Is there a cure or pragmatic treatment for chonic tendonitis?

[stevievai]

I have been lifting weights since the age of 14. I believe incorrect lifting technique has led to my unfortunate condition. My left shoulder (including the area where the the bicep tendon attaches to the pectoral muscles) has been hurt for almost two years. I injured the muscle or tendon (not sure) while I was bench pressing. I immediately stopped lifting and began to take anti-inflammatory drugs and ice my shoulder regularly. After six or seven months of inactivity and rest, I felt no better. I saw a chiropractor regularly for two months. Again, no improvement. I went to an orthopedic specialist and was given two cortisone shots, still nothing. I had an MRI done and the doctors deduced the pain was due to small tears in the tendon, causing it to inflame. Now, just recently, I am beginning to feel a pain analogous to that in my left shoulder (just less severe) in my right shoulder. This is extremely frustrating because I've taken all of these precautionary measures and honestly tried to set my self up for recovery, and now I can barely run without being engulfed in a hell of pain. I am 17 years old, and I cannot hold my baby sister for longer than 5 min. because the pain is so irritating and consistent I can't handle it. I am seeking some home treatment I can begin, such as simple exercises or stretches and medicine, so I can finally move on with my life. Suggestions would be more than greatly appreciated. I am willing to try anything.

Thank you,
Jaron

[Jaybay]

Your situation isn't hopeless at all.  It's just going to take some time.  That is great news to hear that you'll be going to PT!  Any good ortho doc would insist on at least trying a few weeks of PT before heading to the operating room - unless an MRI or other imaging study showed something very wrong.  As enthusiastic as you are, I'll bet you'll be doing better sooner than you might think.  Just don't overdo it!

Yep, you figured out your own problem.  You have to work all your muscles evenly: front to back and side to side.  Make sure you tell all this to your physical therapist.

My husband and I were very lucky to learn tai chi from a kung fu master who was very traditional in his training.  If you ever get to observe a class, it looks like it's very easy.  What it IS is very deceptive!  Believe me, if you want to build up your hams, tai chi will do it.  Keeping your weight low on bent knees for an hour will have you breaking a sweat in the first two minutes and your legs feel like noodles.  Kinda hard to see grandmothers breezing through a long form while you're dying in a pool of sweat.  LOL!

Let us know how the PT goes. I have a good feeling you'll do well with it.  :-)

[stevievai]

I have successfully talked my parents into letting me start a physical therapy program, so I am very excited about that. I am very thankful that you'll are being so helpful...it helps to have some support when dealing with such an injury that has a seemingly hopeless recovery. Unfortunately, none of the staff at my school were qualified to offer any suggestions, but I believe physical therapy will help. I sure hope it will at least.

About the yoga...you may be surprised to hear that I actually already have a yoga program that I do on my own that has tremendously helped me with lower back pain. (I was VERY active so I have had several injuries: pole vaulting, football, weightlifting, ect....) However, I am not sure what poses or stretches would be beneficial for my shoulder. I've done a lil' research but not much is available for a shoulder-related yoga program.

To Jaybay, Tai Chi sounds interesting, so I will do some research and maybe try it out. But just for clarification, I didn't sling weights around, I was actually avid about good technique. The problem was that i worked my chest and quads constantly, but never my back or hams. This was a HUGE mistake, and quite frankly, the gym teacher I had wasn't quite all there so I had no guidance when lifting. But I will definitely check out Tai Chi and let you know how it goes.

Thanks to both of you!

Jaron

[Jaybay]

One other source "close to home" is your school.  Check with your PE teacher or any coach for advice on correct lifting form and other activities you can do that won't damage your shoulders any further.

I've seen so many people in the gym who hurt themselves like this by using too much weight too soon; and as you already mentioned, incorrect form.  You get much more benefit from lifting less weight using correct form.  Hopefully you haven't damaged yourself permanently.  I'll give you some insight as a woman who was a gym rat for five years: we laugh at the guys who "throw around" weights and make a show of it because they're getting no benefit from their workout.  I'm not saying that's what you did, but pass that little factoid on to your buddies who might be of that mindset.  ;-)

Dr. J. makes a great point about yoga.  Yeah, you're a guy so obviously you're not going to be enthused about yoga, but think along the lines of martial arts.  Even better, start with Tai Chi.  It's very slow movements that rely on complete control - you have to learn exactly which muscles are doing what or you'll fall over.  It's takes a whole lot of strength to do any martial art "form" correctly, but doing it slowly as in Tai Chi is even more difficult.  You are actually learning fighting techniques, but in slow motion.  

If you do OK physically with Tai Chi, a natural progression from there would be Kung Fu.  Tae Kwon Do and other styles wouldn't be a good choice because it's more of a jerky, boxing-type style that will further aggravate your injuries.  

If you look into any form of martial arts, do some serious shopping on schools.  If the school is only about winning tournaments, walk away.  Look for a school than emphasizes very traditional training of both the body and the mind.  I see Black Belt Academies all over and could just cry for the students.  All they learn is aggression and winning at any cost, and that is not what martial arts is about.

I was very lucky to train in Tae Kwon Do with Grand Master Kim Soo here in Houston in the early 1980's.  My ballet career was over thanks to shredded knee cartilage, and martial arts got me back on my feet and active.  It also found me my husband.  :-)

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

Ouch.  I'm not going to be real helpful-- mainly because you won't want to hear what I have to say.  If you are having chronic inflammation at the age of 17 from a damaged and over-worked tendon... and it didn't get better after months of rest...  you are going to need to find a new exercise program.  Something that doesn't put a load on that part of your body, and preferably that doesn't work that tendon at all for a long time.  I am not joking-- maybe yoga?   The person who is best qualified to help you would be an expert in sports medicine;  I would suggest contacting a medical school sports medicine department, or even contacting the nearest professional or amateur sports team and asking them who they recommend and use for sports injuries.  There might be some other suggestion--  but I doubt it.  Inflammation that keeps returning is a big problem-- you can't beat it by 'working through it'-- you just have to let things cool down and hope it goes away.

Please write back and let me know if you find an opinion that significantly differs from mine-- and I hope that you do!

JJ