Damnit, My Arm Is KILLING Me!

[Bankruptor]

A couple of years ago I was active in weightlifting and had been going for well over 2 years when I injured my right shoulder on a bench press machine. I didn't seek formal medical care for a couple of reasons, but I spoke to several of my buddies who are doctors or PAs and got a couple of different tentative diagnoses, with the prevailing and best opinion being that I partially tore or detached a tendon or ligament, with a possible additional rotator cuff tear as well. All recommended an MRI, but the best doc in the bunch, a pediatrician from Duke that I've known for over 20 years, confided that if it were HIS shoulder he probably wouldn't risk surgery as the chances of getting screwed up by a surgeon are as great as getting an improvement, and to just live with it. I've done that for 2 years and it actually started feeling somewhat better until recently. The pain started acting up again a month or two ago and now it's spread into my elbow region, which I personally think is another unrelated carpaltunnel type injury. However it's in the same arm and corresponds with a flareup in the shoulder. I can barely straighten out my arm without feeling as if a lightning bolt fires up through the entire length of my arm. I talked a doc buddy of mine into a couple of bottles of vicodan to help with the pain in the evenings but on the last one he said no more until I get an XRay, an MRI and proper diagnosis. Bastard.

I don't suppose there's some kind of root or herb I can take to fix this, eh? :D

[epski]

Man, I wish. That's the problem with joints. Once the damage is done, it's hard to undo it without surgical intervention...

Let us know what you uncover.

[MsRuthieB]

Will a rub help? Like, deep tissue massage?

[Bankruptor]

Ruthie, I'm confident that your attentive touch would cure me in no time. You aren't allergic to Olbas oil are you? :smitten:

[MsRuthieB]

Not at all. :) I've never experienced that. Does it smell good?

[Bankruptor]

Not at all. :) I've never experienced that. Does it smell good?

It's a Swedish oil made primarily from eucalyptus (sp?) and other herbs that really penetrates and offers up quite a bit of relief. I got turned onto it by a masseuse in Pinehurst years ago, she gave me a helluva massage and then the rest of a BIG bottle that lasted a couple of years. Strong stuff . . . :)

[Tash]

It's a Swedish oil made primarily from eucalyptus (sp?) and other herbs that really penetrates and offers up quite a bit of relief. I got turned onto it by a masseuse in Pinehurst years ago, she gave me a helluva massage and then the rest of a BIG bottle that lasted a couple of years. Strong stuff . . . :)
Pinehurst N.C.-?

[Bankruptor]

Yes, you familiar? I just returned from there once again this past weekend. :)

[brownieB26]

I broke my shoulder and tore a few tendons about four years ago, and there's always a little soreness if I'm lifting my arm. I found that if I ice for about 20 min a day the pain goes down and stays away for a while, and it also flares up whenever we have odd weather (which in Chicago is an everyday occurence :D). Also, if you ice, itry it for about two weeks and then try heating pads, again twenty minutes a few times a day. You may have reinjured the muscles somehow and so this will help them heal faster.

I would go see a doctor though. If you need vicodan to stop the pain there may be something else wrong....

[MollyGoat]

I would talk to a chiropractor, too. If there are nerve problems (which often occur after such injuries) a good chiro could help a lot.

[bluegrrrl79]

I went to physical therapy for my arm, and it helped a lot! You gotta be careful though, the place I went before that one really hurt my arm even worse :( But I think if you can find a reputable place, it should help.

[Tash]

Yes, you familiar? I just returned from there once again this past weekend. :)
Less than a stones throw from good ol' Whispering Pines.. I played the Pinehurst golf course 2 years ago (I'm not a golfer by any stretch) and whooped some serious butt on two experienced golfers there. Just dumb luck I guess, but I do go there every couple of years to visit Sis, Mom, et. all.. Beautiful country it is.. Lots of retired folks near where she does interior design.. T.

[Bankruptor]

I'm not a golfer at all but I used to go to the Pinehurst Gun Club several times a year to compete in the trap tournaments, including the state championships, which were always held there. We used to stay at the Manor House which was a neat old hotel, and sometimes at the original Pinehurst Hotel as well. They tore down the gun club about 5 years ago to put in ANOTHER golf course, go figure. :rolleyes:

I was in Southern Pines last weekend for a bankruptcy seminar and wandered around at Pinehurst for a while. I like that area pretty well. :)

[Tash]

I'm not a golfer at all but I used to go to the Pinehurst Gun Club several times a year to compete in the trap tournaments, including the state championships, which were always held there. We used to stay at the Manor House which was a neat old hotel, and sometimes at the original Pinehurst Hotel as well. They tore down the gun club about 5 years ago to put in ANOTHER golf course, go figure. :rolleyes:

I was in Southern Pines last weekend for a bankruptcy seminar and wandered around at Pinehurst for a while. I like that area pretty well. :)

It's very nice.. The streets were somewhat confusing, as some you had to yield, some only left or right turns, and the elder drivers were a tad frightnening. My mom loves it, but come to think of it, she was always one of those scarry drivers..You know, speeds up to the end of the on ramp and then stops cold at the edge-?..Yeah.... :sweat: