Therapy for a torn shoulder ligament?

Question

I was hit from behind in a car accident while giving a stoping hand signal. At the time of impact because of how my shoulder was located between the door frame the ligaments in my shoulder were torn. After about a month of severe pain i went to the doctor and was given medication as the blood from the ligament being torn went into the arm and shoulder muscles and had become infected. The accident was in Feburary and the medication was taken throughout April. My doctor said that after the medication everything should be fine, however we are in May now and i still have much pain and limited use of my right hand. Is some form of physical therapy needed and if so what can i do to start this process.

I should add that the pain does not only stay in my shoulder but travel thoughout the entire right side of my back and chest and also up the right side behind my neck and right ears. It is a very sharp, sticking sort of pain.

Answer 1

is the limited motion because of a stiff joint or it is because once moved pain is experienced?

Try to place you hand palm down on top of your head, does that relieve the pain? If it does, it might be an impingement.

There are several possibilities that one can think of. The shoulder has many structures passing through it and connecting through it.

Consult with your physician again or better yet get a second consult. Go to an ortho, have yourself throughly evaluated. Or have your physician write you a prescription for physical therapy. A PT can completely assess you hands on. Have them find the cause of the pain, therapy without knowing the cause if useless and pointless.

in the meantime, continue with a daily range of motion exercises on the shoulder without any weights please. Do the exercises in a pain free movement. Modify your daily activities by carrying your bag on the left, do not reach to far overhead - use a stool, avoid pushing/pulling or any movements that causes pain.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I think you need to get a second opinion from a qualified orthopedic specialist. no good doctor allows their pateint to remain in pain for any longer than necessary. Also, having had experimental shoudler surgery in the past and having to have the problem "re-fixed" when the experiment failed 5 years later I urge you to make sure you see a GOOD doctor. A university-affiliated physician or head of ortho at a medical college is always something to look for. Just because your doctor cured the infection doesn't mean the shoulder isn't still injured.

Good luck and feel better!

Answer 4

You should start with general range of motion (ROM) exercises. If you can move your arm on our own then do it, if you get stuck or at an abnormal endpoint take a long stick or cane or something of the sort, and push your arm past that point with your good arm using the stick.
Also work on strengthening it. Start w/ isometric exercises, no movement, just contraction. Push against a wall. In front of you, behind you, in a door frame pushing out.
Do this within a pain free range then you can move to pain free exercises w/ motions, increasing weight and ROM.

Answer 5

I'm a physical therapist and I can tell you without doubt that you do need PT. Ask your doctor to write you a prescription for physical therapy for your shoulder.

Answer 6

I don't know if you necessarily need physical therapy. You should however see an orthopedic surgeon to make sure that things are okay.
If you do want to try rehabilitation, ask your doctor for a referral and then schedule with a rehabilitation professional.

Answer 7

Sounds like a real problem . You have to go back to the doctor. I think it will need physical therapy but not until you have it looked at again at which time he will probably recommend xrays. Good luck. bettyk

Answer 8

HELLO,

YOU NEED PT TO REGAIN RANGE OF MOTION. IT TAKES TORN LIGAMENTS TAKE A LONG TIME TO HEAL. A PHYSICAL THERAPIST NEEDS TO EVALUATE YOUR CONDITION AND GIVE HIS OPINION AS TO THE BEST TREATMENT.