re: [Paddlewise] rotator cuff problems

	John Waddington, Robert Cline and others interested in shoulder injury
information:

My shoulder problems lingered for over a year through cortisone injections,
much physical therapy, rest, high doses of ibuprofen, etc.  When I finally
had MRI-supported diagnosis followed by orthoscopic, then open-shoulder
surgery, the surgeon found a much larger tendon tear than he had suspected.
 So here's some input.
	Check the following website for lots of good info, including some
exercise, injury prevention, anatomical information, pictures, etc.
http://www.orthop.washington.edu/Bone%20and%20Joint%20Sources/zzzzzzzz1_1.ht
ml	Actually you can probably get there after the ".edu" and then follow a
likely-looking path.

	Many orthopedic surgeons will diagnose and open up a torn rotator cuff
problem immediately, especially if you have good insurance!  I was wary of
this, got a second opinion, and worked with the second Doc I saw through a
year  of physical therapy till I was well-satisfied that the surgery was
absolutely necessary when I finally went under the knife.  I went through a
lot of pain along the way, but was always able to continue paddling until
the week prior to surgery.  However during that period my strenuously
active lifestyle was not conducive to the slow healing process necessary
for connective tissue, in this case the tendon of one of the four small
shoulder muscles making up the "rotator cuff" group.  Bodysurfing in tough
surf, catching myself during a fall on a stairway, various lifting efforts
all took their toll.
	For me the more important physical therapy was that started IMMEDIATELY
after the surgery.  The day after surgery, while I was still in the
hospital, the doc ordered me to the physical therapy suite and I began the
long process of ensuring recovery to full range of motion.  This took a lot
of persistence and commitment but paid off with a shoulder that is now
better than it had been for a long time.
	One other word, anyone with shoulder problems, be advised not to take more
than about 3 cortisone injections, as this drug leads to actual
deterioration of the connective tissue, although it is very effective at
immediately relieving swelling and the associated constriction and pain.
Ibuprofen achieves a lower level of this anti-inflammatory relief in a
different manner and with its own side-effect risks (micro-bleeding of the
stomach in some cases; regular or high-dosage use should be done only per
the directions of your physician).

	Good luck to all!
		John


At 08:59 PM 9/22/98 -0700, you wrote:
>> I was recently diagnosed with a rotator cuff problem and I can tell
>>you the exercises and stretches that I was given in physical therapy to do
>>if you'd like.  It's 7-days a week so you've got to make a commitment.
>>Bill Ridlon
>>Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network
>
>I am just getting back to active paddling after 10 years of shoulder
>problems and some major surgery to fix the problem.  I am sure there are
>many of us out here who would benefit from what exercises you do.
>
>John Waddington


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