Question about Shoulder Injury...?

Question

I am 21 and have had a shoulder injury for over 2 years now. I have been eager to begin my training in martial arts since I was 19 and I havn't been able to because of my shoulder problem. I initially injured it during a weightlifting exercise and I've been to multiple dr's and have gotten many oppinions. Dr. 1 said: Needs rest. Dr. 2 said: It is a microscopic tear in my acromioclavicular muscle which didnt show up on my MRI. I need to "use it" and do light exercise to strengthen. Orthopedic Surgeon says it is fine and diagnosed as "shoulder impingement". His physical therapy prescription was unsuccessful. Dr. 4 said: I have a gap in my bone that is preventing my "ruptured ligaments" from healing. I believe I may have some sort of tendonitus and I've read that a Liver Cleanse will clear this problem right up. I've been completing the preliminary steps before a liver cleanse and I have yet to do it. But please. My mind is driving me crazy. Can anyone help or offer great advice? Thanks.

Answer 1

I've had several operations on my shoulder. I'm in my 30's and I injured it when I was 15. It's been a long road. Three surgeries later and countless hours of physical therapy, it's still not right. I have severely limited range of motion, impingement (which is popping of the joint caused by inflamed tendons and ligaments), and no strength in that arm. Ho hum...

Through the years I've dealt with this, I've read lots of literature and even been to a few conferences about shoulder instability solutions. I've learned a lot, and I feel like I'm on an even playing field with my doc. Not to say that I know more than he does. I know I can't match his 35 years of experience with shoulder injuries. But it's nice to be an informed consumer.

Sounds like it might be a rotator cuff tear. That's common with weightlifting injuries. Did any of the doctors suggest arthroscopic therapies? A rotator cuff tear can be successfully repaired through 3 small incisions (about 1 inch each) using small instruments to manipulate the joint and fix the injury. Sometimes it does not show up on the MRI. I suggest you find yet another doctor and tell him your suspicions. Good luck.

Answer 2

i'm not sure i really have any answers for you... but if that's really what Dr #2 said he's on crack. You have an acromioclavicular joint, with a joint capsule and multiple ligaments....but there's no muscle called that. What they have said sounds like the progression is right though, if it doesn't heal then try to do something non-invasive, such as physical therapy. If that doesn't work surgery is really a last option. If the injury was weightlifting, then it was most likely a muscle problem that has been unable to heal because of some sort of friction or impingement going on in your joint. Personally if it was the last resort and none of the other things has worked i would try a surgery to try and correct whatever might be going on. and then when you get out and go to PT again, strictly follow what they say and don't over do it cuz that's what caused the injury in the first place...

Answer 3

Shoulder injuries from doing kata sometimes happen as a result of not warming up properly and also hyper extending on your punches and blocks. Since there is no contact and only your limb absorbs the shock and impact that is a lot of stress on it and the shoulder it is attached to. I suspect this is where you problem started and it has now progressed to the point where you have a weak shoulder. I would start a weight training and exercise program for the purpose of building up the muscles and strength of them in and around my shoulder. A sports medicine place should be able to give you some good exercises and a weight routine and make sure you warm up properly by doing some forward and backward arm rotations and stretches for your shoulders before you work out or compete.

Answer 4

i would go see a chiropractor. They can adjust the extremities and therefore decrease the impingement or gap between AC joint.
Either way, go see a DC.