<p>A couple of months ago, I overexerted my left shoulder by lifting something too heavy for me. At first, the shoulder ached and I wound up favoring my right arm. Time has passed and instead of healing, the aching has extended to the elbow as well and I don’t feel like using my left arm. I toss and turn all night trying to find a comfortable position. Do I see a chiropractor for this? A physical therapist? An orthopedist? I have no clue.</p>
<p>Seek out a sports medicine physician. there is probably one in your local Orthopedic group. If you need surgery that dr will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon.</p>
<p>The sports med doc can order x-rays, mri’s etc and order physical therapy. If you need physical therapy then you get an prescription from the dr and take that to the physical therapist.</p>
<p>If you are comfortable with a chiroprator you may seek one out as an alternative to a sports medicine doc.</p>
<p>First, make absolutely sure that it is a musculoskeletal problem rather than referred pain from another condition (ie: heart, gallbladder) by seeing your regular doctor. Once you have established that the problem is purely muscoskeletal you have options. I would go to a physiatrist, but I think that most people would get a referral from their primary doctor, and perhaps seek an opinion from an orthopedist who specializes in shoulder injuries. I would much prefer a physiatrist for this type of problem.</p>
<p>Thanks, moms! I don’t even know what a physiastrist is but already I know I prefer the sound of it over surgery! (Of course DH says I may need Tommy John surgery and that I could become the oldest starting pitcher in the MLB.) I will check into these options ASAP because I could surely use a good night’s sleep.</p>
<p>Your welcome. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. You can google physiatrist and read about them. I too prefer conservative medicine before surgical options for anything. First your problem needs to be diagnosed before anyone knows what type of treatment you might require.</p>
<p>As someone who’s had bad shoulders for years–I swam butterfly in high school and college–there is a lot to be done to strengthen your shoulders using physical therapy. But you do need to know if you tore a tendon, ligament, or muscle before you do anything else. That requires an MRI. For that, you see your personal physician if you’re in a PPO plan, or a sports medicine specialist if you’re not. An MRI is painless.</p>
<p>If you did tear something, arthroscopic shoulder surgery is pretty straightforward and has a much shorter recovery time than knee surgery (because you don’t put weight on your shoulder). A friend of mine who’s had two shoulder surgeries says it’s six weeks and you’re done. </p>
<p>If you didn’t do any actual damage, physical therapy will work wonders.</p>
<p>Don’t delay too much longer; if it’s bad enough pain to keep you up nights, something nasty is going on in there.</p>
<p>Actually most (mine is) sports medicine dr’s are family physicians. Depending on your insurance you can start with them and just have them copy everything over to you family dr.</p>
<p>I had bursitis in both shoulders for years - went to my family dr and got the xray, mri etc… cortisone shots but no real relief until I went to the sports med guy.
Physical therapy can work wonders - it kept me from surgery - but you do need a dr prescription.<br>
Depends on what is available in your area though.</p>
<p>I agree with northeastmom - see if you can try non-surgical options first. These folks have many tricks up their sleeves these days.
Good luck - been there done that and I feel your pain.</p>
<p>Don’t assume that an orthopedist will go straight to surgery…most won’t, unless it is really necessary. I think the ideal is an orthopedist who specializes in sports medicine.</p>
<p>I have always taken the opposite approach. I like to start with the doctor who wants to do the most extreme possible treatment, and then ask him/her how to avoid getting that treatment for as long as possible. In the case of the surgeon who recommended having my rotator cuff rebuilt, I then asked if he had any other ideas. Fifteen years later, I still haven’t had the surgery and I have much stronger shoulders. I did the same thing with my plantar fasciitis. I still have the bone spurs the surgeon said could be removed–but I also saw the podiatrist he recommended, and that’s meant I’ve avoided the surgery for ten years–although lately I’m thinking I may look at surgery again. </p>
<p>I find that knowing the details of the surgery really inspires me to stick with the day-to-day stuff you have to do to AVOID the surgery–physical therapy, massage, etc.</p>
<p>However, in the case of the sport medicine guy who said I really did need to have the bone cancer that was causing my knee pain removed… well, I did have that surgery. And seeing a physical therapist or a physiatrist or a chiropractor wouldn’t have helped that pain a bit. Pain is indication of a problem, and you need to know what the problem is.</p>
<p>Orthopedists by definition are surgeon’s. Surgeon’s operate.</p>
<p>In the Orthopedic practice in town - they have two sports medicine guys you have to see one of them first before the orthopedist. They certainly can do an exam and order and interpret studies. They are also more likely to spend time with the patient.<br>
If you can make an appointment directly with an orthopedic surgeon - the wait could be very long. With a Sports med guy you could get in much sooner.
My daughter has chronic knee problems - she loves her sports med guy - can’t stand the surgeon, refuses to see him again.</p>
<p>That said - there are many orthopedists who bend over backward before they will operate. some conditions just aren’t clear cut.<br>
There are countless stories out there - for some surgery works wonders and for others it hardly helps. </p>
<p>Bottom line - go get examined and studies done and go from there - eyes wide open.</p>
<p>Geez, that’s what I love about this board. People really do care about one another’s trials and tribulations and are always willing to share their wealth of knowledge. You’ve all convinced me that I shouldn’t just wait it out any longer; apparently that approach isn’t working. I’ll keep you posted.</p>
<p>You should see a real doctor (MD), and get a diagnosis first. Then you can decide on PT/chiropractor, etc., depending on what your problem is.</p>
<p>I know a guy who went to a chiropractor for a problem with his hand, and found out months later that the cause was a brain tumor…</p>
<p>Be sure to jump through the hoops of your insurance plan- you may need to see your primary care physician to get the specialist (eg orthopedic) referral. You don’t want payment denied because you bypassed the rules.</p>
<p>Worrywart, How are you feeling? What type of medical care provider did you end up seeing, or have you not gotten an appointment yet? Hope that you are feeling better.</p>
<p>Gosh, northeastmom, how thoughtful of you to inquire! I have to admit that I’ve had a couple of pain-free days so I’ve put off making the appointment. Silly, I know, because the pain will return with the first false move-- like hauling top soil in my garden yesterday! My intention is to seek out a sports medicine doctor when I do get my act together, but the thought of klutzy ol’ me needing a doc for jocks is kinda comical.</p>
<p>Lol, well, its good to know that you are feeling better, for right now anyway. Think positively! Perhaps you just strained something, and you are on the mend without any medical treatment.</p>
<p>See your regular doctor, determine if an x-ray is in order, and get your doctor to write up a scrip for a physical therapist. PTs will attack the pain with ultrasound, electrical stim, and laser; will do deep-tissue massage; and most importantly, will show you the proper exercises to KEEP it strong and pain-free.</p>
<p>I do hope you’re feeling better, worrywart. I had a similar problem several years ago. After a day of painting walls, my right shoulder became very painful and I could not move my arm without extremely sharp pain which radiated up and down my arm. Within a period of two weeks, I had seen my regular doctor and an orthopedist. I had an x-ray and then was sent for an MRI which revealed an “abnormality” in my right deltoid area. Suddenly, this area became more of a concern to the doctors than my shoulder which was where the pain was. I was then sent for a bone scan. The orthopedist told me the bone scan concerned him and he sent me to Vanderbilt to see an orthopedic oncologist. More x-rays and tests. Needless to say, I was worried sick between the first and second visit with the oncologist. Fortunately, the orthopedic oncologist determined that the “abnormality” in my right arm had possibly been there since birth and she was able to go ahead and concentrate on my shoulder pain. I had a portion of my clavicle removed because it was bone on bone with no cushioning. After a period of recovery, my arm felt great and I can move it every way possible without pain. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would skip the chiropractor. I know people who swear by them, but I think it’s important to get a clear diagnosis first. Good luck! Please keep us updated.</p>
<p>DD has shoulder issues. One the the orthopedists in the practice specializes in these types of things…and sports related injuries. DD went to him…had the MRI, and the exams…and was given a prescription for physical therapy that really made all the difference.</p>
<p>You might be developing a frozen shoulder. See any doctor and ask about that diagnosis as well getting a basic shoulder exam and workup. If you have a frozen shoulder you need an excellent physical therapist and post back here or PM me if that’s what you have because I know A LOT about frozen shoulders. Good luck.</p>