| > | | | | The shoulder joint is a basic ball and socket joint. Unlike |
| Being an older dad with young kids I do try fairly hard | | | | the hip, the socket is made up of cartilage rather than |
| to be fit, active and in shape so that I can keep up with | | | | bone and doesn't grip the bone of the arm. Instead, a |
| the kids as they grow uo. I also enjoy a game of golf | | | | group of four muscles help to hold the arm in place |
| occasionally, a good walk ruined as they say. I'm not a | | | | and stabilise the shoulder joint. These form the rotator |
| briiliant player as I never get to play as often as I would | | | | cuff. What I had done was tear one of these muscles |
| like but I do like a round every now and again, so was | | | | which had caused. Because all the muscles are so |
| really annoyed when I developed a shoulder problem | | | | close together any inflammation can cause pressure |
| that stopped me playing. | | | | and pain. |
| Being a slightly older dad with young kids I do try fairly | | | | The muscle that I had torn is called the supraspinatus. I |
| hard to try to stay fit, active and in shape so that I can | | | | had manged to tear a tendon that runs under my |
| keep up with my kids as they grow uo. I also enjoy a | | | | clavicle or collar bone and the end of my scapula or |
| game of golf, a good walk ruined as they say. I'm not | | | | shoulder blade. Because it became inflammed, each |
| a great player as I am never able to play as frequently | | | | time that I moved in a certain wayit got pinched or |
| as I would like but I do enjoy it, so was really annoyed | | | | impingedpinched and was aggravated. I was |
| when I developed a shoulder injury that made me stop | | | | recommended for surgery to cut away part of my |
| playing. | | | | collar bone to release the impinged tendon and allow it |
| It was more complicated than that. The shoulder injury | | | | to heal without any more damage. It all sounded very |
| turned out to be nothing less than a torn rotator cuff | | | | simple but I was a bit worried. |
| which really stopped me from doing any form of | | | | Being in the UK we are used to waiting for surgery so |
| activity. It was very painfull when I ran or walked, even | | | | I took the time to do some research on the subject |
| though I am right handed, any movement caused | | | | while waiting for my surgery date. Having studied my |
| serious pain in my left shoulder. If I forgot for a moment | | | | injury extensively I finally discovered that most rotator |
| and made a sudden movement I could end up crying | | | | cuff problems are cured with physical therapy .Even |
| with pain. I can remember exactly when I did it. I was | | | | a torn rotator cuff can be solved in this way, as long |
| being my usual impatient self and trying to lift some | | | | as it is only a partial tear. You start off by resting the |
| furniture on my own rather than waiting for help, felt | | | | joint to allow the inflammation to calm down, treating it |
| something go in my shoulder and that was that. | | | | with anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen and using ice |
| Shoulder messed up| The next day I woke up with | | | | packs. Once the inflammation and pain have calmed |
| shoulder pain and it just got worse with each passing | | | | down you can start gentle exercises aimed at |
| day. | | | | strengthening the rotator cuff muscles |
| I couldn't reach much above shoulder height, reaching | | | | Within six weeks my shoulder was pain free and the |
| for anything was impossible. I couldn't reach behind | | | | movement had returned to near normal. A few more |
| me. I couldn't sleep because I couldn't get comfortable | | | | weeks saw me return to what feels like one hundred |
| and doing anything with the kids was impossible. Golf | | | | percent fitness. I have put off the surgery and will |
| was out of the question. So it was off to the doctor | | | | probably be cancelling it altogether if I remain pain free. |
| who sent me to a shoulder specialist. He diagnosed a | | | | In the meantime I am back playing golf, still losing but |
| torn rotator cuffand confirmed it with an MRI scan. | | | | hey, I do have a bad shoulder! |