In August, I noticed my left shoulder hurting more, but thought it was arthritis, though it felt a bit different. By Sept. I realized it was something else, since it was getting so stiff & painful, I could hardly move it. Everyday activities became incredibly difficult; dressing, brushing my hair, shampooing, even fastening the seat belt in the car, all caused severe pain when I could even get my arm to work. When I went to the dr., she diagnosed it as rotator cuff syndrome and recommended physical therapy, which I began in Nov. and have been doing twice a week since.It seems like more people than you realize have had PT at some point in their lives, for a variety of reasons. I'd never had it, so it was a learning experience.
One of the most impressive things is how versatile everything is. The PT room is full of all sorts of equipment, but they have ways of modifying the exercises so you can get the same effect at home using ordinary things such as a jump rope, a towel, an umbrella, etc.They do supply the stretchy banners, which look like bright colored crepe paper, but works like a giant rubber band, which the patient knots & lodges in a closed door to pull on. Each time I go, they give me a xerox of the new exercises I've learned, so I can do them at home. It's takes about a half hour to go through them all. Then I put a bag of frozen veggies on my shoulder to reduce swelling.
Besides the exercises, the sessions also consist in two things that can't be replicated. The therapist massages & stretches my shoulder muscles until I think she will twist it off. Then they attach electrodes that sends signals to the muscles which is supposed to relax them. I call the electrodes "the creepy-crawlies", because it feels like something is crawling over my skin, which is alternated with the feeling of mice dancing and someone poking me with a pencil. These sensations rotate during the 20 minutes I spend attached to the electrodes. It takes a few sessions to get used to the sensations, which are gradually increased over time. The whole process is very low tech in this age of million dollar machines. The idea that change can be effected by pulling & stretching a part of a person's body repeatedly is very organic and old-fashioned, but in the best sense of the word. Though it is weird to have a stranger manhandling one's body like that, but maybe that's just me. lol
Apparently all of this is helping, since they took measurements after I'd been attending for about a month & said things had improved either 20 degrees or 20%, I don't recall which. But I'm pleased with any improvement. Monday will be my last session for the year, but they will be consulting the dr. to see if she will prescribe more or try something else, such as corisone shots, because not only do I have the rotator cuff syndrome, but there's some joint freeze as well. Doesn't that sound like I'm a half melted snowman?
Comments (7)
I'm glad that the PT is helping and interesting. Are you lfet handed?
I'm glad it's working for you.
I hated PT!
One of my pool buddies had a frozen shoulder years ago. She said it was no fun when the doctor pulled on it and told her she should not have stopped using it. How many of us learned if something hurts to rest it?
Hope yours heals completely. I get bursitis in my shoulders and have used acupuncture for it.
I have osteoarthritis and have had bursitis from time-to-time, but never, thank God, the rotator-cuff thing (although my grandmother has had it in both shoulders. She could hardly steer the car before she would seek help. She'd make a turn and go over the curb of the OTHER side of the street!). Her PT therapist was such a sweet, sweet person. I hope you were as lucky! God willing, heal soon. Love you.
Hope you had a merry Christmas!
-Angel
P.S. - What an interestingly twisty-tree picture! Did you take it yourself? That's worth painting.
I am sorry to hear this Jackie . Sincerely .
We don' t realize how wonderful is the mechanism of our body . Only when it don' t work well . Fortunatly you have good mechanics ( PT and doctors )
I wish you a healthy New year 2009
Love
mIchel
Yes, Angel, I took the photo myself a few years ago in a vacant lot around the corner. Unfortunately, they have since chopped the tree down, which saddens me.
Isismoon, I'm right-handed thank goodness. I'd be in a real pickle if I was a lefty.
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