Don't put off things, you may not have to opportunity to do them later

[rice paddy daddy]

My husband just had surgery on his right shoulder today. The doctorfound more damage than he expected. My husband's shoulder has been hurting for about 20 years and it was so worn down that it was bone on bone. Do yourself a favor and don't wait. Get it taken car of now.

I injured my shoulder in the mid 1980's. Things were really painful for 6 months or so, then it healed. Or so I thought. It began hurting again a few years ago, but I didn't do anything until the summer of 2010 when I could no longer use my arm.
After MRI's and X-rays, the orthopedic group who replaced both of my wife's knees did surgery.
Doc said when he went inside it was one of the worst he had seen - 3 of the 4 tendons that make up the rotator cuff were completely torn away, muscles were atrophied, a bone spur was impinging on my nerves (side note-this nerve impingement actually caused pain in my foot in addition to my arm!).
He had to use screws, wire, and a metal plate. He said it was so bad that this was my only chance, if I screwed this up he could do no more. That got my attention!
Eight weeks in a sling, months of physical therapy, almost three months of sleeping in my recliner because it hurt too much to lay on my back in bed; all together it was a full year of healing.

If only I had paid attention 25 years ago instead of trying to tough it out.

Karen - tell your husband to do everything the physical therapist says, work each excersize the very best he can, and don't give up. The therapy is just as important to proper healing as the surgery was. Tell him that all the hard work wil be worth it in the long run.

[JUSTIFIED]

Also dont forget about dental health. a small cavaty is easyer to take care of then to have a root canal or a crown. pain is less too.

"Where There is no Doctor" and "Where There is no Dentist". Great books to have when electronics crash and there is no google. One thing we're working on is collecting books covering medical, food, water, government, etc...everything we can think of that might be of use when the shtf. I need to work on getting my HAM license!

[FeloDeSe]

Yup..whoever came up with the commercial stating that "it's fun to put snap, crackle and pop into your morning" was NOT more than 25 years old!!! LOL

But seriously, yes - get problems addressed now, not only because the treatment is available, but because it may prevent a simple issue from blossoming into something worse.

Also dont forget about dental health. a small cavaty is easyer to take care of then to have a root canal or a crown. pain is less too.

[JUSTIFIED]

Yup..whoever came up with the commercial stating that "it's fun to put snap, crackle and pop into your morning" was NOT more than 25 years old!!! LOL

But seriously, yes - get problems addressed now, not only because the treatment is available, but because it may prevent a simple issue from blossoming into something worse.

I'm way too familiar with that saying as I get older! LOL Now, it's easier and quicker to tell the Doc what doesn't hurt rather than what does.

Come on rapture! I'm ready for that pain free body!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Went in and got a heart scan. Something that I needed as I have family history. This is something you should not put off, that $50 is worth it because once the pipes are clogged they stay clogged. This leads to you having to work harder for the same results and making the motor quit quicker which aint what we are looking for in the long term goals.
First test I ever took that i wanted to make a zero! LOL True to my high school form I accomplished it too

[Grantmeliberty]

My grandmother fell and broke her shoulder when she was in her late 70's and the doctor told her she would lose the ROM in it. She had the fortitude to use as stick with steps for her fingers on the wall and climbed those steps one by one till she had ROM again. Determination can accomplish amazing things.
There are various natural remedies which may be better, ie major supplements, especially Vitamin C. Our joints and tendons are sensitive to lack of Vitamin C, and unlike most animals, the gene for synthesizing Vitamin C is turned off. We should be getting many grams of Vitamin C a day to maintain our health. Linus Pauling had a patent with a German MD for reversing heart disease with 5 grams of Vitamin C and the amino acids lysine and proline daily.
I have pulled a tendon in my knee on two occasions when I was not taking any supplemental Vitamin C. My need for Vitamin C is greater than average I believe, because when I just get 100 or so mg, I will have spontaneous nose bleeds and bruise easily.
I once had a back injury bad enough that when I went to the chiropractor and he x-rayed me, he told me that he might not be able to help me, but that I might need surgery. As it turned out, I ended up visiting him 3 times, and using an alternating hot/cold pack therapy, and recovered completely. There were two seriously bulging discs in my lower back showing on the x-ray, and I had crawled into his office. On the note of chiropractors, there are good and bad, as in the medical profession, but he really saved me that time.
On another health issue, in 1982 I developed a serious hernia, and by great good fortune got turned on to the absolutely best course for hernia repair. There is a hospital in Ontario which does nothing but hernia repairs, and their success rate over the last 60 odd years, by patient survey, is 99.5%. In 1982 the surgery and 3 days in the hospital cost $800. Today that amount is about $4000. A month after my surgery I was moving a house full of furniture by myself, changed an engine in an old school bus by the side of a highway in the desert of southeastern Oregon, and cracked a rib in a bicycle accident, all of which failed to tear loose the hernia repair. The hospital is Shouldice Hospital and their website is www.shouldice.com

[Karen]

My husband just had surgery on his right shoulder today. The doctorfound more damage than he expected. My husband's shoulder has been hurting for about 20 years and it was so worn down that it was bone on bone. Do yourself a favor and don't wait. Get it taken car of now.

[Klayton]

Shoulders are an achille's heel. Most general practice doctors blow them off or do very little investigation.

Here is a HUGE CLUE. If he/she does NOT do ROM (range of motion) tests, several not just one or two, ask for a referral to either a sports medicine doctor or physical therapist. My general practitioner labeled mine as simply frozen shoulder and told me to exercise it more often. Bah, a year later and it still hurt doing workouts. Went to a sports medicine doctor, she did several ROM tests load bearing and non load bearing, yep frozen shoulder caused by a partial sprain/tear (guess they cannot confirm partial tears unless they GO IN and look). After about 3 months of physical therapy I am "almost" good as new. The doc told me that I may have permanent damage that would require surgery if I want it to get back to 100% ROM. But na, I am good with no more pain. If I have to reach over my head I just use the left arm or get a ladder. :cool:

[tech]

Yup..whoever came up with the commercial stating that "it's fun to put snap, crackle and pop into your morning" was NOT more than 25 years old!!! LOL

But seriously, yes - get problems addressed now, not only because the treatment is available, but because it may prevent a simple issue from blossoming into something worse.

[WiseOwl]

I meant NOW eligible.

Matt, I am going to tell them ahead of time....."please make time for me for at least 2 hours." I have nothing wrong, but I want to know it through a Doc.


And that noise..........I know some of the "older folks" sound like old porch swings that need WD40.....:)

[Matt In Oklahoma]

With my new job "probationary period" ending March 1st, I am not eligible for my insurance. Me and the whole family are going to go have complete medical and dental checkups. Now is a better time than never....now I gotta find some respectable doctors and dentists that are open on Saturday since I am only allowed 2 PTO days my first year......

With me turning 30 in a few weeks, its time to get a tune up, tires rotated and balanced and an oil change. I aint as young as I think I am when it comes to doing physical work.....a little heavy lifting and/or strenuous work finally makes me say "oooh" and "ugggh" when I get up or sit down........I know all you "oldies" can relate to that up and down noise.

Dont forget things like tetnus shots during that tune up bud, and oldies dont make noise when gettin up and down with our mouths there youngun LOL

[WiseOwl]

With my new job "probationary period" ending March 1st, I am not eligible for my insurance. Me and the whole family are going to go have complete medical and dental checkups. Now is a better time than never....now I gotta find some respectable doctors and dentists that are open on Saturday since I am only allowed 2 PTO days my first year......

With me turning 30 in a few weeks, its time to get a tune up, tires rotated and balanced and an oil change. I aint as young as I think I am when it comes to doing physical work.....a little heavy lifting and/or strenuous work finally makes me say "oooh" and "ugggh" when I get up or sit down........I know all you "oldies" can relate to that up and down noise.

[Wendy]

The plus side is, if you get snow, you can get out of shoveling! :)

[MustangGal]

Gah! I hadn't even thought about driving! It is my right arm and I drive a stick! Darn! Darn! and double Darn!

[Wendy]

I agree with getting it looked at sooner rather than later, healing time from surgery on the rotator cuff can be long with limited movement of that arm. We are going through it now with my father; he can't drive, shoot, or fly and is miserable!