the latest non-news on the shoulder front

[rowanf]

Ah, bah! My week-delayed doctor appointment resulted only in yet another referral. And she thought probably he's want an MRI rather than just doing cortisone. And the doctor she referred me to doesn't have an appt until late Feb, so I took a Friday appointment with another doc.... a week from Friday. I am REALLY tired of hurting. And I am *not* happy about having to drive to Menlo Park for a fifth day next week. Hmm. Maybe I can take off a different day and work on Friday. I'll see what I can work out. *grump* I want to be able to sleep on my left side! To put my coat on without thinking about it. Close my car door without a twinge of pain. And who #$&% knows how long it will take to get an MRI scheduled and then to finally *do* something. Anyone who will send energy and/or pray for my rotator cuff tendonitis to resolve itself has my permission to do so!

Comments

[tylik.livejournal.com]

Oh, good luck! I'll be lighting a candle...

Don't know if it's of interest, but have you tried electrostim? I've used it on some of my previous rotator cuff / thurassic outlet injuries... and we recently got an inexpensive and very cool Chinese electrostim machine.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

My Mom had that on her knees and it was hugely helpful.

[rowanf.livejournal.com]

I don't know how electro-stim works. Is it something I could repurpose my TENS unit for? That certainly does electrical well. I don't think I'd know where to put the electrodes. Move 'em around until the pain is blocked from traveling down the nerves like with a normal TENS session or is the idea to get the muscles in the area moving?+

[tylik.livejournal.com]

TENS units are a kind of electrostim, so it's worth try as is. I know there's some issues of paterns and frequency that are supposed to make them more useful for particular purposes, and I don't know how flexible yours is. (Mine had only two settings, whereas the nifty Chiense one has about 15.)

[tylik.livejournal.com]

Hey, FWIW, I just went and gave my shoulder a good half hour of treatment with the electrostim, and an hour later it's still a lot calmer. (Of course, I put mine to the "shoulder, tendonitis" setting, whatever that means ;-) )