My rotator is torn

I experienced a torn rotator while pitching during a pony league baseball game when I was fourteen. I knew right away that something was wrong, but it wasn’t until the following day that I realized that I may have done permanent damage when I could not even mimic a throwing motion without excruciating pain.

At that time (the late ‘70’s), shoulder surgery for a young high school athlete was not even considered. Fortunately, my shoulder healed and it was not until my senior year (1979) that I succeeded in tearing my rotator again. Up until that point, I had dreams of a college scholarship and possibly a professional career.

Shoulder surgery is common today

Today, shoulder surgery is common. I know of countless people who have had some form of shoulder surgery or another. It remains the most viable option for shoulder repair – UNTIL NOW!

Stem cell procedure may be the answer to surgery

WATCH THIS VIDEO – Dr. Chris Centeno, using the Regenexx procedure, extracts stem cells from the bone marrow in a patients hip, multiplies those stem cells in the lab to increase the total number of stem cells and then injects the patients own stem cells back into the patients damaged tissues.

Results have been promising and patients are are spreading the news of their experience with this new procedure.

Because of my racing (really it’s due to crashes while racing), I have broken a lot of bones, including three shoulders. It has been my experience that shoulder injuries take the longest to heal and rehabilitate.

If you experience a shoulder injury, then pain and discomfort will be unavoidable on your journey to full mobility, strength and function of your shoulder.

Your physical therapist is your friend

Your physical therapist is your friend. It has been my experience that some of the exercises and tasks that they will perform don’t make them appear friendly, but they are genuinely trying to help you. My therapists at Total Rehab in Auburn Alabama, were acutely tuned to my pain tolerance. This is a necessity. In order for you to regain full function, your physical therapy will be aggressive, but your willingness and your pain tolerance will be two of the determining factors in your progression.

Research is necessary for understanding

I didn’t understand how long the process could take, so I started doing some research into shoulder injuries, shoulder surgery and shoulder rehabilitation. This helped me to have a better understanding and allowed me to communicate intelligently with both my orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Raymond Godsil, Auburn Orthopedic Clinic) and my physical therapists (Ty Garner, Tom Evans and Dr. John Mann).

It is my opinion that anyone who experiences an injury should do as much research as possible. This is so that you can be educated about the pain, rehabilitation process, possibility of future complications and the pros and cons of surgical and non-surgical management. People should always be open and honest with their doctors and therapists. Ask questions until you feel that you have a comfortable understanding of the situation and all that is involved.

DO:

• research your injury
• research treatments for that injury
• research your options (there are always options)
• research the rehabilitation process
• seek professional attention and assistance
• ask question (lots of questions – make sure that you understand everything)
• communicate openly with all doctors, therapists and athletic trainers
• ask about exercises that you can perform at home
• ask if there is anything that you can do to expedite the rehabilitation process
• be patient
• ask about exercises that can help prevent future injuries

DON’T:

• argue with medical professionals
• hesitate to seek a second or third opinion
• pretend that you are better if you aren’t
• skip treatments or appointments
• attempt to do any exercises or tasks without consulting your doctors or therapists first
• expect miracles

Knowledge is power

Education and knowledge are a powerful asset when you are suffering from an injury. Gain as much information as you can, so that you can communicate with the medical professionals about your injury and rehab process. This may also give you greater peace of mind and reduce any apprehension that you may be experiencing.

Lack of knowledge can induce undue stress and worry. Gain the understanding and comfort that you deserve.

The shoulder is a complex joint made up of three bones:

• the HUMERUS – the upper arm bone
• the SCAPULA – the shoulder blade
• the CLAVICLE – the collar bone

The scapula has a shallow socket called the glenoid, which the ball of the humerus fits into. The union of these bones is referred to as the glenohumeral–joint or shoulder-joint. (To see a very good animation – click here)

Shoulder Dislocation

When the glenohumeral joint is disrupted, the humerus loses contact with the glenoid and results in the condition known as shoulder dislocation.

Shoulder Separation

The uppermost part of the scapula (shoulder blade) is known as the acromion. The union of the clavicle (collar bone) and the acromion is called the acromioclavicular joint or AC joint. When this joint is disrupted, a shoulder separation / AC separation results.

Shoulder separations classified by severity of injury

Shoulder separations are classified according to the severity of the injury. You may hear it described as different levels, grades, types or degrees of separation.

All joints are held in place by ligaments (extremely tough, tissue structures that connect bone to bone). In the AC joint, one set of ligaments forms the joint capsule around the AC joint (this is known as the acromioclavicular ligament). Two other ligaments connect the clavicle to a bony protrusion of the scapula, called the coracoid process. These are called the coracoclavicular ligaments.

• TYPE I – there is a partial tear of the acromioclavicular ligament (AC ligament), with no change of the position of the clavicle (collar bone).
• TYPE II – there is the rupture of the AC ligament and partial tearing of the coracoclavicular ligament with some change of the position of the clavicle (collar bone).
• TYPE III – there is the rupture of the AC ligament and coracoclavicular ligament, definite upwardly displaced clavicle.
• TYPE IV – there is posterior (rearward) displacement of the clavicle, behind the AC joint.
• TYPE V – there is an upward displacement of the clavicle, puncturing muscle tissue.
• TYPE VI – there is a downward displacement of the clavicle, which becomes lodged beneath the acromion or coracoid process.

TYPE I and TYPE II separations are the most common types of AC separations and rarely require surgery.

TYPES IV, V and VI are rare injuries and commonly result in surgical repair.

TYPE III separations are the most controversial. They are fairly common, but there is still some debate as to whether surgery is the “right” treatment, though surgery may be recommended for high level throwing athletes. Some feel that the joint will heal without surgery if the injury is managed properly.

Surgery for a TYPE III separation usually involves relocating the AC joint and repairing the torn ligaments. The clavicle will also be secured, either by screw or possibly goretex tape, until the ligaments have had sufficient time to heal. If a screw is used to secure the clavicle, then it is normally removed within eight weeks of surgery.

In the event that you are faced with a TYPE III AC separation, consult with your physician about the pros and cons of surgical and non-surgical treatment. Ask about:

• possible physical restrictions you may face
• mobility issues
• the strength of your shoulder
• possible future complications
• your rehabilitation time
• any possible risks

I spent two years with the LSU volleyball and tennis programs as well as a year with the University of Louisiana of Lafayette volleyball and softball programs. With all of these teams playing overhead sports, I spent a lot of time stretching their arms and shoulders. If I had had the Rotater, then my time could have been freed up to work on other important things.

The nicest thing about the Rotater is that the athlete has has total control of the stretch. Instead of me constantly asking if they were getting a good stretch, they can feel it and control it themselves.

I plan on sending the information about the Rotater on to professionals that I have worked with so that they can implement it in their programs.

On a personal note, I play a lot of volleyball and can now stretch my arm out before I get on the court. I used to stretch as much as possible, but it would still take the first game to feel really warm. Now I can get a great stretch before I even start a match!

Thanks guys for your help!

Tamara Copes, M.S, ATC, LAT

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What is the Rotater?

See the Rotater action video!

Order your Rotater today!

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Pain is hard to quantify and varies from person to person. Some people have a high pain threshold while others don’t. When my wife was going through childbirth, the nurses would come by periodically with a graphical chart that expressed pain as a variety of facial expressions. These graphical icons varied from a smiley face (no pain) to a crying face (intense pain). Then, based on which icon my wife selected to represent her pain level, a strategy was formulated to provide her with some relief.

Just as the intensity of pain varies from person to person, so to do the possible treatments. What you must realize is that your pain is a symptom of some underlying cause. Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong or damaged.

For example, if you sprain your ankle, then the pain you feel is a symptom of the damaged ligaments in your ankle. If you are suffering from pain, then there is something causing your pain. For this reason, it is wise to take any pain seriously. See your doctor and allow him or her to treat the underlying cause.

Sometimes the cause of our pain (strained muscle, sprained joint, arthritis, etc) may be very slow healing which results in continual discomfort. If this is the case, then you may benefit from LumiWave, a deep-tissue, infrared-light therapy device. Take a look at the science behind the device, consult your physician and see if it can help you.

Sufficiently impressed (or intrigued), Dr. Foster bought a Rotater. Dr. Foster stopped by our booth again the next day. This time, he was on his way to the airport and he had been unable to fit his Rotater into his suitcase. I told him that we would be glad to mail him a Rotater when we returned home.

Before departing to the airport, Dr. Foster opened his bag and proceeded to autograph his book (“Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries”), which he then gave to me. Up to that point, I had no idea that he was an author. He looked so normal (a little writer’s sarcasm).

I finished reading “Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries” yesterday and as I step up to the first tee to “grip it and rip it”, I must admit that anyone humble enough to call himself “Dr. Divot”, scores points with me. Dr. Foster admits that he is an “average” golfer and he says in his book, “Though I hope that professionals and low handicap players find this book useful, it is really written with the average golfer in mind.”

Dr.Divot keeps his word. The information in his book is presented in a logical order, without a lot of medical jargon or Latin terminology and is supported by many documented scientific studies.

Dr. Divot explains:

• The various types of injuries a golfer is likely to encounter – sprains, strains, fractures, tendonitis, etc.
• The parts of the body that are most often affected – ( chapters are dedicated to elbow, wrist/hand, back, shoulder, and knee injuries )
• Why these injuries occur – these explanations may surprise you!
• Typical and non-typical treatments – from rest and rehab to joint replacement
• How to prevent injuries in the first place – the best information of all.

Dr. Divot also includes chapters dedicated to the female golfer and the older golfer, two demographics that are often overlooked, but make up about fifty percent of recreational golfers.

I really enjoyed “Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries” because Dr. Foster mad it a “good read”. He interjected just the right amount of humor to keep it light, while getting the seriousness of his message across.

I was stunned when Dr. Foster cited studies that had quantitatively determined the magnitude of the forces exerted on the spine of an “average” golfer during a typical golf swing. Regardless of what anyone may think, golf is a real sport and can have an adverse affect on your body just like any other physically demanding task.

I highly recommend “Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries”. The information it provides will answer many of your un-asked questions. Dr. Divot:

• may help you play and enjoy the game longer
• will explain possible reasons that you are having pain
• will help you understand what you can do to decrease your chances of developing an injury
• explains your options if you are injured or are experiencing pain

Dr. Divot has a web site. www.doctordivotmd.com – Dr. Foster encourages anyone who has a question to present it to him on the provided web page and he will attempt to address it.