11 replies to this topic

[Clive]

Over the last six months I've been suffering with rotator cuff injury, I've have had physio which has helped, but I'm still struggling with pain. Can anyone suggest some therapy that will work, I'm currently doing internal and external rotations using a thero-band.

[davjed]

Stretching bands are a good way to maintain your strength and flexibility in your shoulders. There are all sorts of different rotations and planes you can use for the many muscles that make up a shoulder. BUT don't over load the tension and risk further injury. Let it rest a day in between. Also, an old broomstick is a good tool for controlled stretching of the joint itself. One hand on each end of the stick and push up, backward, forward, across and any other movement that might help. Be careful not to over do it here also.

[Clive]

Thanks for your response, I'll try it. But not before I've used my rotator cuff to relocate my Christmas dinner!

Merry Christmas!

[edlee]

Depends, Clive,, on what the actual cause is. Pain in that area can stem from other things than a tear,, including tendonitis, and bursitis. The latter can usually be helped quite a lot by cortisone injections. I get them anywhere from six months to a year apart, and they really help,,, till I need the next one.
ed

[Modeus]

my physio does acupuncture on both my shoulders both rotators are injured it really helps reduce the pain.
I've also had success with ultrasound therapy but it is less effective than the acupuncture.

[A trophy guy]

Strengthen the rotator cuff muscles with the exercises you are doing. The cuff is made up of four small muscles, with certain muscles getting chronically and repeatedly overused in pushing a wheelchair; while the others are relatively underused in comparison. Also, easy and light work on a UBE is tremendously helpful with rotator cuff problems. Be sure to use it both forward and backward cycling.

[Tetracyclone]

Daily stretching through the full rotation helps a lot. It also helps prevent injury. I lay on one side and rotate the arm around in both directions, allowing the hand to touch the floor almost all the way around. When it does not want to, very gently work it down by rotating the hand one way, then another. Never force it.

I have had both acupuncture and cortisone give stunning relief to chronic shoulder pain. After that stretching allowed my injuries to heal fully. Honestly, My right shoulder would be wrecked if i could not use my legs some.

[LeviM]

I also have a cuff tear and deal with the pain. I posted a while back and many suggested the cortisone shots but I've still been too chicken to try them. There is a way to get cortisone into the joint using ultrasound or electrical stim and a topical cortisone cream but it supposedly isn't as successful at getting the cortisone exactly where its needed. It has helped some though. Heat packs has helped me a lot too.

[greybeard]

 LeviM, on 24 February 2012 - 05:34 PM, said:

I also have a cuff tear and deal with the pain. I posted a while back and many suggested the cortisone shots but I've still been too chicken to try them. There is a way to get cortisone into the joint using ultrasound or electrical stim and a topical cortisone cream but it supposedly isn't as successful at getting the cortisone exactly where its needed. It has helped some though. Heat packs has helped me a lot too.

The injection isn't too bad because a local anaesthetic is usually mixed with the cortisone. You'll feel some pressure when the syringe is emptied and not too long after the joint will be comfortably numb. I'm waiting for another one and have no qualms about attending. Most importantly - I'm not brave.

[scruffydog]

Massage can also help with the recovery of rotator cuff injury. If you can find a massage therapist that is trained in injury treatment, or a basic PT that can help you find what muscle(s) are causing the pain. a good PT will also tell you what not to stretch, or the right way to weight train to build up muscle.

[knightrider]

I also have problems with my rotator cuff, 1st injury was 2 years ago, happened after a basketball session, i just got into my car to go home and i torn a tendon, not a great place for it to go on ya! Taken a while to heal and 6 months later i went skiing in Colorado, well i injured it again didn't i after a fall. After the trip and got home i had to go to hospital, I couldn't breathe not only did i do my shoulder in, i had also bruised my right lung in that fall and the pain in my shoulder must of masked the pain, and the plane ride home didn't help either because i had pneumonia. After physio and recovery, i went back to basketball but after every session my arm was dead, and would take up to a week for it to recover from the aches etc, i just thought it was because the shoulder was weak, so carried on training hoping it'll strengthen. I kept getting flair ups every time and would be in agony for weeks, i was missing too many training sessions that i thought it wasn't fair on the team so i quit, hoping to get it sorted so i booked in to see a shoulder specialist at my spinal unit, after months of waiting i got one and he sent me to have x-rays and gave me a cortisone injection and then referred me to a surgeon for next appointment, before i did i had an anthrogram mri, (where they inject you with a dye) When i went back for the results it showed i had a tear in the rotator cuff and another in the muscle plus impingement. He gave me another cortisone injection because the other one didn't have any effect, tbh neither did that one, it also had anaesthetic but i could still feel that horrible ache, did help the sharp pain though for a little while. A few months later i went back for a follow up appointment, still can't do anything strenuous or use my shoulder without paying for it, even transfers are giving it hell now, the tendon is catching all the time, popping etc, even just scratching my head makes it catch and let me know what pain feels like. The cortisone was a joke, if the scans show tears, it's not going to fix it is it, i know it'll help swelling but jeeez, Anyway he tells me about surgery options and would like to refer me to a different surgeon as he doesn't specialise in shoulder surgery.... Mr P****** u ass, why after 4 or 5 appointments do you tell me you only specialise in lower arm injuries and then refer me to someone who does. Not impressed and now after 3 months i'm still waiting, i've put on weight since that i'd love to lose but can't, i miss sports and general out n about stuff, I just want this damn thing operated on and hope for a decent/full recovery and then get on with living whilst i'm still young.

[greybeard]

 knightrider, on 03 March 2012 - 07:52 PM, said:

I just want this damn thing operated on and hope for a decent/full recovery and then get on with living whilst i'm still young.

Shoulder pain is a bitch. I always thought knees were bloody painful until I had shoulder surgery. Hope you get it sorted soon.