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Bobby,
If it's really serious you'll hear before Friday from your doctor. I know when I went in for an MRI on my back I was told I'd hear from them on a Friday, got a call from my doctor within an hour and was off to see a neurosurgeon before the end of the day.

Just relax, drink a glass of grapefruit juice :p and wait, this would be a good time to talk to the wife about how you need a press or power hammer because of the strain on your shoulder/arm ;)
 
Take care of yourself. I am glad that you went and got an MRI before going the chiropractic route (I am not anti-chiropractor). However, there are some things that can't be seen with the x-rays that they do. I have a ruptured disc (didn't know it at the time) and went to the chiro to get relief from sciatica. After treatment the pain in one leg became pain and weakness in both legs and temporary loss of bladder control. I am scheduled for a fusion April 15th. Please be careful.

Stevo
 
The Dr. reviewed the results of my MRI today with me. Tendinopathy of the suprasinatus, undersurface tear of the anterior leading-edge involving approx. 50% of tendon thickness. There is an intra-substance tear of the posterior fibers. The acromioclavicular joint has degenerated and is flattened at the undersurface to the acromion on the sagittal sequence. Subacaromial/subdeltoid bursits. I asked for definition in laymans terms? Torn rotator cuff, tendons, and or ligaments. She contacted my human resources rep. at work to tell her I need to be seen by a neurosurgon. I called work to get the workmans comp. paper trail started.

I called the folks at Texarkana earlier this week and rescheduled my "Intro. to Bladesmithing" class from April to September.

Hope all others who replied to this thread are doing well.

Thanks

Bob
 
Curious as to the referral to a neurosurgeon. I guess they're concerned about a plexus injury because of the loss of sensation? I would guess an orthopedic surgical consult is in order to determine if repair is needed or if they'd like to pursue conservative treatment first. I'd probably expect a PT referral either way.

The partial tear and bursitis makes 100% sense to me with the symptoms you have. I've had a recurrent case of bursitis acting up on me the past few days, and it can hurt like a son-of-somethin. Add to that a partial tear, and movement can become very painful if not impossible.

A bursa is a fluid filled sack that helps seperate tissues and lets them move across each other. Most people have a bursa located under the deltoid muscle and the acromion. Other bursas can be located at the hip or under the shoulder blade. Bursitis can be treated conservatively in PT or the Physician may want to inject it. They can be lingering and bothersome, but I've had good success with bursal massage and alternating isometrics muscle contraction with and without steroid injection. The bad thing about the subacromial/subdeltoid bursa is that, because of its location, if it becomes inflammed, it can really cramp up the structures located in the shoulder. There isn't much room under the roof of the shoulder (acromion) with rotator cuff tendons passing through as well as the bursa. You'll definately want to get it happy again, so that the rotator cuff has the room it needs to heal up.

Your rotator cuff consists of four muscles that move and stabilize the arm on the shoulder blade. Three of these muscles bring the arm into external rotation (the wind-up of a pitch: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor) and one brings the arm into internal rotation (the actual pitch: subscapularis). From my experience, the supraspinatus is the most injured tendon. The meat of the muscle is located just above the spine of the shoulder blade (a ridge that runs across the shoulder blade form the inside lower corner to the top outside corner). Like the bursitis, the rotator cuff injury can be treated conservatively with modalities to decrease inflamation followed by progressive strengthening of the rotator cuff, or it may require a surgical approach. Your MD will make that recommendation to you. Either way, follow your MD's orders closely (so you don't mess up a repair or worsen the tear) and work hard with your PT.

All things considered, these are pretty common injuries and should rehab very well. I know that it sucks being down for a while, and the pain is nothing to sneeze at, but the good news is that this is usually nothing that should keep you out for too long. Thanks for the update, and I hope sincerely that you are feeling better. Keep us informed as to what the docs say.

--nathan
 
Supraspinatus tendon is an easy injury to get- most commonly a lift above what the muscle can bear. My anatomy prof called it the "Superman tear"- it's from lifting something beyond what you can do (like that steel plate pinning your leg), but you can do it precisely once.
 
You'll see it quite a bit with pitchers as well. They throw a pitch all out (subscap) and then the external rotators have to decelerate the arm after the ball is released. The supraspinatus is the weakest and most often to give of the three. The same thing with a fall on outstretched arm. On the other end, the teres minor is almost never injured. Supraspinatus is also responsible for the initial movement (around 10-15 degrees) of abduction which is moving your arm out from your side like a jumping jack. After that, the deltoid has mechanical advantage and takes over. The other major role is to stabilize the humerous on the glenoid fossa. It's been likened to a golf ball sitting on a tee. The rotator cuff keeps it all held together.

When you think about it, the only bony attachment for the shoulder complex is at the sternoclavicular joint (where the collar bone meets the sternum), and this joint only plays a role in biomechanics and is not load bearing. All force, effort, and weightbearing/loading is accomplished soley through muscle action. Pretty amazing when you consider the amount of weight some guys can get above their heads.

--nathan
 
Bobby,

Knowing what it is takes a lot of the fear out of it. After the surgery, don't over do it, as we guys sometimes do. Faithfully follow the exercise program from your physical therapist. When it's all oevr and done with, you'll be 99% back to where you were, which was talking the wife into that power hammer and or press. They sure do save the shoulders, especially when you make up the dies to form the basic bevels in.

Good luck with the surgery, speedy recovery, and hang in there. Get a good recliner set up, too. It's going to hurt way to much to try and lay down. Plan on sleeping in the recliner for a week to 10 days. Most activities are a little painful at first, but laying down in bed is just a killer to start with. After a week or so it will be no problem.

Gene
 
Gene is absolutely right. For what it's worth, I've rehabed bull riders with blown up shoulders as well as pitchers and everything in between. And if a cowboy can successfully get back on top of a 1500 pound pissed off bull with a repaired rope arm, you'll have no trouble swinging a hammer....after you rehab it up.

And if you play your cards right, maybe a little giant in the future :D. Or, even a brand spanking new anvil with lots and lots of rebound to decrease the effort to the rotator cuff in lifting the hammer.

--nathan
 
Best of luck on the healing and recovery. I know those are a lot of Latin/Greek words, but the news wasn't all that bad.

I vote for a small power hammer or press after full recovery.
Stacy
 
Sorry so long since last post. I have seen 3 specialists since my last post and all are painting a pretty rough picture. Spinal MRI shows damage to upper spine contributing possibly to my shoulder injury. Nerve specialist say's my nerve function in right deltoid, bicep, tricep, has been interupted (torn or severed). The orthopedic surgeon says he will have to operate; but can't garantee a good prognosis for the extensiveness of my damage. I have an appointment with orthopedic surgeon on Monday to talk about findings from specialist and up coming surgery.

I'll post again after appt. on Monday,

Thanks,

Bob
 
Sucks to hear that, Bob.

Best of luck to you in all your rehab. Didn't realize it was that extensive. We are all hard on our bodies. Time to do yours a favor and rest it up a bit; give it a chance to heal.

God bless you.

--nathan
 
In bed early and up with pain now. I do like the quiet time at night with the dogs laying beside me. This is also the most time in the last 25 years I've spent just working on my own physical and mental well being. It is very good for me to discuss these issues with others who have delt with pain as well. I'm going to try and cut down last years aparugus firns in the morning and in the afternoon its off to the mall to get cell-phones for the family.

God Bless You Too,

Bob
 
Prayers are with ya man.... take it easy and drop some hints to the doc that when he's around your wife and family mention terms like "power hammer, hydraulic press." :)
 
Hi i might be able to help with information i had surgery 7/07 i was able to sleep on my back with bags of ice on top & bottom wraped in a towel severe pain for 4 days The problem with shoulders is that the muscals & tendons are small & easey to reinjoury take it slow & don't over work it strech it several times a day .hope yours turn's out as good as mine has .Dave T
 
Had my follow-up exam with the Orthopedic Dr. today. He said the results of my EMG and spinal MRI must be looked at by a Neurosureon. He referred me to a local Dr; just have to wait for them to call and set up appt. with me. Lots of red-tape on the workmans comp side of things. I might end up exploreing the "power-hammer" idea, Stacy/Will! One very visible symptom of auxillary nerve damage is deterioration of the deltoid muscle; it appears as though I alreaady am experiencing this.

Update as soon as I hear anything new,

Thanks,

Bob
 
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