Who Do You Call When You're Told You Need Surgery?

I got a call from my sister one day - she'd been dealing with significant shoulder pain for some time. She kept thinking it would resolve with rest & traditional treatment - anti-inflammatories & traditional PT (rotator cuff strengthening, e-stim, ice).  Yet, she was still unable to perform the activities she loved.  By the time she reached out to me, an MRI was scheduled. "Seems necessary," I reassured.

I got another call - the MRI results were in. “They say surgery is my only option if I want to keep active.” She had a torn Rotator Cuff that "must be repaired."  The surgeon also wanted to do a “little extra” & move the Biceps tendon, since she pain there, too.

What would you do if you were in her shoes, but you had to make the decision on your own… or with Dr. Google?  Pretty stressful, I’d say!  I mean, if you knew 100% this was the right plan, you’d have a much easier time accepting it, right?  What if it’s not the right answer? Do you actually NEED the surgery?  What about this “extra” work with the Bicep tendon?  Will you ever be the same? How long is the recovery? Can you maximize the healing process?   Is it REALLY WORTH IT?

Luckily, she had me in her corner.  The ultimate “phone a friend” in this situation.   I wasn’t about to let my own sister go under the knife unless I was sure there was no better option.  I reviewed the MRI summary & immediately knew surgery was the best option for her. Since she knows I don’t give that advice often, she, too was confident. I encouraged a 2nd opinion on the Biceps procedure, who agreed it seemed frivolous.

MY SISTER WAS ABLE TO ENTER THAT OPERATING ROOM WITH CONFIDENCE that she was doing the best thing for herself & that she had unbiased support around her.  She was set up to win, mentally, right from the get-go.  She had me to pray over her, guide her through the healing process, encourage her when she was down, and go to if she needed a 2nd opinion with therapy or return-to-activity.  I had nothing influencing my recommendations to her, except her.

Want someone like THAT in your corner? 

Schedule a FREE Discovery Call here https://prosper-pt.as.me/discoverycall & get this support for YOU!  

Comments

Those "Tricky" Hamstrings - Part 2

THE ROLE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM This "epidemic" of recurring hamstring injuries is, in part, due to the under-valued role of the nervous system. There is often too much focus on the structural "damage" and isolated limitations vs the overall dysfunction. I'm not saying that treating the damaged tissue is not important. But, in order to minimize recurrence, we must look beyond the isolated injury and seek to understand the integrated, "big picture" of the problem. IS IT ACTUAL DAMAGE OR SOMETHING ELSE? One interesting concept to understand is that the tension of our muscles are completely under the control of our nervous system. Your brain is in constant awareness of the tension of all your muscles. Unless you change your nervous system, you will continue to sense tightness. As mentioned in Part 1, stretching isn't necessarily the answer to resolving tension. The relief felt by isolated muscle stretching only lasts for about 20 minutes. ...

Those "Tricky" Hamstrings (Part 3)

So far, we have discussed the consequences of OVER STRETCHING and the role of the NERVOUS SYSTEM in treating and preventing hamstring injuries. Now it's time to dive in to the ROTATIONAL component of our hamstrings. We cannot treat the hamstring group in just one plane of motion. Look at the diagram and notice that there are some hamstring muscles that attach to the inside (medial) side of the knee, and others that attach to the outside (lateral) side of the knee. When working together, the medial and lateral hamstrings will act in a coordinated manner to bend the knee and extend the hip. Individually, the medial hamstrings turn the thigh inward (Internal Rotation or IR) and the lateral hamstrings turn the thigh outward (External Rotation or ER). This means that the hamstrings are also a crucial player in side-to-side and rotational movements. On the same lines, the hamstrings will act at the upper attachment at the pelvis. The med...

Therapists Need Advice, Too!

PT WITH NAGGING HIP PAIN I received a message from a physical therapist colleague & active mom asking for advice. She had been dealing with some hip pain that seemed to have started when she started increasing her strength training regime. My "R hip, feels like "impingement," but also trigger points in piriformis and adductors. I just can't get them to shut off!" Spoken like a true PT 😅 I gave her pictures of 2 new exercises to try via messenger. 5 DAYS LATER, I receive this: "Messaging to tell you you're my hero. That seated stretch is AH-mazing. I have worked out all week with zero pain." It really CAN be that simple! I have recently launched the Pain Relief Coaching program to offer you all the same Quick, Easy, and Effective advice. No appointments necessary! If you'd like to stay in the loop about this program, hop over to my IG acct @your_pain_relief_coach . Or check out more details & take the quiz to find out if you're a g...

PROSPER Performance & Physical Therapy

Search This Blog