Shoulders, Virginity, and The Cute Doctor
Lost my virginity today.
It's true. But it's not what you think.
You see, up until 2 days ago I was a surgery virgin. Not counting the wisdom teeth I had pulled decades ago, which seems like it was in another incarnation.
As it turns out, though I've been blessed with good health, a strong constitution, and solid big-girl bones, I came into the world with the precursors of a curve of the bone on my acromion bone, capping the shoulder.
Now, in some circumstances, curvy can be good. But not in this one. It's actually more like a hook than a curve, and occurs during formation of the bone when fusing from its 3 starter bones to one.
What's The Problem?
Here's the problem.
Sometimes this fusion can take on creative dimensions, causing the hook or curve.
Then this curve of the bone shrinks the subacromial space and impinges on the supraspinatus muscle and its tendon friends in that fragile, complex shoulder joint. This causes compression, and over time, results in rips and tears.
Ever heard of rotator cuff injuries? Sure you have. This is one of the causes.
Flashing Back a Year
This shoulder situation brought itself to my attention over a year ago, when I started experiencing reduced range of motion and shoulder pain, and with the inflammation that ensued, frozen shoulder.
An MRI confirmed my doctor's suspicions. A top notch orthopedic surgeon (yeah, the cute one) and exemplary physical therapy have been very helpful, and an important precursor to getting my shoulder joint in the best condition profile for possible arthroscopic intervention to reshape the bone and relieve compression. I'm grateful for the option, especially after seeing what non-treatment can do. My Dad pretty much lost the use of a shoulder and arm in his later years due to rotator cuff issues.
Surgery Virgin
Still, to a surgery virgin such as myself, though full confidence in my medical team, in these days of Michael Jackson drips I've been somewhat edgy. Surgery on the day of the Summer Solstice was a good sign, and all went well. A with my dreamy doc in attendance, and my dear husband Greg fetching and hovering in all the best of ways post-op, how could I lose? On to recovery!
A Word To The Wise: Take Shoulder Pain Seriously
Frozen shoulder can actually be serious business and is an official diagnosis, not just a description of limited range of motion in the shoulder.
Rotator cuff injuries, including tears to the supraspinatus muscle and tendon tears, create OR can be the result of inflammation of the shoulder joint. In some cases, such as my own, this is simply due to the shape of the acromion, the bony protrusion on the shoulder blade.
This inflammation can take on a life of its own as the relatively fragile shoulder joint seeks to protect itself. Pain upon movement or even without it then becomes prevalent. Voila, frozen shoulder.
Specific manipulation of the joint capsule is extremely beneficial in this case – as I had in physical therapy with a very skilled therapist – as is avoidance of specific joint stresses while engaging in appropriate rest, flexibility training, and building strength balance in the shoulder. Often it is advisable NOT to raise elbows to side above shoulder level until some of the inflammation has subsided except in directed, passive stretching. Each case is different.
And repeated, overhead pressing movements can exacerbate and even stimulate inflammation and injury, whether your bones are "curvy" or not.
The point is, don't take the situation lightly, try to push through it, or think that just proper alignment will necessarily take care of a shoulder problem. Though we think we're too busy to take time to address these issues, in the long run, these things are important. When in a shoulder crisis, pay proper attention!
Have you ever had a shoulder injury? Share your experience in comments below!
© Lani Muelrath, M.A. 2010 All Rights Reserved
image: cubacool
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Comments on Shoulders, Virginity, and The Cute Doctor
Wow Lani, I had no idea. I always thought someone had to have some kind of sports injury to get a rotator cuff problem. Hope you are doing good!
Thanks for the great info.
JC
@Jacquie: Jacquie, yes, got quite an education on this one and glad to get the info out. You can't always just "work through" or "wait out" these things!
Thanks for stopping in to comment and I'm happy you enjoy the article. No shoulder injuries yourself?
Lani
Lani,
I had shoulder surgery 18mos ago-for a deep tear in the anterior labrum of my shoulder-the front part of the rotator cuff area of the shoulder. I'm writing to let everyone know that unlike your pain in the shoulder area-mine was not in the shoulder area at all, but was in the bicep area, actually, the area between the bicep & the tricep! Tried to manage it with Motrin, massage & even acupuncture-never thinking it was a rotator cuff injury, just some kind of weird strain in a weird spot. "Managing" it actually masked the pain & deepened the injury so the resulting surgery was even more extensive. So your very wise words to pay attention to the pain & get it checked out was spot on!!!
BTW-when I asked my Dr how I'd incurred such a bad tear-his answer….AGE & the easy scapegoat "hormones"!
Lani, what a cute sense of humor you have…loved reading this post!
Glad you are doing so well post-surgery! Sent lots of prayers and well wishes your way today! What a wonderfully sweet husband you have!
Hugs,
Melissa
@maria: Maria, astonishing! On several counts. First, that you apparently felt the injury in a location other than the repair took place. The other – hormones? Sheesh!
I appreciate that you shared your story because I have no doubt it will be helpful to others who come by. Thanks so much for popping in to post!
Lani
@Melissa: Melissa, aw thanks, I'm so glad you get my humor and it is one of my best coping strategies!
Thanks also for the well wishes and I'll pass along your comments to Greg, too!
Lani
Lani! I loved reading your post!
About a year and a half ago my shoulder problems (left shoulder, specifically) got pretty bad. I was losing range of motion, couldn't sleep with my arm bent under my pillow anymore, and couldn't raise my arms/elbows level with my shoulder–like for Torso Twists in ttapp. I couldn't even put my arms behind me well enough to hook my bra!
I had been seeing my acupuncturist for other things such as helping to boost my immune system. She worked on my shoulder with acupuncture and deep massage. Her fiancé is a sports massage therapist, and he also worked on my shoulder a couple of times. She also had me do some exercises to help (which I did carefully). Of course, after reading your post, I would hope they were helping and not aggravating the shoulder.
These days I can raise and bend my arms level with my shoulder (as in Torso Twists – Ttapp) with no problem. I don't have pain like I did when it was at it's worst. Sometimes I think I have a dull ache, but I'm realizing that I sometimes tighten up and carry stress in my shoulders. Often I wonder if the acupuncture/massage had effects "down the road" that I didn't realize. In any case, I'm glad to have the range of motion back.
I hope you have a quick recovery!
Jainnie
@jainnie: Jainnie, thanks for your post. Actually, your symptoms sound a LOT like mine were. Even down to the favorite sleeping position! I ended up eliminating anything that swept my arms up to side fast, overhead presses (I now work in frontal plane for shoulder), and other accomodations. Some of these changes I will keep because they are just better on the shoulder joint.
And massage was very helpful once I got to the "frozen shoulder" stage. It was necessary to break up the joint capsule.
I hope you get to the bottom of your situation!
Lani
I knew you had mentioned your shoulder issue in GGAA. I'm glad you are on the road to recovery! Shoulder issues are pesky, and your post is a reminder I should get my own should issue checked out. Mine seems to be more of a muscle imbalance, but a professional opinion is probably something I should get.
Warmly,
Keturah
P.S. Your post title made me think of the old Tammy & the Doctor movies. He-he
Hi Lani,
So sorry to hear that you have been working through this, it is no fun! Glad to hear that you are now back on the road the full motion and health!
Five years ago, after a flu, my right should just stopped. The pain just didn't go away and after a few weeks, frozen. After a summer of PT, I had a 'manipulation' and made progress from the fluid used to highlight the area for view and then my stubborn work to reclaim my body. Diagnosed as a congenital impingement. Followed by laying in bed or standing in front of the mirror and saying, "OK, left shoulder can do…. right shoulder can almost do, just a little more…enough for now." Three months of subtle working and comparing and right shoulder was 90% back.
Three years ago, lifting something heavy and left shoulder was sore. A couple of months later, frozen and stuck.
In between shoulders, I had made great gains with TTapp and your newsletter. Inches off waist, overall fitness, spring in my step, etc. Last summer and fall was able to walk and will off 15 lbs. but now have that back, and only a 55% left shoulder.
I look forward to full motion and size 8's but feel discouraged about getting from here to there.
Looking forward to following your lead! Here's to your health!
@Keturah: Keturah, thanks for the great big smile with the "Tammy" reference! Adorable.
Yeah, get it checked out. If we have tears or impingement, being informed is hugely important!
Thanks for your post.
Lani
@Janet: Janet, ouch, it sounds like you may well have an impingement similar to mine – or your own variety all together!
Take note of which movements you do that pinch on the arm. Flexibility and range of motion are important, as is strength through the back of the shoulders. What I did was to do all of my shoulder work in safe planes of movement: NO weighted movements to side, and no rapid arm raises to the side either. Too much shoulder movement all together I took out. In came planks, pushups, front shoulder work. Much better.
There were a couple of critical moves I did during PT that I keep thinking I should just make a video of for everyone – they are so beneficial! "Fit Quickie Prehab"!!!
Please keep me posted on your progress – and the sooner you can address what is really going on in your shoulders, in my opinion, the better!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Lani
Present shoulder doc (maybe not cute enough?!) says is is a middle age Caucasian woman thing. Yeah, right! But the cortizone shot has worked pretty, well. And since shoulder 1 is so close to totally back and shoulder 2 doing well on the pain scale and improving, my plan is to spend my time and dollars working gently through this. Thank you for the encouragement.
@Janet: It may be that taking the inflammation down with the shot will be all you need to get going on the right track. The important thing then is keeping the alignment proper and working the muscles around the shoulder to stabilize the joint. Hope this is all you need!
Doc cute meter. That is tooooo cute!
Lani
Hi Lani,
I was quite amazed to read about your shoulder since I am in the middle of my own shoulder issues! Way back in February, I started noticing some shoulder pain when I put my arm under my pillow to sleep – I thought I had pulled a muscle and it was taking awhile to heal. Then the pain started getting worse, especially after a vacation involving putting carry-ons in the overhead space on an airplane…. I went to the doctor about 3 weeks ago and he said it was a strained or slightly torned rotator cuff. Considering how much pain I had at times, I thought he would say something worse than that. He gave me a couple of exercises to help – like leaning slightly to the side with a weight in hand and allowing the shoulder area to complely relax, then moving my arm in small circles (about a foot diameter at the hand level) to gently stretch the area. Also, holding my arms out in front of me with the forearms bent up to form an "L" shape with my arm and then pulling out with a band inbetween the elbows to strength the muscles. I would LOVE to be able to see what exercises you did to improve! I had been taking it so easy, but today did just a few tricep presses with a small weight and now my shoulder area has more soreness. SIGH……
I read above that you focused on planks, pushups, and front shoulder work. I'll keep that in mind… but can you tell me what a plank is?
Oh, I just came back today from a different trip, and downloaded FQ's 6-8. I'm very excited to see them! I used 1-5 while on vacation, in the hotel room. GREAT!!!