Low Grade Tendonitis

That's good that is nothing more than tendionitis (well not good, but it could have been a lot worse). I have never personally had the shots (coritzone injections?), but I know someone who has. He said that they hurt like hell, but after when they heal up it is well worth it. Hope that you feel better soon!!! ~Kyra p.s. Congrats on being able to swim again!

Originally posted by Seagurl51 That's good that is nothing more than tendionitis (well not good, but it could have been a lot worse). I have never personally had the shots (coritzone injections?), but I know someone who has. He said that they hurt like hell, but after when they heal up it is well worth it. Hope that you feel better soon!!! ~Kyra p.s. Congrats on being able to swim again! Thanks Kyra, I am stoked that nothing is "wrong" with my shoulder. I am going to wait another few days before I get back in the water though, just to be on the safe side.

aren't bad. They have a local anesthestic in them (partially so they know they placed the injection correctly--you get immediate relief) along with the steroid. It takes a few days for it to work and they DON"T encourage you to swim for a couple of days to allow the injection to work it's magic. It's better than taking a week's worth of oral steroids that blasts the entire body. The shot targets JUST where it is needed and is a more concentrated dose. You usually don't have to be peeled off the ceiling. I've had one (from an orthopedic surgeon who deals with NFL players) and he's really good. Just be aware--most docs allow only THREE (3!!!) injections into a tendon or ligament---any more than that and "shredding" of the tendon or ligament can occur. So you don't want to have to do this all the time---follow the doc's instructions to the letter and it may be the only injection you'll have to have.

I was once run over by a car when I was jogging in college. I used to get steroids in my shoulder & knee every 5-6 months form then on. The I graduated form college & moved to DC. When it was time for my next shot, I told my doctor. She sent me to the head of Orthopedics at Howard. That doctor was the team doctor for Howard's football & basketball team & gave opinions to the Redskins. He was very much against steriods & suggested that I had probably never healed form the accident. He sent me to a physical therapist. The therapist had me do several differnet exercises that were very strange at the time. We used a large ball!! After about 6 sessions the pain was almost always gone. RICE was also used. I take steroids for amy asthma. I have gotten serveal shots of solumedral(sp) in ER's through out the contry. But I will never get a steroid shot for an orthopedic or any other (besides asthma) reason ever again. I must say that I'm not a doctor. For three years I was in constant pain. In one month there was NO PAIN. I've had some doctors suggest that the prednisone I have taken for asthma helps relieve the pain in my shoulder & knee. I've also had doctors say that's nonsense.

330- glad to hear that you don't have to get surgery. just be patient and let your shoulder heal... once you are back to new... you won't take that for granted! S.:p

Originally posted by USMSarah 330- ... once you are back to new... you won't take that for granted! S.:p Truer words have never been spoken. I am going to be so acutely aware of my joints and muscles I will be like a swimming MRI machine!!

I disagree with your doctor. First of all, doing nothing is nonsense since the tendinitis will recur if you don't address the underlying cause (impingement). Rest alone won't fix the problem. Second, most orthopedists don't use steroid injections as first-line therapy. The treatment consists of physical therapy (to strengthen the rotator cuff and stabilize the shoulder blade), ice, and antiinflammatory agents. This has been discussed in other threads. Isn't this the same doctor who said you had "loose cartilage"?

Originally posted by gull80 I disagree with your doctor. First of all, doing nothing is nonsense since the tendinitis will recur if you don't address the underlying cause (impingement). Rest alone won't fix the problem. Second, most orthopedists don't use steroid injections as first-line therapy. The treatment consists of physical therapy (to strengthen the rotator cuff and stabilize the shoulder blade), ice, and antiinflammatory agents. This has been discussed in other threads. Isn't this the same doctor who said you had "loose cartilage"? This doctor thought that I might have a torn labrum after he felt the popping and clicking in my shoulder joint. The MRI ruled that out and the radiologist diagnosed me with low grade chronic tendinitis of the supraspinatus tendon. The injury was caused by a one time "violent" type of stretch in which I was swinging my arms in a circle. Provided that I don't stretch in that manner again I should be able to avoid further shoulder injuries for some time. Strengthening of the cuff muscles is not needed because they are not weak. Anti-inflamatory agents will help to soothe the pain which is virtually non-existent at this point. I don't recall anything about any loose cartilage BTW.

You mentioned the possibility of "loose cartilage" in another thread ("Not shoulder instability after all"). Antiinflammatory agents reduce the inflammation of tendinitis, in addition to relieving pain (and most doctors would try oral agents before a steroid injection). Many swimmers develop some weakening of the rotator cuff as they age because they don't do exercises that target these small muscles--apparently that doesn't apply to you. However, these are the same exercises that pitchers use, since throwing a baseball, like swimming, is an overhead type activity. It's seems a little odd that a single violent stretch would cause tendinitis in an otherwise healthy joint; perhaps it was just a freak occurence and you'll have no further problems after it heals. I've yet to meet a radiologist that can "diagnose" tendinitis from an MRI (although it sounds like that's what it is); usually the diagnosis is made by a doctor who has actually examined you and reviewed the MRI results. You can't actually see tendinitis on an MRI--it's more a diagnosis of exclusion. Anyway, good luck with your recovery.

Hi 330man - thanks for keeping us informed of your condition. I am pleased that it looks like you wont have to have surgery and that there are alternative approaches which you can try to heal the tendonitis. When you have time I would be interested to learn which alternatives work best for you. Regards - Johnathon.