Rotator cuff stuff

A while ago I was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis in my left
shoulder.

This is actually somewhat on-topic. Although it doesn't affect my trout
fishing, because I cast with my right arm, it's put a real crimp in my
steelheading. Hauling hurts and I'm not sure it's good for the healing
process. Haven't been out for steelhead for almost a month now.

It was suggested that I do physical therapy, that it would help speed
healing, but I have had unsatisfactory experiences with PT (for other
problems). Lots of money spent with little apparent benefit. I have
even been known to refer to the "physical therapy racket..."

Now, I've got health insurance, but with a large deductible and large
co-pays, I could conceivably spend a bundle out of pocket, and I'm leery
of the whole thing. At first, I was going to just try to let it heal on
its own, although I know that can take some time, but even after giving
up on steelheading the pain is getting worse, especially at night.

So, my question is, has anyone here done PT for rotator cuff tendinitis?
Did it do any good, or should I just tough it out until it heals on
its own?

Alternatively, if I go steelheading in BC next week, and, uh, injure my
shoulder, could I get some of that National Health Care PT up there do
you think....?

- JR

JR typed:
snip
So, my question is, has anyone here done PT for rotator cuff
tendinitis? Did it do any good, or should I just tough it out until
it heals on its own?

My experience with PT was about the same as yours - not much bang for
the buck. The last time (and I can't even remember what it was for) I
told them up front I'd probably only come for a visit or two and needed
them to give me a complete in-home plan. They were very accommodating.
--
TL,
Tim
---------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 23:18:56 -0700, JR wrote:

A while ago I was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis in my left
shoulder.

This is actually somewhat on-topic. Although it doesn't affect my trout
fishing, because I cast with my right arm, it's put a real crimp in my
steelheading. Hauling hurts and I'm not sure it's good for the healing
process.

Describe the movements you make hauling...obviously, I've no idea just
how tender your shoulder is, but your technique might be contributing to
this (and I suspect it is).

TC,
R

JR wrote:
...
It was suggested that I do physical therapy, that it would help speed
healing, but I have had unsatisfactory experiences with PT (for other
problems). Lots of money spent with little apparent benefit. I have
even been known to refer to the "physical therapy racket..." ...

I had elbow tendinitis and had a good experience with PT. The
guy was competent but the process was very slow. Towards the
end, once I had all the big rubber bands in every color of the
rainbow, he just emailed me the exercises at my request.

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 07:28:40 -0400, "Tim J."
wrote:


JR typed:
snip
So, my question is, has anyone here done PT for rotator cuff
tendinitis? Did it do any good, or should I just tough it out until
it heals on its own?

My experience with PT was about the same as yours - not much bang for
the buck. The last time (and I can't even remember what it was for) I
told them up front I'd probably only come for a visit or two and needed
them to give me a complete in-home plan. They were very accommodating.

Did you stick _absolutely_ to that plan? Assuming the plan was done by
a pro really trying to get you rehab'd, and you didn't work it
_absolutely_, you might as well have not bothered. What I mean by this
is, IME, one must take PT _seriously_ - do what the pros say to do and
don't do what tell you not to - for positive results. Try to think like
a professional athlete: "my career depends on this ****, and I really
like my career..."

TC,
R

"JR" wrote in message ...
A while ago I was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis in my left
shoulder.

So, my question is, has anyone here done PT for rotator cuff tendinitis?
Did it do any good, or should I just tough it out until it heals on its
own?

I have been thru PT numerous times.
In younger years I was a serious racquetball player and had 2 arthroscopic
knee surgeries
- both times w extensive PT at the facility and at home - It worked and
worked well!

Earlier I had a serious rotator cuff injury from baseball pitching and
racquetball - - and PT worked well then also.

I recently - 6 mos ago - blew my knee out on a strenuous hike - and again
PT was successful.
You have to be patient. Do the exercises diligently at the facility and at
home or while traveling using bands

As one PT facility said -"no pain - no gain"

I am definitely an advocate of PT.
It has worked for me!

Fred

wrote:

Describe the movements you make hauling...obviously, I've no idea just
how tender your shoulder is, but your technique might be contributing to
this (and I suspect it is).

Thanks, but actually I'm pretty satisfied with the length, speed,
timing, degree of abruptness of start and stop, etc., of my hauling.
And pretty much satisfied with most of several dozen other daily or
habitual actions that make the tendinitis hurt, as well as the even more
numerous actions that don't. Some I modify to avoid/lessen the pain, of
course, others I don't or can't...

I agree fully, though, with what you say about the need to take PT
seriously and observe the prescribed regime strictly. Unfortunately, I
also think (as you were in part alluding to) that the prospects for
average folks well into middle age, dealing with problems caused by
decades of wear and tear, *are* probably much less promising than for
younger, very fit folks who suffer a specific discrete injury.

I was interested more in folks' experience with this particular problem
rather than with PT experiences in general (not that folks' thoughts on
those aren't also welcome....)

- JR

On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:16:34 -0700, JR wrote:

wrote:

Describe the movements you make hauling...obviously, I've no idea just
how tender your shoulder is, but your technique might be contributing to
this (and I suspect it is).

Thanks, but actually I'm pretty satisfied...

OK.

I was interested more in folks' experience with this particular problem
rather than with PT experiences in general (not that folks' thoughts on
those aren't also welcome....)

Fair enough, but other folks' experiences aren't, IMO, going to be of
any help unless they were in about the same generally physical
condition/shape, age, and have about the same level of injury, past and
present, and perhaps most importantly, had a PT regimen very similar to
what you will have and took it about as seriously as you intend.

I've had PT on both shoulders, knees, ankles, hips, back, etc., before,
after, and as an alternative to arthroscopy, mostly in my late
teens-early 20s, and generally, all but the knees are now fine (and the
knees aren't too bad...yet...) for my purposes - living as a
fairly-active, generally-healthy early-middle-age adult.

I reinjured one shoulder (and a knee) in my late 20s-early 30s, and took
the PT, restrictions, etc., _VERY SERIOUSLY_ as I knew the
consequences, immediate and long-term, of not doing so. I can tell some
10 years later the difference in those areas with early injuries versus
the later ones. The shoulder with later injuries has had much less
overall trauma, but "twinges" more. IOW, what they say seems to be
true: the older you are, the harder it is to heal and if you combine
that with a bad state before the injury, you really have an uphill
battle.

Good luck,
R

-----
From: "JR"

"...Unfortunately, I also think (as you were in part alluding to) that the
prospects for
average folks well into middle age, dealing with problems caused by
decades of wear and tear, *are* probably much less promising than for
younger, very fit folks who suffer a specific discrete injury..."
" I was interested more in folks' experience with this particular problem
rather than with PT experiences in general (not that folks' thoughts on
those aren't also welcome....)"

Although most of my injuries occurred when I was much younger -
my most recent knee problem just happened and I am on the far side of 50.
I know that this is not the same as rotator cuff' "stuff " but again
I swear by physical therapy.

IMO

If you go to a good therapist & maintain the regimen - It should work.
What really have you got to lose except a little $$ and some time?
For me - Its better than living w the pain - and it probably will not just
go away.


Fred
--
Fred Lebow

Fred Lebow wrote:
...I am on the far side of 50....

Hm.....

Cryptic.

Wolfgang
i mean, it depends on which side one is looking from, ainna?