Injured Shoulder

[Pinkboots]

I feel strange posting this but I'm running out of patience with the healing process.
First, a little background information. I've been doing massage work for close to three years now, but started a new job last year. I was doing about 25-30 hours of massage a week(mostly deep work) and had been trying to cut back my hours. Well, 3 months ago my right shoulder 'popped' during a massage and started hurting. I informed management and went home. Next day I went to the doctor, had x-rays that showed nothing and was sent back to work on limited activity. I continued going to the doctor three times a week for the next 6 weeks for physical therapy. Still, no progress. Finally, I got sent to another doctor who ordered an MRI. This showed that I had inflammation around the biceps tendon in my shoulder, so the dr. gave me some anti-inflammatory pills and put me off work for 2 weeks. When I went back there was still no improvement, so the dr. decided that I should have a steroid injection in my shoulder. Still, no improvement.
Today, I read that corticosteroid injections can cause permanent damage to the joint(Massage Therapy Journal).
Has anyone heard of this or had an injury that took a long time to heal?

 

[Allnighta]

Shoulder injuries are notoriously difficult to heal. My first question is are you getting massage, yourself? Secondly, have you tried chiropractic? The combo of massage and chiropractic have good results, and much quicker results, than anyone I have ever known with medication and/or PT.

Steroid shots can do permanant damage, but don't always. It's the repetative shots that are most likely to cause problems. I'd think you'll be fine with just one injection.

 

[pdooma]

Oh I think many of us who have been in the business for awhile have had an injury which has taken a while to heal, perhaps not a shoulder, but there's usually some "chronic trouble area" on every one of us I'd bet.
Not to mention having seen clients through injuries which have taken a long time to heal.
Sometimes it's because we feel a little better and try to go back to our old routine too soon. Often it's the old routine that got us into trouble in the first place.
I am sorry to hear that you've been in pain for so long. I hope that you're able to get some relief soon. And in the meantime, perhaps these old threads will help.

Shoulder pain:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7257

Popping shoulder:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2338

 

[Caitlyn]

Injured Shoulder

Has anyone heard of this or had an injury that took a long time to heal?

Oh yeah. I am currently with a bursitis in my left elbow that is a real booger. Since I use my elbows for practicially every massage, I have been having to use the right for everything. Oh, my!

I specifically recall when the incident occurred. Woke me up in my sleep from the pain and I had to ice it all night just to get some minimal relief. I think something bit me in the joint (maybe a sting of some sort), but maybe that's just how bursitis happens on some people.

Anyhow, it was swollen for a month, and I took all my anti-inflamms for the first three weeks and then tapered off. Had a real hard time sleeping for a few weeks.

Right now I am on the third month. *rolls my eyes*, but just last week it popped while I was in session and now it is getting better. Maybe there was an underlying cyst. Dunno, but I'll be happy when I am well. I give it 2 more months. Argh!

Also, I hate going to the doc, so no, I haven't been and don't plan too. Maybe that's why it's taking so long. *winks*

I feel your pain.

 

[thelibertines]

In addition to chiro, I'd be at the acupuncturist *yesterday* if this were me.

My chiropractor addresses inflammation with nutritional supplements, and Chinese herbs can help. There's a formula for upper body stuff called SPZM (like "spasm") that may be appropriate for you--an acupuncturist could tell you for sure. Sometimes I live on the stuff.

 

[cybear869]

Speaking of topicals and supplements, HEEL has a product called Traumeel that is a nice natural "remedy" (read "homeopathic").

You can get it from your chiro if you can't order it from the company.

 

[Shalene]

Traumeel is really great stuff! I was actually surprised at how well it worked.

 

[Lady P]

Injured Shoulder

my right shoulder 'popped' during a massage and started hurting.

This is very similar to what happened to me 6 yrs ago. I went to the doctor, they did xrays and told me that nothing was broken (no duh! I could have told them that), put my arm in a sling and told me not to use it. They then immediately told me that I could return to work on "light duty"

:shock:

I asked how could I massage with my arm in a sling and his answer was to just massage with my right arm.

t017

This was followed by: rest; rest & PT; rest, PT & injections; surgery; more PT; return to work; return of symptoms; more PT & injections; 2nd surgery (and being told my doctor to quit doing massage) and 6 months of PT; return to work on a strict part-time basis.

MRIs always showed a tear but they could never find it when they did surgery. My final "diagnosis" is chronic imflammation to the shoulder joint.

One of the things that really helps my shoulder is that I see a therapist who does myofascial unwinding (JFB) every other week. It is the only type of bodywork that my shoulder can tolerate. Any kind of NMT or deep tissue just irritates it even more.

So....I found ways to do massage with the least amount of irritation to my shoulder. I use ice and a tens unit at home to help with pain. I get an injection once a year (on average) and I get MFR to help keep my ROM.

In theory if I would quit doing massage then my shoulder would quit hurting. No thanks....I keep doing massage as long as I can keep the pain to a level that is tolerable and I can keep my ROM.

Give yourself lots of time to heal. Your shoulder didn't get in to this predicament over night....it took years to develop.

Angie