Heavy arm

[Sophie]

Is there anybody out there can can suggest a course of action for my sore shoulder? My shoulder and back have been sore since I was 20 years old. (16 years ago ) There is section of my back which it is now totally numb and my right arm is so heavy to lift that I feel l ike I have a brick attached to it. I have been to physios and chiros, and have had a cortisone injection becuse one doctor suspected I have bursits, but none of these helped me. I am at a loss. All of these treatments cost me a fortune, which I would gladly pay, if I knew that I would get better. I have lost alot of feeling in my entire arm, and my fingers are almost totally numb. It is so frustrating. I am only young and don't want to live my life in pain any more. :(

Sophie

[kjwilkin]

Hi Sophie,

I can empathise with you. It is really frustrating when nothing seems to work. I have
multi-directional instability in my right shoulder and am in the last stages of conservative treatment before deciding on surgery.

If I was you I'd go and see a good sports physician that is involved with an elite sporting team. They often have good relationships with top surgeons and physios. If you're in Melbourne Andrew Jowett, Chris Bradshaw and Paul Blackman at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre are all very good. All of them work with AFL teams. My physio, Ian Macindoe specialises in shoulders and is fantastic. He's also based at Olympic Park.

About 5 years ago I stopped seeing my GP as he didn't know the right scans to order and would often suggest things I'd already tried. Since I've been seeing Andrew Jowett and Chris Bradshaw I know I will get the right treatment.

Good luck and let us know how you go !

[Sophie]

kjwilkin,

Thankyou for replying to my post, I live in Adelaide and I don't know any sports physiotherapists. I have come across a couple in the yellow pages, and i will give one a go.

Can you tell me what is mulitdirectional instability, and how did you get it? I'm not sure the cause of my injury, but I know that repetitive over use syndrome certainly did not help. I reckon I injured it high school with my school bag, though I did not know it at the timie. When I see teenagers holding their heavy bags over their shoulders, I feel really sad seeing them damaging their strong healthy bodies.

[SPK]

Sophie have you considered seeing a massage therapist? Might be worth a try if you've exhausted other methods of treatment.

I'm talking a proper therapist at a clinic etc too. Not some bloke down at the local shopping centre.

[kjwilkin]

kjwilkin,

Thankyou for replying to my post, I live in Adelaide and I don't know any sports physiotherapists. I have come across a couple in the yellow pages, and i will give one a go.

Can you tell me what is mulitdirectional instability, and how did you get it? I'm not sure the cause of my injury, but I know that repetitive over use syndrome certainly did not help. I reckon I injured it high school with my school bag, though I did not know it at the timie. When I see teenagers holding their heavy bags over their shoulders, I feel really sad seeing them damaging their strong healthy bodies.

Hi Sophie,

I'd highly recommend that you just don't choose a physio from the yellow pages. It's best to go by recommendation.

There's a good sports medicine clinic in Adelaide called Sportsmed SA. Their website is www.sportsmed.com.au They have sports doctors, physios and orthopaedic surgeons there. I'd go and see one of their sports doctors there. You can check out the website for the Australasian College of Sports Physicians at www.acsp.com.au for accredited sports physicians. Dr Geoffrey Verrall is an acredited sports physician and works at Sportsmed SA. He works with a number of football and soccer clubs, so think he'd be pretty good. If not, he'd be able to refer you to someone that can help. Massage may help, but I think you'd be better off getting an accurate diagnosis before considering other kinds of treatments.

Multi-directional instability means that my shoulder could basically pop out in any direction. It is compounded by the fact that I have loose ligaments. l had a fall in London a couple of years ago and subluxated my left shoulder. I tried conservative treatment which failed. So, I had surgery in September 2003 and hasn't popped out since then. I started having problems when I was recovering from my left shoulder surgery.

Good luck and let us know how you go !!!

[Nicholas]

I live in Adelaide and I don't know any sports physiotherapists. I have come across a couple in the yellow pages, and i will give one a go.

Here are some shoulder specialists:
Name Location Phone
Hayes, Michael*STEPNEY *08 8362 7788*
Saies, Andrew*STEPNEY*08 8362 7788*
Sandow, Michael*ADELAIDE*08 8232 5523*

I can't find any back pain specialists. Maybe someone who knows one could post them here!

By the way, if Stepney is not a suberb in Adelaide then sorry but I don't know much about South Australia besides that Adelaide is in that state!!!

[Sophie]

Hey kjwilkin, mulitdirectional instability sounds painful. I'm glad the surgery was successful. I called sporstmed today and I don't have much confidence that they will be any different to the physio that I have been going to. I might give them a go in a couple of weeks when i get some more cash.

And Nicholas, Stephney is a suburb in Adelaide, I used to live there when I was 4 years old. Anyway, I tried calling Michael Sandow, and the number you gave me is not connected. Do you have another number? Thanks,

Sophie

[xonicjan]

You thought about putting your arm in a sling or getting it taped up for now. Give your back/neck and break from carrying your "Heavy arm"

My physio used to tape up my shoulder and it was like heaven..... I loved it and actually tried to keep it on for as long as possible....

My 2c