Treatment

Question

Dear TAI Experts: I woke up three days ago with a cramp in my neck on the left side. The next day my shoulder and down my back and up around to my chest under my arm on the left also. When I cough my chest hurts badly. Can you tell me what could this be?  P.S. My wrist bone on the right side started hurting like someone hit it with a hammer two days ago also. ... read more »

Question

Dear TAI Experts: I am a 53 year old healthy male. In early spring of '08 I managed to injure both shoulders while exercising with dumbells. While having limited movement and very painful, my orthedpedic surgeon said he saw no damage w/ x-rays. I struggled through the remainder of the year while performing P.T.at home. Late in '08 I decided to go for the steroid injections that Dr. suggested, one at a time. The left shoulder first, and yes it was a big improvement. Next, the right shoulder, but during the meantime I may have injured the R shoulder even worse, excrutiating pain one day after some rigoroius outdoor work. Several weeks later I went in for a right shoulder injection. It got better for a short while but my right bicep went flat like jello. The ortho surgeon at first sight said it looked like a torn tendon to him, but an MRI would confirm it as well as the extent of the damage. A couple weeks later the MRI showed no tear. He was puzzled..? Sent me to a neurologist for nerve testing as well as blood test, everything was good (neg.). The Neurologist suggested a muscle biopsy but at this point I'm not sure if I want to continue with all of these tests. My question boils down to this... My bicep tendon appears to be totally torn from my shoulder, is there any way that it actually could be and NOT show up on an MRI? Also, after going through limited and painful motion with both shoulders why wouldn't something abnormal show up on either X-ray or MRI? Thank you for your time, Needing my movement back for my 9 yr old triplets. ... read more »

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Dear TAI Experts: MY ELEVEN YEAR OLD SON HAD HIS RIGHT ARM REATTACHED POST AMPUTATION FROM A CAR ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER. IN LATE JANUARY HE HAD ALL THREE NERVES IN HIS ARM(THE NERVES WERE PULLED OUT OF HIS ARM DURING THE AMPUTATION) REPLACED USING NERVES FROM HIS FEET. HE GETS PHYSICAL THERAPY 3X WEEK FOR RANGE OF MOTION (ROM) AND THEY ASK HIM TO MOVE CERTAIN AREAS. HE CAN MOVE HIS ELBOW SOME AND IS GETTING MORE MOVEMENT IN IT EVERY DAY. HE CANNOT FEEL ANYTHING FROM HIS ELBOW DOWN AND CAN NOT MOVE HIS WRIST OR FINGERS. HE DOES GET PAIN DOWN HIS ENTIRE ARM THAT HE CAN FEEL AT TIMES WHEN HE TRIES TO MOVE HIS FINGERS OR WRIST. IS THERE ANY OTHER KIND OF THERAPY HE SHOULD HAVE? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO STIMULATE THE NERVES? I WANT TO BE SURE WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT HE GETS AS MUCH USE AS POSSIBLE BACK TO HIS ARM. THANKS. ... read more »

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Dear TAI Experts: Hi, I have recently had a labrum repair on my shoulder (almost 12 months ago), however my shoulder is very, very slow in recovering. My range of movement is about 70% of what it should be and the shoulder capsule is still very tight. Prior to the surgery I had several subluxations, and then dislocated once. Had a frozen shoulder after the dislocation then had the surgery 5 months after (the shoulder was about 85% at that stage). Could you please offer some advice on how to further increase my range of movement (particularly the external rotation). I do several stretches twice a day, do not do any strength work apart from some band exercises (of which I don't have much time to do a lot). Thanks. ... read more »

Question

Dear TAI Experts: July was 1 yr after my rotator cuff repair surgery. I still experience soreness and a little aching pain in the back of the upper arm near shoulder the day after. Is this normal? ... read more »