Torn Rotator Cuff/ Surgery Advice

[shashibala]

I fell about 8 months ago and landed on my shoulder.:mad:
My injury is not healing on it's own despite my diligent efforts and physical therapy. I am in terrible pain and can't lift my right arm. My PT, who is very conservative in his recommendations, is now advising me to look into surgery. I am scared of surgery! Does anyone have any experience with this type of injury or with having surgery while raw?
Thank you very much!!

[carolg]

I'm sure I had the same problem, which I called a frozen shoulder, and got treated and healed by my chiro. rolfing me like crazy for a year. It was painful, but worked.

Did you have xrays? I never did. I couldn't lift my arm. I couldn't close my bra. I had no movement, but now I have full range of motion. If he got my arm working I am believing for you. A chiro that understands rolfing would be my first choice. What city/state? This chiro is now in Montana: Tim Binder and has website. He is absolutely fabulous. www.bigmedicine.com. If you call you can use my name so email me if that is reality.

Surgery is always first course of action among those who don't understand alternatives. Have you searched online for alternatives to this? What about more green powders are their live enzymes in them and going heavy.

Dr. Schulze broke so many bones, etc. His great website www.herbdoc.com. Order free catalog via phone. You can still see it online, but having it in hand and keeping is great. Their deep tissue may help you.

Feel great. Keep us posted.

carolg

[RawHeaven]

Shashibala, I didn't injure my shoulder but I broke my leg, arm and hand. What I learned is there are certain medical practices that are very beneficial to the body. Like orthopedic surgery. :) If your shoulder is bothering you 8 months after you injured yourself this is not a good sign and I would recommend having the surgery (based on what you've shared). It's better to heal joint/muscle injuries expediently, otherwise you risk stuff flaring up in later months or years. And sometimes you experience secondary problems, because everything links together with the body. When one area is out of balance, it creates imbalances in other areas. I've had at least 10 reconstructive surgeries and no I'm not a fan, but it's not too bad. Just make sure you have plenty of your own food on hand after the operation if you're in-patient. You will probably heal faster than the average person anyway being that you're a raw foodist. It's really a win/win situation for you. Seek a second opinion if you're not completely certain about the operation, but make sure you're well educated on exactly what is going on with your shoulder, what the surgeon(s) plan to do and the recovery plan. It's really imperative to begin visualizing your recovery beforehand and know the proposed physical therapy timeline. It helps ease your fears when you're educated about the process and know what to expect. The very most important thing, especially if you're a giver and don't like to ask for help is to put that aside and ask for help in advance. It's best to rest when you're healing from that type of surgery. When you have your contingency plans in place - like having help with your food shopping, housecleaning, help with transportation in general and simply having friends/family stop by and visit - well it makes all of the difference!

((((Hugs))))

Crystal

[RawHeaven]

Oh forgot, I echo Carol with the alternative medicine route too. I went to an acupunturist for two years and did a lot of breath work, reiki healing as well. Check into acupuncture - it will help wonderfully with your healing process. Also just in case you get to one sooner than later, my acupuncturist would put these very tiny plugs on the outside of my ears (one on each) that would really help ease anxiety before my surgery. It has to do with the pressure point in that area of the body. You can keep them on for 7 days I think. Even though I shared how to move through it above, I still would get anxious. Acupunture is wonderful and I can't recommend it enough.

Peace.

[shashibala]

Thank you for your replies!!

Raw Heaven, Thanks for sharing your experience. If I do end up having an operation, your tips will be very helpful to me! I will look into acupuncture. Were you raw when you had your surgeries? 10 surgeries! Wow! That sounds very challenging. I'm glad to know you have come through it all so well! Thanks! Kendra

Carol, I completely agree with you in general. I wouldn't choose surgery easily.
My physical therapist never recommends surgery, but he believes that the ligaments are badly torn and that I am reinjuring them daily, thereby causing myself severe pain. I'll look into the chiropractic route. I already drink two huge green smoothies a day and use enzymes. This is why I'm so disappointed that it isn't healing. I currently don't have health insurance, but I will within a few months. Then I'll be able to get some imaging done and see what's going on in there. I am very happy to hear that your shoulder is healed!! Thank you!

[RawHeaven]

Thank you for your replies!!

Raw Heaven, Thanks for sharing your experience. If I do end up having an operation, your tips will be very helpful to me! I will look into acupuncture. Were you raw when you had your surgeries? 10 surgeries! Wow! That sounds very challenging. I'm glad to know you have come through it all so well! Thanks! Kendra



Thank you very much, I'm glad it's all behind me now. I was very motivated to get well and the surgeries were necessary to correct my bones that didn't heal properly. I was a junk food vegetarian for the duration of my recovery and blew up in size because I was using food to deal with depression and to console myself. I started fasting and eating raw foods about 2 years after the accident. During the last 3 operations I was raw and I noticed significant differences in my recovery. Huge really. Rather than staying in the hospital for a week or two, I would be home in 1-2 days. Scarring was less...everything was better when I was raw. I didn't have to take as many pain meds. It was great. Yes, it was beyond challenging at times, but when you're in the middle of something like that you somehow find the strength. In hindsight, it seems surreal to me now. Good luck to you!

[Sugar Snap Pea]

Have the surgery. You've tried to heal yourself with more conservative treatments, and your health care professionals are now trying to guide you to the next step. Also, further damage could occur if you don't correct the problem at this point. Being raw is a big advantage, in my book!

[carolg]

I actually had the shoulder pain, which my chiro. said most would have recommended and had surgery over a year before finding him back in town. He worked on my shoulder for a year. Everyone should make choices they feel is best for their situation. I am sharing my situation and I didn't have insurance at that time either. It was $100 for the 50-60 minutes. It was so painful when he was working on me.

I'm there cheering you on for the choices for your body. Keep us posted.

Shash,
I don't recall if you had xrays done yet or was it no insurance that prevented that? Got a low income clinic perhaps takes xrays.

Right now I am working on the healing of knee/hamstring area. I have been to the chiro for about 2 months now, 2x week, but started recently going to
1x week. I have to ice daily, but seem to forget sometimes as no pain happening right now. I have exercises I should be doing but forget sometimes too.

Feel GREAT Shash and all sufferers of any type of pain.

carolg

[shashibala]

Thank you all for your support. It's really helping me!

I did have an xray right after the injury which showed no bone damage.The doctor at the prompt care place charged me 420 bucks and said it was a bruise. It wasn't. I heard a terrible snap when I fell on it! It must be a soft tissue injury that can't be seen in an xray.

[carolg]

Shash,
Amazing how expensive an xray can be. Wow, shocked, but take care and feel great.

carolg