When Western medicine cant help

Mark Williams

Mark Williams

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I have a shoulder injury that is supposedly unfixable , according to my doctor.

Has anyone had any experience with Eastern medicine that has yielded positive results? Negative responses welcome also.

I just cant accept that nothing can be done. I need to use my shoulder.
 
you could try acupunture or accupressure. I've never even tried it, but depending on what type of health plan you have, it might be paid for and worth a shot.
 
I beleive highly in eastern medicine. I've had good results with acupunture and acupressure, as well as Chiropractic and massage work. A positive mindset is key-Do not accept that youwill have to live with limited use or pain.
 
I imagine this will get moved to gadgets and gear. :p

Anyway, my sister has had good results with acupunctre (for knees), goes every week. Insurance covers part of it.

I've had good luck with massage therapy, but ins didn't cover it.
 
Hey Mark , I hear ya on the injuries... I have chronic back pain and most of the time neck pain as well , the only thing that helps me besides pain killers is hot showers , lots of gentle stretches and exercises. Never done the acupuncture thing but I did have a lovely Thai girl that used to come to my old work and give massages , two things she told are , I am too stressed I need to relax and I need to take deeper breaths so blood flows more to my hurt muscles.
Hope you feel better man.:)
 
Another vote for accupuncture. I don't know about accupressure but them needles really worked for me.
 
Acupuncture got me up and moving from severe chronic back pain. I went several times and was amazed at how well it worked. I'd still be going but I just can't afford it being on a fixed income/retired.
But if I ever get back in the shape I was in before I'll definitely go back!:thumbup:
 
Thanks everyone,

I spoke with a maker at BLADE this past Summer. He swears by it.

I'll do some checking around for available service. Maybe I can work out a trade for service.
 
The best thing to do is just go ask another doctor. You said "my doctor," so I assume that means the first/only doctor you go to. Someone in any profession could just be wrong. Doctors are no exception, especially if you are talking to a regular old family doctor instead of someone who specializes in joint injuries.

Be careful with non-mechanical fixes for mechanical injuries. If it works, great, but make sure you aren't alleviating some pain that should be telling you that you are damaging something every time you use your shoulder, especially if it's for work purposes, not just daily movement.

If the accupuncture helps, try it for a while and then drop it for a week or so and make sure your injury hasn't gotten worse while you were feeling good.
 
Carl64 said:
The best thing to do is just go ask another doctor. You said "my doctor," so I assume that means the first/only doctor you go to. Someone in any profession could just be wrong. Doctors are no exception, especially if you are talking to a regular old family doctor instead of someone who specializes in joint injuries.

Be careful with non-mechanical fixes for mechanical injuries. If it works, great, but make sure you aren't alleviating some pain that should be telling you that you are damaging something every time you use your shoulder, especially if it's for work purposes, not just daily movement.

If the accupuncture helps, try it for a while and then drop it for a week or so and make sure your injury hasn't gotten worse while you were feeling good.
Click to expand...

That's a very good point.

I havent completely given up on a fix. I can tell it's a muscle is torn loose from it's anchoring point. The muscles around it are getting stronger , and I can live with it. It just gets fatigued really easy in a particular motion of raising my arm.

It looks to me that it could be stapled or screwed in place.
 
My mother had horrble sciatica and when epidural injections didn't help, her doctor recommended accupuncture. The fellow he recommended (and uses himself) is a native of China and was trained in eastern medicine by his grandfather. He came here and got his DC. Anyway, she had pain from her lower back to her ankle. Dr. Chen said the pain would go away starting in the back and go down.

After several months (he said it would go quicker if she didn't smoke), she has just a bit of pain in her ankle. Dad said she would stay up nights crying with the pain and now, blessed sleep. :)

Just curious, what is your injury? Nerve damage, rotator cuff, labrum?

Take care,
Tony
 
I know all about sciatica. I've had one two discs ruptured on two seperate occasions.

All I know is that the injury is near my scapula and burns when fatigued. If I bend forward as to pick something up from ground level, the pain is extreme.
 
Go to an orthopaedic surgeon that specializes in shoulders/sports medicine. The can tell you if you have something that can be made better (notice i didn't say perfect or fix) surgery can always make thing worse also.

Somethings can be treated with rehab, some tears can be repaired. The shoulder is a joint with huge ROM and rehab potential with just physical therapy.

As for accupunture helping a tear? Doubtful unless they rame the needle through the defect and bridge it.:D


Paul
 
Mark Williams said:
I have a shoulder injury that is supposedly unfixable , according to my doctor.

Has anyone had any experience with Eastern medicine that has yielded positive results? Negative responses welcome also.

I just cant accept that nothing can be done. I need to use my shoulder.
Click to expand...



Keep plugging away.I could write a book on pain & spinal cord injuries but have never given up.


" Learn to live with it " infuriates me . It's so damn flippant & uncaring !

A truly dedicated ,caring doctor will suggest alternatives . You are very wise to seek other sources of help.
You have my sympathy & understanding.


Uncle Alan
 
pcnorton said:
Go to an orthopaedic surgeon that specializes in shoulders/sports medicine. The can tell you if you have something that can be made better (notice i didn't say perfect or fix) surgery can always make thing worse also.

Somethings can be treated with rehab, some tears can be repaired. The shoulder is a joint with huge ROM and rehab potential with just physical therapy.

As for accupunture helping a tear? Doubtful unless they rame the needle through the defect and bridge it.:D


Paul
Click to expand...

I second this post. I had a tear in my rotator cuff for years and kept putting off fixing it. When it got to where I couldn't hold my infant daughter, that was it. The first orthopedic surgeon was a "knee" guy who was an idjit (if this was W&C, I'd say something stronger.) I got a recommendation for a shoulder guy from my wife's doctor and he did an awesome job.

Best of luck to you sir.
Tony
 
I haven't seen much good from reputable sources about the efficacy of "eastern medicine", with the possible exception of accupuncture. If you're set on trying out someone, keep in mind that a "Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine" is not in any way a medical degree. I'd check out an orthopedic specialist first, but if you do go to some sort of "alternative" doctor, be absolutely honest with your regular doctor as to what "treatments" you're getting. Lots of herbs don't do anything, but some do cause reactions with legitimate medications, and some of the interactions can be dangerous.
 
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