What kinds of things lead to a successful rotator cuff repair?
I have heard horror stories regarding failed rotator cuff repairs. I am on the fence about going through with a repair. What kinds of things lead to a successful repair and what can I do to make sure, if I do go through with it, that mine works? The best outcomes of rotator cuff repairs come from a variety of factors. Personal factors, like the location and extent of the repair, as well as the patient’s age and overall health play a big role in success rates. Surgical technique choice ...
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...
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...
Physical Therapy first for shoulder instability?
I have multidirectional shoulder instability from playing hockey as a kid. My surgeon has suggested I try some Physical Therapy before thinking about surgery. Will this really help? Patients are often sent to Physical Therapy for strengthening when the shoulder joint is unstable. But Physical Therapists 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. Th...
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...
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 Physical Therapy 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 j...
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...
What is wrong with my shoulder
I had X-rays and a bunch of tests done to figure out what's wrong with my shoulder. I was told I have a shoulder impingement and need an MRI. The MRI wasn't "conclusive" so now I need "diagnostic arthroscopy." All this is adding up to a big medical bill. Am I just being led down the path of no return? Shoulder impingement syndrome can be difficult to diagnose. Sure the physician can tell the symptoms that characterize this problem: you have trouble lifting your arm up overhead easily. The same t...
Why did I end up with a frozen shoulder
How in the world did I end up with a frozen shoulder? I'm 36-years-old, very healthy, and athletic. But one day I woke up with a stiff shoulder and the rest is history. Three years later and I am still struggling to get back to 'normal.' Adhesive capsulitis, sometimes called a "frozen shoulder" still baffles physicians and scientists alike. No one knows what really causes it -- or how to treat it. Women, age over 40, and shoulder injuries (trauma) head the list of possible risk factors.But adult...
Is there a easy way to treat a frozen shoulder?
I have a frozen shoulder that just isn't getting better. I've heard they can put you to sleep and manipulate the joint. Is there some other easier way to get the motion back without that kind of trauma? Manipulation under anesthesia has the advantage of restoring shoulder motion without using an open incision. But it does have the disadvantage that it is tearing or rupturing the tight, scarred down joint capsule.If you haven't tried the conservative route of Physical Therapy, you might want to c...
What's the best way to recover from a frozen shoulder?
What's the best way to recover from a frozen shoulder? Many adults (mostly women) between the ages of 40 and 60 years of age develop a strange case of shoulder pain and stiffness called adhesive capsulitis. You may be more familiar with the term frozen shoulder to describe this condition.There isn't a one-best-treatment known for adhesive capsulitis. A review study was published on the topic. The authors are two orthopedic surgeons from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. They re...
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 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?