective relief from pain in that respect but it's not going to stop it from coming back if you keep doing the same things that caused the pain in the first place. Some people do get lucky but it's widely being disregarded as a treatment for damaged tendons and Australia simply seems to be a little slow on the uptake so doctors are still recommending it.

To fix my torn elbow tendon, I needed three courses of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections which are essentially your own blood platelets, rich in growth hormones, taken from one part of your body (a centrifuged blood sample separates them from the red stuff) and injected into the damaged tendon. Hurts like the fires of Hades but works. I also needed a lot of heat treatments and nitro-glycerin patches over a 6 month period as well as eccentric exercises. The theory is that large tendons don't receive much blood, unlike lips, fingers and so on, which means rebuilding and healing takes longer....so getting lots of juicy, rich blood to the area works better.

So here's to hoping that my shoulder pain is something I can heal naturally. What sort of exercises did they get you blokes to do for your shoulders or was it all about rest?

Getting old really, really sucks. I'm also enjoying a herniated disc in my lower back with a side order of two cracked ribs and the healing is taking forever when it used to be a couple of weeks.

Have you seen a psyiotherapist?

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Have you seen a psyiotherapist?

Not about my shoulder yet. Too busy with the herniated disc. One problem at a time...

mate, go get a proper scan before you let a physio loose on your shoulder.

the scan will cost you about what the physio session will.

after my operation I asked the surgeon to recommend a physio who wouldn't bugger up the excellent work he'd just done and now even after nearly ten years my left arm has more flexibility and reach than my right