Some three months ago I dislocated my right shoulder during a snatch-and-press of a kettlebell. I was able to immediately reduce it (put it back in place) myself and avoided a trip to the ER. There was some residual pain for a few days, but I was able to return to work after a brief hiatus. After a few weeks of physical therapy exercises, my shoulder was feeling much stronger in all movements, but there remained a feeling of instability. Sure enough, I dislocated it again- this time while cheering for a goal during my son’s soccer game. Yes, that’s right- while cheering for a goal. I jumped up with my arms overhead and following that moment of joy came another of excruciating pain. My arm was stuck overhead… and my son’s coach still thinks its funny to greet me in a high-five salute.
This time, however, I was unable to reduce it even with the help of friends on the sideline. In fact, I couldn’t even lower my arm from the “cheer” position. I remained that way, with my arm resting on a buddy’s shoulder for the second half (what are occasional spasms of agony during such an exciting game?!) and then headed to the emergency room. I left 6 hours later with my arm in a sling and with a bottle of Percocet for pain.
After losing myself and my normal bodily functions (read horrendous constipation) for a couple days as side-effects of the meds, I resolved to find a better path through the process of recovery ahead. This, I felt, was an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Experiencing the process first-hand would allow me to serve my patients with the direct experience and from a patient’s perspective.
It has now been 9 weeks since my second dislocation. Since then I’ve had an MRI, surgery for the rotator cuff tear and anterior capsule reconstruction, spent the good part of 4 weeks immobilized in a sling, and am now actively on the road to recovery from the injuries and surgery. My goal is not simply to recover, but to restore full function and strength to the shoulder. A limited goal produces limited results…
My recovery restoration program includes Imaging, Surgery, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, Active Release Techniques (A.R.T.), Herbal Medicine, Nutritional supplementation, Dietary considerations, Massage, Meditation, and eventually Yoga, strength work, and sport specific training. I consider this all part of a complete and integrative sports medicine program and use and/or refer out components as appropriate for my patients and their injuries.
I consider this experience an opportunity to share with readers what an integrative approach to healing can look like. We all know people who use various specialties and modalities to recover from injury, but how often are those cases wholistically managed by a licensed sports medicine specialist? How often are these reported in a way that athletes, whether professional or amateur, collegiate or weekend warrior, young and old, can access and easily digest?
Over the next days, weeks, and months I will post a series of articles. They will include not only the types and timing of treatments and therapies from a clinician’s perspective, but also the personal experience from the patient’s point of view including the ups and downs of such a journey.
I hope you find this series of short articles informative, helpful, and at my expense, entertaining. Please share them, comment on them, and feel free to pose questions.
Best in Health,
Paul
Tags: A.R.T., Active Release Technique, Active Release Techniques, Acupuncture, Anterior Capusule Repair, Case Study, Constipation, Dislocation, Emergency Room, Herbal Medicine, Herbal Treatment, Integrative Approach, Kettlebell, Meds, Percocet, Physical Therapy, Rotator Cuff, Rotator Cuff Injury, Rotator Cuff Surgery, Rotator Cuff Tear, Sling, Soccer Game, Sports Acupuncture, Sports Injuries, Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Acupuncture
Great resource. I will check back often. Thanks