Elektrishun
Ultra Member
Just added to my own to-do-list:
Time permitting, finish reading ChazzC's list.
Time permitting, finish reading ChazzC's list.
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Shop What's Happening in Chazz's Shop?
- Thread starter ChazzC
- Start date
Shop
Elektrishun
Ultra Member
Had my own shoulder issues, first the right, then the left. Went to the doctor and it was described as an "impingement" and chances are I would need surgery.
With my right arm out stretched in front of me I couldn't raise it above shoulder height. After several weeks of discomfort and no improvement I found a video online that claimed to help a condition such as mine. Millions of views and testimonies, blah, blah, blah... Decided to try it.
(1) Find something to grab onto with both hands outstretched as high as you can reach and lean forward (at first, had to lift my right arm with my left to get it into position). Hold for several minutes and repeat.
(2) Complete a series of exercises using resistance bands.
Got my shoulder back to "full range" and strength for a 54 year-old. Then I injured my left just before retirement. Suffered for several weeks thinking it was a different injury than my right. Eventually decided to try the same routine that worked for my right. Left side is roughly 90% back to "normal". I feel fortunate that I have avoided surgery.
There was an electrician co-worker who had both of his shoulders fail dramatically a few years apart and required surgery to repair both. Sidelined him for 6 months both times.
ChazzC
Ultra Member
No surgery was offered as an option, but seeing as how the ball half of the joint was completely broken off I didn’t see it as practical (the Surgeon was required to list all options; fortunately he didn’t include amputation).
I had a similar experience about 30 years ago. Raising my arms shoulder height felt like someone plunged a dagger into my shoulder socket. An athletic surgeon recommended using surgical tubing for resistance exercises similar to what you describe. One week later my shoulder was fine. It still acts up every so often even today. I exercise with the tubing and its gone a week later.
Like you, I had no bone loss. He said that my problem was a weak rotator cup.
ChazzC
Ultra Member
Almost 25 years ago I slipped on ice and went down spread-eagled. The next day it hurt to raise my right arm above my shoulder. When I went to my PCP he actually said, “Then don’t raise your arm!” I rested for a week and gave the rotator cuff muscles a chance to heal.
That's, funny! I've heard people tell of similar advice from their doctors. Makes sense sometimes. Your situation - the guy is just stupid....
When I read your rotator "cuff", I thought you were just confused but decided to look it up. You are correct! It actually is "Rotator Cuff"!
Apparently, my "Rotator Cup" is a common error because people like me confuse the joint with a ball and socket (cup). I stand corrected and I thank you for the learning opportunity!
ChazzC
Ultra Member
Actually, he just had an “unusual” sense of humor (droll, as I think our friends in the UK would say); some examples:
After I was broadsided in my S10 Blazer, ending upside down in a ditch with a cracked rib resulting in a slight deformation of the sternum I asked would that interfere with CPR if I ever had a heart attack: “No, you’ll probably end up like most people that get CPR from a non-medical professional - dead.”
After examining and identifying a rash he started leafing through a booklet; I asked if he was looking for a diagnosis and he replied, “No, I’m just trying to figure out which medication you’re damned insurance company will pay for.”
And the best one: when I showed up (after calling ahead) in a lot of pain, sweating and pale (finally diagnosed as a grain of sand kidney stone), BP around 200 he walks into the exam room and says, “You don’t look good.”
Before I had first hand knowledge, I thought the Rotator Cuff was some kind of sleeve around the shoulder joint; then I found out it was the terminology for the collection of muscles & tendons that holds the ball & socket together and makes everything move the way it should.
mmcmdl
Machinist/Toolmaker ( retired )
My right rotator cuff put me out for 8 months when at the Sunpapers , Doc said it looked like a grenade went off in my shoulder . Anyways , while off of work , I joined the H-M site out of shear boredom . Now , I have no time due to these sites and am still bored ! 😀
ChazzC
Ultra Member
Then get your butt up here and give me a hand putting 8 months worth of accumulated purchases away so I can start working on my list! I'll even treat you to the Chocolate World Ride.
mmcmdl
Machinist/Toolmaker ( retired )
LOL . The son and daughter have the yearly passes for Hershey Park . As far as the shoulder , I'm throwing horseshoes in a league now and thought they might give me a " Senior's Discount " on the 40 foot distance . NOT ! 🙄 My shoulder has never been what it once was . 🙁
ChazzC
Ultra Member
Not Again!?!?
Delayed this post until I had more info:
A little over 3 weeks ago I had what I thought was a pulled Deltoid in my left shoulder (yes, the one with the new joint) so I backed off on the exercises to rest the muscle; then last Friday I raised the arm in the shower, felt/heard a click and significant pain. Slowly & cautiously finished the shower, got my wife to help dry me and put on the sling (yes, just like in the Shop, I don’t throw anything out that I might need).
Saturday: spoke with the on-call Orthopaedic Resident, who agreed not an emergency, but urgent.
Monday: was lucky to get an appointment with my Surgeon, who told me I did all the right things, looked at the X-Rays, saw the joint was OK, figured it was a stress fracture and ordered a CT.
Tuesday: CT Scan: “Acute to subacute nondisplaced fracture of the base of the acromion process. No other complication of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.” Bottom line, Surgeon was right.
Friday: Surgeon again: showed me the CT Scan so I could see the crack (very interesting, I plan on getting a disc with all of my X-Rays & Scans when this is finally over), 4 - 6 weeks in the sling, then start back on self-guided PT. Also agreed with me that the original pain in the Deltoid was probably migratory since the Deltoid is anchored to the Acromion bone (see above).
At least I got some projects done 🙁 .
Delayed this post until I had more info:
A little over 3 weeks ago I had what I thought was a pulled Deltoid in my left shoulder (yes, the one with the new joint) so I backed off on the exercises to rest the muscle; then last Friday I raised the arm in the shower, felt/heard a click and significant pain. Slowly & cautiously finished the shower, got my wife to help dry me and put on the sling (yes, just like in the Shop, I don’t throw anything out that I might need).
Saturday: spoke with the on-call Orthopaedic Resident, who agreed not an emergency, but urgent.
Monday: was lucky to get an appointment with my Surgeon, who told me I did all the right things, looked at the X-Rays, saw the joint was OK, figured it was a stress fracture and ordered a CT.
Tuesday: CT Scan: “Acute to subacute nondisplaced fracture of the base of the acromion process. No other complication of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.” Bottom line, Surgeon was right.
Friday: Surgeon again: showed me the CT Scan so I could see the crack (very interesting, I plan on getting a disc with all of my X-Rays & Scans when this is finally over), 4 - 6 weeks in the sling, then start back on self-guided PT. Also agreed with me that the original pain in the Deltoid was probably migratory since the Deltoid is anchored to the Acromion bone (see above).
At least I got some projects done 🙁 .
Holy cow Charlie! I thought those operations precluded future crack damage.
Please do share the best images. I am curious.
Do what you know you need to do, but for the sake of the rest of the world, please figure out how to shower........
ChazzC
Ultra Member
InterWeb has published journal articles reporting that reverse joint replacements have anywhere 3% - 48% incidence of stress fractures. I can believe some percentage since the reverse procedure results in muscles acting differently and some ranges of motion not possible.
Probably be a couple of months, but I will.
Showering (and applying deodorant) isn’t an issue since I had limited range of motion for months before/after the original surgery: bend at the waist and let the arm hang naturally away from your body - plenty of access, try it (just don’t over balance and fall over!).
That isn't gunna help me Charlie. I tore my rotator cup so I don't do any of that. Raising my right arm over my head isn't happening and I don't bend at the waist or knee enough to reach anything much below my knees anymore. Plenty of strength with my arms below my shoulders though.
ChazzC
Ultra Member
The disappointing thing is that I was done with PT and everything, just gradual strength building doing things the Surgeon and Therapist said were OK. I asked about Bone Density testing and the Surgeon is hooking me up for that; I also asked him to be thinking about any exercises or activities I shouldn't be doing so we can discuss at my visit in late October.
If I can get back to where I was in early June: 95% full range of motion, moderate weights and generally feeling great I would be happy: I can get some young 60 year old to do the heavy lifting for me 🙂
I know you're not going to like hearing this, but they can fix that (at least the rotator cup part; if you're like I was four years ago, you can improve the other stuff, too: it was tough going for the first couple of weeks, but I shrank by 30% in 10 months).
This is Canada Charlie. We have free health care. That means I won't get a consultation for 2 years and treatment for 5 years. I'll be dead by then. I've learned to live with my shoulder as is. I just can't punch anybody taller than I am, or throw them over my shoulder after I do. Not that many of them to worry about. I'm ok, and WAAAAY better off than many guys my age.
Sorry to hear your back on the sidelines again especially after you were so diligent in your first recovery, I was looking forward to your new project posts, at least your typing fingers are working you can still add your thoughts and ideas and knowledge to the group. Wishing you a speedy recovery 😀
ChazzC
Ultra Member
Thanks; I do have two projects that I just need to do the write up and stuff photos in - should be able to get them posted next week.
Up until three weeks ago when this started I had posted some little things in my sub-forum on Hobby-Machinist:
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/last-week-in-chazs-shop.119136/
Since I can’t do anything in the Shop, I’ll work on getting these posts moved over here.
ChazzC
Ultra Member
I knew that there are long delays in the UK (unless you can afford private insurance), but all I had heard about Canada is that in order to get timely treatment you may have to travel to another Province at your own expense. I didn’t like having to be driven 40 minutes to get to another facility run by the major Medical Center that’s 10 minutes away (yes, I know we’re spoiled, but there are people in Pennsylvania that drive 2+ hours to get access to services I can literally walk to.