Question about shoulder injury. Please help.

angel26angel26
edited October 2012 in Health
Hey ladies. I have a question. As most of you know, I got in a car accident last month. My shoulder is still hurting really bad. Ive been in physical therapy for 3 weeks now and its not helping. The therapist who worked with me today saif it kinda sounds like I might have torn something. I need an mri/ct scan to find out for sure.
Has anyone ever had something tear in there shoulder? Or does anyone know what they do with something like that? I really dont know what to excpect. Would it need surgery? Or heal on its own? I have never had anything like this happen, I know nothing. Anyone that could help me please. I would love some advice before I see dr (if possible). please and thank you in advance. Lol.

Comments

  • trixiesmom8trixiesmom8
    Bump
  • MorgDeeBeeMorgDeeBee
    My husband just dislocated his and the er doc told him to keep it in the sling and if it was still bothering him after two weeks to get refered to to an orthopediac surgeon to see if he tore anything. He said in most cases it wouldn't require surgery that they would just keep an eye on it for a while.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    My fil had same problem as morgdeebee hubby and he had to have surgey. All depends on the injury.
  • LittleFaeLittleFae
    I tore mine when I was 20. I didn't do surgery because I didn't have insurance. It took about three years for the pain to go away. The whole time I did stretches and excersizes my physical therapist had given me the entire time.

    I still have problems with it, and will always have problems. I lack upper body strength from that side. And I have to be very careful with it. I reinjured it a couple of weeks after my son was born (it hurt a 1000xs more then my natural llabor and deliveryy did) and it took about 8 weeks to heal, though this time I had insurance so I could afford the therapy needed.


    Even if I had the insurance when it first hhappened I wouldn't have had the surgeryy. Everyone I've talked to have told me how much thhey wish they had slipped the surgeryy, that it made it worse. It doesn't hurt me now, though I always have to be careful and I lack certan ranges of motion with it, and strength and I have to llimit what I do with it.

    It sucks, but injuries like those are with yyou for life. Mine is rigt along m right shoulder blade/spine/up innto my shoulder. I tore muscles and pulled ligaments.

    Sorry about the typinng/spelling I'm on my phone and the kayyboard is the devil
  • natashalynnnatashalynn
    Well, I messed up my shoulder pretty good when I was an athlete, I can't say what to do but I can say what not to do, and that's do nothing. I didn't stop playing, or really get it checked out, and now here I am, years later and it still bothers me.
  • angel26angel26
    My shoulder has been hurting since my car accident on sept 10. I went to the er 3 times because of the pain (i couldnt afford a reg dr) on the 2nd trip they did an xray and didnt see anything wrong with the bones. All they said was to see a reg dr. so finally on the 1st I got the money for the car. I found a dr that would see me quickly. All he did was do a physical exam of my shoulder and he recomended I go to physical therapy. So ive been going to physical therapy for 3 weaks. It was my whole shoulder that was hurting. Which some of it has improved. But theres an area that hasnt improved at all. And it hurts so bad. I have mobility but a lot of movement hurts like hell. (sorry). I cant lift anything with much weight to it or it feels like my arm is ripping. I can hardly do my hair, wash my hair in shower, do dishes, laundry, ect. It hurts so bad. I am a cashier so I have to use my arm a lot. In physical therapy they put heat on it and use electrotherapy, ultrasound, exercise and ice. They also stretch my arm. Im so frustrated that it hurts so bad. Because part of me feels like im in pain for no reason (that nothing is wrong) and part of me is worried that I could be making it worse. Sometimes I dont even have to move and I get really bad pain in my shoulder. I just want to cry because I feel so, so..... So. I dont know. I kinda feel like a part of me was destroyed. If that makes sence. I mean, I got hurt in the accident. My oldest son has some anxiety now every time we pull up to a red light he starts yelling at us to stop. It makes me want to cry. Both my boys wake during the night saying they are scared but wont say why, but that wasnt happening before the accident. Im trying so hard to be strong. But each day I feel weaker. :'(
    Some people tell us to get a lawyer. Some say not to. Im so lost on what to do. Some say that if we get a lawyer they will take a lot of what we get. Some say they wont take much and will get us more. Ive never ever delt with a lawyer. And never been involved in a car accident where I got hurt or where kids were in the car. My mom spoke to someone who told her that her kids were in an accident and the kids get a check every month til their 18 for (i think) mental trauma, even though they didnt get hurt. Im worried about my oldest having trauma (ptsd). Cause now he almost panics if we are coming to a red light.
    Im so sorry this is so long. I am so lost and needed to talk about this. I dont have anyone else I can talk to. I dont want to make husband worry. I just want to cry. :'( :'(

    @trixiesmom8@morgdeebee @char @natashalynn @littlefae I taged you ladies because you responded. Im sorry its so long.
  • natashalynnnatashalynn
    Awe hun I'm sorry. Maybe see if there is a lawyer around that does a free consultation, or even.free until you win something? Have you tried talking to your kids openly about it? Because if you're not talking about it, but they see you upset/crying/in pain they might be confused and scared.
  • natashalynnnatashalynn
    This may sound silly and I'm not sure how old your kids are, but there Is an Arthur episode where his mom gets in s car accident. Might be worth looking up & watching?
  • trixiesmom8trixiesmom8
    Awe hun, its ok! I think the Arthur episode is a great idea. I think a free consultation for a lawyer is a good idea...see what they have to say about the whole thing. I'm not sure what else to say, cause I've never have been in a situation like that, my lo will only be a year in a little over a week. Hope your shoulder is better.
  • ExcitedForOctoberExcitedForOctober
    I work for a physical therapy company and it sounds like a rotator cuff tear, if it doesn't heal with PT, than surgery is usually the second step.
  • angel26angel26
    @natashalynn my kids are 5, 3, and 10 months. We have spoke about it a little but not a lot cuz I dont really know what to say. The aurther show is a great idea, how do I look it up? Also what questions do I ask.
    @trixesmom8 its ok. Thank you for responding. It means a lot to know you care enough to just respond. :-) I see you respond on a lot of my posts and it really makes me happy to see.
    @excitedforoctober this coming week will be the 4th week with no improvement. :-(
  • natashalynnnatashalynn
    Id ask them how they feel about it, get them to kind of lead the conversation. Tell them that accidents happen in life, but the important thing is that everyone is ok. Make them feel secure. I'd try google/YouTube. If you don't find it there, you could always go to your library, see if they have it there or possibly the same episode in book form?
  • angel26angel26
    @natashalynn ok thank you. I hope it helps.
  • natashalynnnatashalynn
    Sorry I can't be more help hun. If you need to vent or anything, feel free to message me or tag me or whatever. :x
  • angel26angel26
    @natashalynn thank you. You did help. I keep saying I want my life back from before all this crap. Before my husband lost his job. But I know life will never be that way again. Thank you for your advice and support. It helps so much to have my pregly support team. I have said this before, I dont know how I would have made it through everything without my pregly.
  • natashalynnnatashalynn
    This too shall pass hun. I know it probably doesbt seem like it right now, it won't be the same. But you guys will get through this and be stronger than ever. Just hang in there!
  • captivatedcaptivated
    I think they were idiots to even begin PT without an MRI. Doing so could severely damage it further!
  • angel26angel26
    @natashalynn ya, im just tired of hurting. And its making me a little depressed.
    @captivated I was worried about that as well. But the pt know I havent had an mri or ct scan. Ive only had an xray which only tells them nothing got broken or fractured. But the one spot still hurts like hell and doesnt feel any better after everything they have been doing. No medication they have given takes the pain away. Nothing helps.
  • trixiesmom8trixiesmom8
    I remember you from when you were still prego..which feels like forever ago now since our babies will be turning one soon, lol so when I see you post I try and let you know I'm here for you. So if you ever wanna talk or vent or anything dont be afraid to tag me:-)
  • MorgDeeBeeMorgDeeBee
    I agree with @captivated. If something more is wrong the pt is just gonna do more damage. They told my husband if.it was still bothering him the next step would be an MRI to look for other damage. I would try to go back to the doctor tell him its still bothering you and you would like an MRI to see what's going on since you have been in pt for almost a month. The er will not run an MRI since they don't consider it an emergency.

    I would also do a.free consult with a lawyer and see what advice they could give you.
  • ExcitedForOctoberExcitedForOctober
    We get many PT patients that get sent to us without getting an MRI done first. As long as an xray was done to check for any fractures it's ok, it's routine to have an MRI in the middle of your physical therapy treatment, so don't worry about that. Physical therapist aren't going to jump in and start making u do higher level things without knowing first.
  • angel26angel26
    @morgdeebee the pt said they will tell the dr that I need an mri because its not getting better. So im really hoping they do. I really want to know whats going on.
    @excitedforoctober I just know they have tried the exercises, heat, electrotherapy, ultrasound and tape.
  • angel26angel26
    @trixiesmom8 thank you. Yes, it feels like forever. Lol.
  • ExcitedForOctoberExcitedForOctober
    I know 3 weeks has probably.felt like an eternity but u need to have patience, people go to PT for MONTHS sometimes.
  • julesjules
    I think u sounds ask the people that are doing the physical therapy let them know how it feels and ask them if they have any advice from their experience of people in your situation. I really hope they can help u and it feels better soon!
  • angel26angel26
    @excitedforoctober @jules the pt have said if by week 4 theres no impovement then they are going to contact the dr. to see about getting an mri or see a specialist. I have told them how much pain im in and how nothing helps. They keep putting tape on my arm in different ways tosee if it helps. So far everything they have tried doesnt help much. Im hoping for some relief at some point.
  • julesjules
    Well look at the bright side sounds like they are doing their job pretty well and not giving up and physical therapy does take time so it's good they are trying. But they are also listening and making sure if they can't don't u much release then the doc needs to look more into it. I hope it gets better without any serious surgery or anything.
  • angel26angel26
    @jules thank you. Yes, this place is very good. I like it there. I hope it heals soon, without surgery cuz its approching very busy season at work.
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