cortisone shot 12 weeks post-surgery?

Thanks Alison and Beth for your advice on the cortisone. I'm definitely going to avoid it. I was under the impression that my recovery was taking entirely too long but now I know that's not true and I just need to tell my PT and my OS to be patient.

I can't really advise you, but just wanted to wish you luck. I'm going to have surgery for radial tunnel syndrome in two weeks. I got a cortisone shot 6 weeks ago. I felt fine for four days, then the pain came back. So the main benefit for me was to pinpoint the radial nerve as the source of my problems. I guess I'm kind of down on cortisone in general right now.:( Tom

Thanks Tom for your good wishes. I'm going to my OS today and will be letting him know I don't want the shot and see if he will just give me a better anti-inflammatory. If he insists on the shot I will be seeking a second opinion. I'm also going to find out why he nixed the idea of iontophoresis (my PT suggested but doc said "no, cortisone"). scyfreestyler - I noticed in an older thread that you had this treatment. Was it effective? Thanks, Denise Just remember, anti-inflammatories can slow down the healing process.

Thanks Tom for your good wishes. I'm going to my OS today and will be letting him know I don't want the shot and see if he will just give me a better anti-inflammatory. If he insists on the shot I will be seeking a second opinion. I'm also going to find out why he nixed the idea of iontophoresis (my PT suggested but doc said "no, cortisone"). scyfreestyler - I noticed in an older thread that you had this treatment. Was it effective? Thanks, Denise

The Fortress - Thanks, I didn't know that ... more to ponder ...

NSAID's reduce swelling but the swelling is actually the body's way of healing...rushing a large amount of blood to the area for purposes of healing damaged tissue. So, the reduced swelling can be a benefit if there is an impingement issue but it is not without side effects such as slower healing. As for the transdermal anti-inflamatories, yes I had them. Did they work? I am not convinced that they did anything but the PT suggested I have the treatment and it seemed harmless enough.

Thanks Matt for the info on anti-inflammatories. Went to my OS on Friday and he told me that I can take another month to improve my range of motion. If after that, I don't have more motion, he wants me to have the cortisone shot. Stretching, stretching, stretching ...

Hey Beth, I look forward to meeting you one day soon -- I've read a lot of good things about you. :bow:Maybe I'll see you at the Dynamo LCM Nationals Tuneup in July if you are going, and if my shoulders hold up until then... Who is the Atlanta doctor you referenced? I discussed my shoulder pain briefly with my IM and he mentioned a local doctor that did the Falcons, but I haven't followed up yet...Trying the ice, strengthening exercises, stretching so far. Not sure what's going on in there...:notworking: Btw...from another thread, what does ART stand for??? Mark Hi Dlevan, I had inflammation and decreased range of motion for 6 months after my shoulder surgery! It was very scary and very painful. My doctor saidI was a "worse case scenario" because my body made scar tissue around my shoulder. He is a orthopedic specializing in sports medicine....does a lot of the Braves and Falcons surgeries. I asked if I could have a cortisone shot because I heard it decreased inflammation and pain. He felt very strongly against the cortisone shots. He said it is just a temporary fix to the problem and can actually create more problems....weakened ligaments/tendons and the systemic effects of cortisone on your whole body. I would go to another orthopedic (sportsmed specialist) to get a second opinion.

Shoulder update ... blah, blah ... my range of motion at 12 weeks was not where it whould have been at 6 weeks ... OS wants to give me cortisone and eludes to MUA surgery (manipulation under anesthesia) ... thanks very much but no to both ... Time to do my homework... I made an appointment with Dale Buchberger about four weeks ago (rotatorcuff.net) who said that traditional stretching wasn't working for me and I was on the verge of a frozen shoulder. He suggested a protocol of Mattes Technique (also called Active Isolated Stretching, Reciprocal Inhibition or Reciprocal Innervention) and strength training. I fired my physical therapist (not really, just switched to a facilty that employs the Mattes Technique) and cancelled my appointment with my OS. Dale is over an hour away and takes a while to get appointments with, so I asked him to refer me to someone closer to Rochester. My new PT is 10 minutes from work. I also made some appointments with an orthopedic massage therapist who told me that the scar tissue in the capsule will never dissolve or go away but can be 're-arranged' to align properly so it moves with the soft tissue not restrict it. She said the treatment won't be fun but it will work. It does. It's been four weeks and I'm thrilled at how much more range and strength I have and not nearly as much pain. I know I still have a couple more months to go but I am very encouraged. Last week I was able to do little *** stroke and take a few strokes of freestyle. Good for you being proactive in your own care!! You remind me of me. I own the Buchberger video. In fact, there are some scapular strengthing exercises I need to add to my RC regimen. A lot of PTs know nothing about swimming, so won't be very helpful. As to the orthopedic massage, that would also be known as ART therapy, which I also do (www.activerelease.com). ART breaks up scar tissue and releases impingments, thus reducing pain. It can be painful, but it's really worth it! I think you're on the right track. I hope it keeps going well! :cheerleader::banana:

Shoulder update ... blah, blah ... my range of motion at 12 weeks was not where it whould have been at 6 weeks ... OS wants to give me cortisone and eludes to MUA surgery (manipulation under anesthesia) ... thanks very much but no to both ... Time to do my homework... I made an appointment with Dale Buchberger about four weeks ago (rotatorcuff.net) who said that traditional stretching wasn't working for me and I was on the verge of a frozen shoulder. He suggested a protocol of Mattes Technique (also called Active Isolated Stretching, Reciprocal Inhibition or Reciprocal Innervention) and strength training. I fired my physical therapist (not really, just switched to a facilty that employs the Mattes Technique) and cancelled my appointment with my OS. Dale is over an hour away and takes a while to get appointments with, so I asked him to refer me to someone closer to Rochester. My new PT is 10 minutes from work. I also made some appointments with an orthopedic massage therapist who told me that the scar tissue in the capsule will never dissolve or go away but can be 're-arranged' to align properly so it moves with the soft tissue not restrict it. She said the treatment won't be fun but it will work. It does. It's been four weeks and I'm thrilled at how much more range and strength I have and not nearly as much pain. I know I still have a couple more months to go but I am very encouraged. Last week I was able to do little *** stroke and take a few strokes of freestyle.