So here is my delema or at least the most recent part of it.
I have been having shoulder problems for a few months. It has been diagnosed as bursitis but the most recent trip to the emergency room had the doctor there wondering if it is not more. He suggested that they need to do more to make sure its not a torn rotator cup (what ever this is). I have a regular primary care appointment on Monday and I should find out more then. In the mean time I have enough vicodin to make me irritable for a year. I am not caring for the drugs and can not afford to find a naturopath or to buy a suggested herbal remedy a friend suggested (I could find the plant growing locally with out much effort but I lack the skillset to prep it myself).
Again I have a new symptom of the shoulder pain now. It feels like someone is holding a candle flame to my shoulder and in several parts of my arm and hand. I am thinking its because of the spasming muscles in my shoulder further pinching nerves but the telephone triage nurse's computer says see a doctor soon because it might be a disk issue. (I also have a previous neck injury so the idea is not absurd; but...).
I am asking for prayers along the idea that this be only a minor problem and that I will not be seeing too much more of the hospital, even if I end up looking a bloody fool I would much prefer that over the other possibilities. I have enough other injuries already I don't need another one.
I have had trouble with lost feeling in my hand before and I am having that problem again.
I guess I just want you to pray that it turns out just to be in my head or something and that everything turns out alright after all. Oh yeah and pray the pain takes a major holiday.
Full Version: health
QUOTE (BR. Joseph @ Jul 24 2009, 02:22 PM) 
So here is my delema or at least the most recent part of it.
I have been having shoulder problems for a few months. It has been diagnosed as bursitis but the most recent trip to the emergency room had the doctor there wondering if it is not more. He suggested that they need to do more to make sure its not a torn rotator cup (what ever this is).
I have been having shoulder problems for a few months. It has been diagnosed as bursitis but the most recent trip to the emergency room had the doctor there wondering if it is not more. He suggested that they need to do more to make sure its not a torn rotator cup (what ever this is).
bursitis is caused when the bursae or small, fluid filled sacs that lubricate the area between the joints, tendons and muscles and and cushion the joins gets inflamed or swells. If you have this, you would have a stiff shoulder with a dull constant ache that hurts like heck when you move your shoulder in any way.
Click to view attachment
You get bursitis when you have a rotator cuff injury.
Click to view attachment
The rotator cuff is the group of four tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint.
You know when you have a rotator cuff injury when pain is over the top of the shoulder and arm or down the outside of the arm all the way to the elbow.
The other common symptom of a rotator cuff tear is weakness of the shoulder. Weakness causes difficulty lifting the arm up overhead or difficulty with activities such as reaching, getting dressed, or carrying objects.
There are many non-surgical methods of treating the rotator cuff tear.
1) Rest, but not immobilization.
seek the guidance of a qualified physiotherapist to assist you in developing a plan for rest/rehab.
2) Change the way you move your arm so that it hurts less. This allows time for the affected ligament to heal
3) anti-inflammatory tablets. these come with their own risks, and you should consult your primary care giver before starting this treatment
4) Using an ICE pack to cool the inflamed bursae and ligaments. Keep it as cool as you can handle for 15 minute intervals 4 times a day or when the pain increases. and
5) Cortisone injections in conjunction with physio. The cortisone helps remove the inflammation or bursitis so that you can exercise the ligaments and tendons that is the rotator cuff.
If the pain was related to your previous neck injury the pain would be a tingling type of pain that included pins and needles (numbness) that moved around the arm down to the wrist.
In case you are wondering, no, I am not a medical doctor, I have just suffered through 12 + years of pain from a failed spinal fusion after a fall from approx 15 feet (second story building). While climbing down a ladder after a satellite dish installation, a 30 mph gust of wind came around the building removing the ladder from its mounting point next to a down pipe. I landed in the upright position holding 30 lbs of test equipment worth half the value of my house at the time (20,000 $AU). Fearing for the equipment in the 1/2 second or so during the fall, I chose not to roll on impact. This decision caused me to sustain several impact fractures along my spine and crushed disks in the lumbar portion of my back. My life is livable because I take a fairly large amount of morphine each day. Just enough to drop the pain levels so that I can concentrate on my job as an IT consultant, but not enough to get a "buzz" or addictive habits. I have managed for the past 12 yrs to keep the doses very low in comparison to others in a similar state to my own.
Recently, since February this year, I had non-cardiac chest pains that have seen the need to raise the level of morph to an unhealthy dose so that I could function. On Thurdsay I saw a specialist who, diagnosed me with esophageal spasms, something I suggested to my three treating specialists at our local private hospital, but was dismissed because "what would a patient know". I went into surgery this morning(Friday) and came out without any of the chest pain I have had since February. For 4 yrs I worked as a research assistant for a plastic surgeon and over that time learned diagnostic technique, x-ray/C-T diagnosis and several other skills in the process of researching information for the surgeon that Hired me. This was before the internet so there was a lot of book reading I did.
The reason for the long history is to show, that an informed patient can sometimes learn more than a GP or specialist in a similar field to that of the pain. I saw a cardiologist because it was chest pain. Once the heart was ruled out I was dumped on the next guy who walked passed, a lung specialist. Once the lungs were ruled out, I was dumped on the next guy how walked by. At least he was thinking about becoming a gastroenteroligist so was slightly more interested. He, like most doctors I have seen over the years, thinks that the patient doesn't know squat. After a month of no results or lowering of chest pain, I hit the books and the net to find out what it might be. In two days of research i decided the options were esophageal spasm or loss of control on the esophageal sphincter causing acid reflux. Since the pain was in no way similar to heart burn (which I have had in the past after eating too fast) I ruled out the latter. I suggested this diagnosis to two specialists and was talked down to. The specialist I saw on Thursday diagnosed the esophageal spasm after 10 minutes of history Q&A
Take charge, do the research and don't be led by the specialist/GP. It's a numbers game for them 90% will fall within a certain area, so they treat for that first. When that fails some research the issue, others pass you on.
I am praying for you my brother, don't loose hope.
DrDoctor AKA Rob
Peace and love.
QUOTE (DrDoctor @ Jul 24 2009, 09:51 AM)
bursitis is caused when the bursae or small, fluid filled sacs that lubricate the area between the joints, tendons and muscles and and cushion the joins gets inflamed or swells. If you have this, you would have a stiff shoulder with a dull constant ache that hurts like heck when you move your shoulder in any way.
Click to view attachment
You get bursitis when you have a rotator cuff injury.
Click to view attachment
The rotator cuff is the group of four tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint.
You know when you have a rotator cuff injury when pain is over the top of the shoulder and arm or down the outside of the arm all the way to the elbow.
The other common symptom of a rotator cuff tear is weakness of the shoulder. Weakness causes difficulty lifting the arm up overhead or difficulty with activities such as reaching, getting dressed, or carrying objects.
There are many non-surgical methods of treating the rotator cuff tear.
1) Rest, but not immobilization.
seek the guidance of a qualified physiotherapist to assist you in developing a plan for rest/rehab.
2) Change the way you move your arm so that it hurts less. This allows time for the affected ligament to heal
3) anti-inflammatory tablets. these come with their own risks, and you should consult your primary care giver before starting this treatment
4) Using an ICE pack to cool the inflamed bursae and ligaments. Keep it as cool as you can handle for 15 minute intervals 4 times a day or when the pain increases. and
5) Cortisone injections in conjunction with physio. The cortisone helps remove the inflammation or bursitis so that you can exercise the ligaments and tendons that is the rotator cuff.
If the pain was related to your previous neck injury the pain would be a tingling type of pain that included pins and needles (numbness) that moved around the arm down to the wrist.
In case you are wondering, no, I am not a medical doctor, I have just suffered through 12 + years of pain from a failed spinal fusion after a fall from approx 15 feet (second story building). While climbing down a ladder after a satellite dish installation, a 30 mph gust of wind came around the building removing the ladder from its mounting point next to a down pipe. I landed in the upright position holding 30 lbs of test equipment worth half the value of my house at the time (20,000 $AU). Fearing for the equipment in the 1/2 second or so during the fall, I chose not to roll on impact. This decision caused me to sustain several impact fractures along my spine and crushed disks in the lumbar portion of my back. My life is livable because I take a fairly large amount of morphine each day. Just enough to drop the pain levels so that I can concentrate on my job as an IT consultant, but not enough to get a "buzz" or addictive habits. I have managed for the past 12 yrs to keep the doses very low in comparison to others in a similar state to my own.
Recently, since February this year, I had non-cardiac chest pains that have seen the need to raise the level of morph to an unhealthy dose so that I could function. On Thurdsay I saw a specialist who, diagnosed me with esophageal spasms, something I suggested to my three treating specialists at our local private hospital, but was dismissed because "what would a patient know". I went into surgery this morning(Friday) and came out without any of the chest pain I have had since February. For 4 yrs I worked as a research assistant for a plastic surgeon and over that time learned diagnostic technique, x-ray/C-T diagnosis and several other skills in the process of researching information for the surgeon that Hired me. This was before the internet so there was a lot of book reading I did.
The reason for the long history is to show, that an informed patient can sometimes learn more than a GP or specialist in a similar field to that of the pain. I saw a cardiologist because it was chest pain. Once the heart was ruled out I was dumped on the next guy who walked passed, a lung specialist. Once the lungs were ruled out, I was dumped on the next guy how walked by. At least he was thinking about becoming a gastroenteroligist so was slightly more interested. He, like most doctors I have seen over the years, thinks that the patient doesn't know squat. After a month of no results or lowering of chest pain, I hit the books and the net to find out what it might be. In two days of research i decided the options were esophageal spasm or loss of control on the esophageal sphincter causing acid reflux. Since the pain was in no way similar to heart burn (which I have had in the past after eating too fast) I ruled out the latter. I suggested this diagnosis to two specialists and was talked down to. The specialist I saw on Thursday diagnosed the esophageal spasm after 10 minutes of history Q&A
Take charge, do the research and don't be led by the specialist/GP. It's a numbers game for them 90% will fall within a certain area, so they treat for that first. When that fails some research the issue, others pass you on.
I am praying for you my brother, don't loose hope.
DrDoctor AKA Rob
Peace and love.
Click to view attachment
You get bursitis when you have a rotator cuff injury.
Click to view attachment
The rotator cuff is the group of four tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint.
You know when you have a rotator cuff injury when pain is over the top of the shoulder and arm or down the outside of the arm all the way to the elbow.
The other common symptom of a rotator cuff tear is weakness of the shoulder. Weakness causes difficulty lifting the arm up overhead or difficulty with activities such as reaching, getting dressed, or carrying objects.
There are many non-surgical methods of treating the rotator cuff tear.
1) Rest, but not immobilization.
seek the guidance of a qualified physiotherapist to assist you in developing a plan for rest/rehab.
2) Change the way you move your arm so that it hurts less. This allows time for the affected ligament to heal
3) anti-inflammatory tablets. these come with their own risks, and you should consult your primary care giver before starting this treatment
4) Using an ICE pack to cool the inflamed bursae and ligaments. Keep it as cool as you can handle for 15 minute intervals 4 times a day or when the pain increases. and
5) Cortisone injections in conjunction with physio. The cortisone helps remove the inflammation or bursitis so that you can exercise the ligaments and tendons that is the rotator cuff.
If the pain was related to your previous neck injury the pain would be a tingling type of pain that included pins and needles (numbness) that moved around the arm down to the wrist.
In case you are wondering, no, I am not a medical doctor, I have just suffered through 12 + years of pain from a failed spinal fusion after a fall from approx 15 feet (second story building). While climbing down a ladder after a satellite dish installation, a 30 mph gust of wind came around the building removing the ladder from its mounting point next to a down pipe. I landed in the upright position holding 30 lbs of test equipment worth half the value of my house at the time (20,000 $AU). Fearing for the equipment in the 1/2 second or so during the fall, I chose not to roll on impact. This decision caused me to sustain several impact fractures along my spine and crushed disks in the lumbar portion of my back. My life is livable because I take a fairly large amount of morphine each day. Just enough to drop the pain levels so that I can concentrate on my job as an IT consultant, but not enough to get a "buzz" or addictive habits. I have managed for the past 12 yrs to keep the doses very low in comparison to others in a similar state to my own.
Recently, since February this year, I had non-cardiac chest pains that have seen the need to raise the level of morph to an unhealthy dose so that I could function. On Thurdsay I saw a specialist who, diagnosed me with esophageal spasms, something I suggested to my three treating specialists at our local private hospital, but was dismissed because "what would a patient know". I went into surgery this morning(Friday) and came out without any of the chest pain I have had since February. For 4 yrs I worked as a research assistant for a plastic surgeon and over that time learned diagnostic technique, x-ray/C-T diagnosis and several other skills in the process of researching information for the surgeon that Hired me. This was before the internet so there was a lot of book reading I did.
The reason for the long history is to show, that an informed patient can sometimes learn more than a GP or specialist in a similar field to that of the pain. I saw a cardiologist because it was chest pain. Once the heart was ruled out I was dumped on the next guy who walked passed, a lung specialist. Once the lungs were ruled out, I was dumped on the next guy how walked by. At least he was thinking about becoming a gastroenteroligist so was slightly more interested. He, like most doctors I have seen over the years, thinks that the patient doesn't know squat. After a month of no results or lowering of chest pain, I hit the books and the net to find out what it might be. In two days of research i decided the options were esophageal spasm or loss of control on the esophageal sphincter causing acid reflux. Since the pain was in no way similar to heart burn (which I have had in the past after eating too fast) I ruled out the latter. I suggested this diagnosis to two specialists and was talked down to. The specialist I saw on Thursday diagnosed the esophageal spasm after 10 minutes of history Q&A
Take charge, do the research and don't be led by the specialist/GP. It's a numbers game for them 90% will fall within a certain area, so they treat for that first. When that fails some research the issue, others pass you on.
I am praying for you my brother, don't loose hope.
DrDoctor AKA Rob
Peace and love.
Dr. Doctor! You forgot one thing; "Does it hurt when you do that? Well, then don't do that!"
Peace and Love to you too!....To`na Wanagi
Dear Br Joseph,
I have prayed for your shoulder to to heal quickly so that you may continue God's work as He would will.
God's blessings,
Rev. Campbell.
I have prayed for your shoulder to to heal quickly so that you may continue God's work as He would will.
God's blessings,
Rev. Campbell.
I am almost willing to bet at this point that the odd possibility of 2 or more being injured is possible.
symptoms are rather D all of the above.
Though, the muscle spasms could be pinching the nerves that run down into the arm and that be the reason for the numbing the area of the previous neck injury has caused similar sensations. The neck though has an additional sensation of having my hand in a wool glove; this is more of a burning sensation accompanying the numbness.
The bursitis is most definite the torn rotator cuff possibly since that would help explain the numbness more too.
I am on vicodin 4 times a day and well it's making life miserable I am irritable and snappy and the stuff makes me itch in places one does not mention in public places. I have been on anti inflammatories for about 12 years give or take and they do very little for pain except as a preventative treatment for the inflammation. This is why I started looking into other treatments. I have to admit the sci fi stories of someone swapping bodies with someone with a head injury sound more appealing than they did when I was young enough to read them.
Monday should prove interesting since I am getting a new primary care person (would much prefer to say doctor but its another Nurse practicing)
I know something about medicine as well but there are times that practicing on ones self is more difficult than others. Perticularly when you get stuck trying to one handed.
symptoms are rather D all of the above.
Though, the muscle spasms could be pinching the nerves that run down into the arm and that be the reason for the numbing the area of the previous neck injury has caused similar sensations. The neck though has an additional sensation of having my hand in a wool glove; this is more of a burning sensation accompanying the numbness.
The bursitis is most definite the torn rotator cuff possibly since that would help explain the numbness more too.
I am on vicodin 4 times a day and well it's making life miserable I am irritable and snappy and the stuff makes me itch in places one does not mention in public places. I have been on anti inflammatories for about 12 years give or take and they do very little for pain except as a preventative treatment for the inflammation. This is why I started looking into other treatments. I have to admit the sci fi stories of someone swapping bodies with someone with a head injury sound more appealing than they did when I was young enough to read them.
Monday should prove interesting since I am getting a new primary care person (would much prefer to say doctor but its another Nurse practicing)
I know something about medicine as well but there are times that practicing on ones self is more difficult than others. Perticularly when you get stuck trying to one handed.
I relate to the itching issue.
I PM'd you a suggestion for your GP as after writing it I thought better of advertising specific drug interactions on a public access website.
Peace and love
I PM'd you a suggestion for your GP as after writing it I thought better of advertising specific drug interactions on a public access website.
Peace and love
My mother had a rotator cuff injury a few years ago, and she could not lift her arm any higher than her shoulder. Reaching things any higher than chest level was out of the question. And it hurt a lot. Among other things, the doctor gave her an exercise he called "walking your fingers up the wall." She had to extend her arm until it touched a wall, then "walk" the first two fingers upward as high as she could, several times a day. It took about six months for her arm to feel better, and it was a good year before she could reach things over her head. Of course, she was 60+ years old at the time.
My boyfriend also had tremendous pain in his hip two or three months ago, and he was referred to a "Physical Medicine" specialist. They gave him an MRI of his hip right off the bat, and found osteoarthritis. Once that was found, however, the physical medicine doctor treated it much more aggressively than a GP probably would have, and he was much better in a few weeks.
www.medlineplus.gov is a really good source of information on just about anything medical. It starts off with general information, and provides links to reviewed websites.
My boyfriend also had tremendous pain in his hip two or three months ago, and he was referred to a "Physical Medicine" specialist. They gave him an MRI of his hip right off the bat, and found osteoarthritis. Once that was found, however, the physical medicine doctor treated it much more aggressively than a GP probably would have, and he was much better in a few weeks.
www.medlineplus.gov is a really good source of information on just about anything medical. It starts off with general information, and provides links to reviewed websites.
Well, heres my current news
Still need prayer.
But, I have been back to the ER as the Primary care clinician took me off the vicodin and said just to use naproxen to deal with the pain (I was 8 out of 10 for pain while on vicodin!) . She then told me that the pain was all how you perceived it... (sounds like its all in your head kid) So I already had an appointment with mental health scheduled (due to PTSD not insanity) and the shrink pretty much said if its in my head then there must be pain. She was in shock that I was requesting meds because I generally will not take them.
I went back to the ER Tuesday night (late so I wouldn't have to wait with the flu cases in the waiting room) and saw the doctor that had originally saw my shoulder. I got a shot of toradol which works much better than expected and got a new prescription for something other than naproxen (which lost its efficacy with me 3 years ago).
OK, so the shoulder still hurts and I am not doing as much as I would like to but... its not an 8 out of 10 doing nothing while on the pain killer. That ans well I got my choice of not being on another narcotic.
I would be happy but I am still waiting on the consult from the Orthopedic department to go further and find out exactly what is wrong with my shoulder. I have some very good ideas but they won't treat for it with out the consult. Oddly it makes sense to wait for the consult but this hospital is not known for making sense.
Still need prayer.
But, I have been back to the ER as the Primary care clinician took me off the vicodin and said just to use naproxen to deal with the pain (I was 8 out of 10 for pain while on vicodin!) . She then told me that the pain was all how you perceived it... (sounds like its all in your head kid) So I already had an appointment with mental health scheduled (due to PTSD not insanity) and the shrink pretty much said if its in my head then there must be pain. She was in shock that I was requesting meds because I generally will not take them.
I went back to the ER Tuesday night (late so I wouldn't have to wait with the flu cases in the waiting room) and saw the doctor that had originally saw my shoulder. I got a shot of toradol which works much better than expected and got a new prescription for something other than naproxen (which lost its efficacy with me 3 years ago).
OK, so the shoulder still hurts and I am not doing as much as I would like to but... its not an 8 out of 10 doing nothing while on the pain killer. That ans well I got my choice of not being on another narcotic.
I would be happy but I am still waiting on the consult from the Orthopedic department to go further and find out exactly what is wrong with my shoulder. I have some very good ideas but they won't treat for it with out the consult. Oddly it makes sense to wait for the consult but this hospital is not known for making sense.
I wish you good luck with conquering your should injury/pain. I know from experience that they are no fun, although I was never as severe as you are describing.
I pray for healing, a release of pain, love and laughter for you. May your path ease in the days that follow.
Jeff
I pray for healing, a release of pain, love and laughter for you. May your path ease in the days that follow.
Jeff
Final answer is that not only do I have bursitis, I also have a torn rotator cuff and my elbow is suffering from tennis elbow ... Funny I don't play tennis.
I suspect this may be because I tried running for the bus some time ago when it was raining and I didn't want to get soaked. I was using a cane in that hand at the time and may have strained it initially (I had to get it looked at before but it wasn't as bad) and more recent activities have put it over the limit. I am back to using my knee brace instead of the cane unless I am going a longer ways and use both because the knee gives out even with the brace after a while.
Otherwise the new medicine is working as well as the shot of cortisone in my should seems to help some as well.
Now if I could get the rest of the annoying injuries to stay quiet for a while I can sleep better. I still am waking up with night sweats from the pain between doses but then at least I am getting some sleep unlike before.
Thanks to all who have been praying for me.
I suspect this may be because I tried running for the bus some time ago when it was raining and I didn't want to get soaked. I was using a cane in that hand at the time and may have strained it initially (I had to get it looked at before but it wasn't as bad) and more recent activities have put it over the limit. I am back to using my knee brace instead of the cane unless I am going a longer ways and use both because the knee gives out even with the brace after a while.
Otherwise the new medicine is working as well as the shot of cortisone in my should seems to help some as well.
Now if I could get the rest of the annoying injuries to stay quiet for a while I can sleep better. I still am waking up with night sweats from the pain between doses but then at least I am getting some sleep unlike before.
Thanks to all who have been praying for me.
QUOTE (BR. Joseph @ Aug 18 2009, 03:38 PM)
Final answer is that not only do I have bursitis, I also have a torn rotator cuff and my elbow is suffering from tennis elbow ... Funny I don't play tennis.
I suspect this may be because I tried running for the bus some time ago when it was raining and I didn't want to get soaked. I was using a cane in that hand at the time and may have strained it initially (I had to get it looked at before but it wasn't as bad) and more recent activities have put it over the limit. I am back to using my knee brace instead of the cane unless I am going a longer ways and use both because the knee gives out even with the brace after a while.
Otherwise the new medicine is working as well as the shot of cortisone in my should seems to help some as well.
Now if I could get the rest of the annoying injuries to stay quiet for a while I can sleep better. I still am waking up with night sweats from the pain between doses but then at least I am getting some sleep unlike before.
Thanks to all who have been praying for me.
I suspect this may be because I tried running for the bus some time ago when it was raining and I didn't want to get soaked. I was using a cane in that hand at the time and may have strained it initially (I had to get it looked at before but it wasn't as bad) and more recent activities have put it over the limit. I am back to using my knee brace instead of the cane unless I am going a longer ways and use both because the knee gives out even with the brace after a while.
Otherwise the new medicine is working as well as the shot of cortisone in my should seems to help some as well.
Now if I could get the rest of the annoying injuries to stay quiet for a while I can sleep better. I still am waking up with night sweats from the pain between doses but then at least I am getting some sleep unlike before.
Thanks to all who have been praying for me.
While a less severe diagnosis would have been preferred, at least when what is being dealt with is known, treatment can proceed.
Prayers for your recovery and a dramatic lessening of the pain continue.
Rev Jeff
thanks
Praying and thinking of you Br Joesph.
Rev Jeff
Rev Jeff
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