Fast Eddie
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- Joined
- Oct 4, 2013
- Messages
- 21,380
It’s amazing what can be achieved through manipulation and alignment by a knowledgable practitioner Glen.The Orthopedic Surgeon pointed me to a Mayo Clinic study of rotator cuff muscle reattachments in senior patients.
In the 70s and 80s it was common practice to surgically reattach all torn off shoulder muscles, even in 80+ year old patients. As he said " We thought we could fix everthing in everbody"
After awhile it was noticed that the failure rate was very high in older patients. It was nearly 100% in the over 80 year olds and close to 80% in my age group ( 69).
With the advent of MRI they were able to track the results and clearly see what was happening. The attachments were holding but the old tissue was letting go.
His age cut off for this type of reattachment is 55 years. He would do a complete artificial shoulder replacement for me if I was in constant pain, but I'm not. Even with the shoulder replacement they do not reattach the torn off muscles in old patients. So no strength would be gained, only possible mobility without strength.
I could throw both of my hands up when my team scores a goal I suppose, but I don't follow sports so that's not too important!
A friend in the US had this surgery done a couple of weeks ago and is currently in agony, so I think I'll hold off for now and work with what I've got. The recovery time for most types shoulder surgery tends to be quite long and painful from what I've read.
My bicep and tricep are intact so I can lift the same as ever in close to the body.
I can't swing my arm out to the side much, so I'll just turn the body instead.
I can still split firewood and shovel dirt or snow, just by reversing my normal grip.
It could be much worse, I could be in a wheelchair or dead.
Silver lining, the cow hit my head so hard that both hearing aids flew out, never to be found again.
$2800 later I have new hearing aids that work much better than the old ones ever did!
Glen
I’ve got an old reoccurring shoulder issue. But it’s pretty much kept at bay by my chiropractor. Her explanations about how the shoulder works, and what’s she’s doing, are fascinating.
A friend on the other hand, has had numerous injections and two operations, been through agony, repeated prolonged ‘down time’ and really hasn’t gained much. His isn’t an injury either, ‘just’ an age related ‘frozen shoulder’.
The shoulder is the most complex joint, held together by a complex grouping of overlaying muscles. When one muscle has an issue, the others often become inflamed and / or spasm to ‘protect’ the damaged muscle. Unfortunately, this ‘protection’ often becomes a worse issue. I think this is why skilful manipulation and alignment work works so well on the shoulder.
I’m not for a minute saying this would fix you back to 20 year old Glen, but it may be a none intrusive, agony free way to regain some of what you’ve lost.