Advice on Shoulder Rehab/Cortizone Shot

[Dr.Smooth]

Age, or more play this winter cause it was so mild in the mid-west this winter has given my shoulder the more than normal achy feeling.

I have good insurance because I work for the state so I looked up the local Physical Therapist.

He claims an injection of the shoulder of this stuff about five visits of rehab and he is kicking me out the door kind of thing.

I have been playing rounds, but not throwing over 75 percent. I have been trying to rest it to see if that helps but cant really see much difference. Then again, I haven't let it rest for a month kind of thing.

Who out their has had one of these shots?? Pros and Cons.. Thanks for any help...

 

[ejvogie]

I've had cortisone in my left shoulder. Didn't help with the adhesive capsulitis (frozen joint). YMMV

 

[Broken Shoulder]

The shots can break down some of the soft tissues, especially if you receive multiple injections. We don't know your specific injury, but PT and a conservative approach to start would be my recommendation. Of course, I'm not a medical professional, but I have had two labrum repairs and a rotator interval closure done on my right shoulder and am awaiting replacement. Seeking multiple opinions from different therapists would probably be a good idea.
PT really does wonders, but only if you commit and put in the effort.

 

[ru4por]

Shoulders are a fairly complicated joint with several different issues that could be causing problems. As a nurse, I am going to recommend a visit to your primary care physician for a referral to an orthopedic guy. Get some xrays or an MRI to determine what the issue is. The ortho guy will then give you a treatment plan with options. Shots often treat the symptoms of a problem, not the problem itself. Not to disparage Physical Therapists or the sage medical community here, but this is a pretty solid, tried and true treatment pathway, that should yield the best long term outcome. Getting older sucks, but investing the time in comprehensive medical treatment can prevent further damage and extend your disc golf shelf life. Good luck with that wing, Smooth.

 

[B The V]

^I agree with this

I received a shot of cortisone after a shoulder injury. I am unable to receive MRI's due to metal in my body so this was the way of trying to fix what they couldn't see. Long story short is all it did was mask the pain and I further damaged my shoulder. I ended up having my AC joint shaved along with a rotator tear and labrum tear repaired.

 

[Shamis]

PT should always be where you start unless you have a specific acute injury. Those shots can work wonders in some instances, but they do cause problems if you get them too often.

You may want to focus on your mechanics, try to get your release as smooth as possible, and perhaps reduce the strain on your shoulder.

 

[DavidSauls]

I'm with ru4por, best course is to get to an Ortho and find out what's really wrong. You don't want to turn a minor problem into a major one by trying to side-step that. I know; I did.

But short of that, I think I'd try the PT without the shot, first.

 

[etdefender19]

I have gotten several cortisone shots on my shoulders to be able to play ball.

Short version: hurts like holy hell and will for a day or two. After that, you will definitely have relief from pain from whatever your injuries are but it won't cure anything. I got mine to be able to finish out seasons (and then have surgery in the off-season) as opposed to shutting it down then and there

 

[etdefender19]

My orthopedic surgeon's kids go to private schools because of me: he's done four knee surgeries and two shoulder surgeries on me. One of the times a few years back I'm in there getting a cortisone shot, he had an intern with him. He says to the intern "Mr. [ET] is my favorite kind of patient. He's 47, plays a lot of baseball, plays like he thinks he's 25, and he has good insurance!"

 

[ODRB]

I got a cortisone shot deep into my shoulder a few days before a 5-day trip to Highbridge last spring -- ithad been killing me from a long winter of throwing. It got me through, and let me worry about the rehab over the next few months. Feels good now.

 

[BionicRib]

I wouldn't get a shot of cortisone until all other options were exhausted. I'm actually surprised a physical therapist recommended a shot before trying therapy/strengthening the problem areas first that's usually a doctor approach imo.

 

[MikeK]

About 2 months ago I threw a forehand and got pain in the shoulder. Didn't go away for 2 months. Went to my ortho, who gave me a shot of steroids of some sort, not sure if they were cortisone, and sent me to PT.

After the shot I started feeling better in a couple days, but not pain free. I'm into my 2nd week of PT and it's helping a lot.

 

[DavidSauls]

My orthopedic surgeon's kids go to private schools because of me: he's done four knee surgeries and two shoulder surgeries on me. One of the times a few years back I'm in there getting a cortisone shot, he had an intern with him. He says to the intern "Mr. [ET] is my favorite kind of patient. He's 47, plays a lot of baseball, plays like he thinks he's 25, and he has good insurance!"

You need to talk to him about an extended warranty.

 

[Dcinmd]

I just received my third cortisone shot for my knee last month. As other have stated it is just masking the pain and inflammation in the troubled area. It does nothing to fix the issue at hand. Only postpone it till a later date with the possibility of further issues.

With my issue (knee), my next step is knee replacement so a shot of cortisone is not that big of a deal to me. My doctor and I want to hold off on the replacement as long as possible due to prior surgeries. Quote from my doctor after view my xray and medical history "I am not even sure they make a bit to get those screws out of your knee anymore so we should put this surgery off as long as possible as it will be very complicated".

The first shot felt amazing and last me 6 months. I followed up with another one in the middle of last season and I tired my best to make it as long as possible without get another. The second dealt with the issue but wasn't quite the same as the first. Then at the end of March this year I decided i didn't want to deal with the pain any longer and went back for my third shot.

In my opinion you should talk with multiple doctors before moving forward with your decision.

 

[discNDav]

go to PT, get a shot from an orthopedic (not your general doctor), go back to PT, do more PT.

 

[Broken Shoulder]

You need to talk to him about an extended warranty.

If this were an option my bankhart revision would have been a lot cheaper.

 

[DavidSauls]

When I counted up etdefender19's knee surgeries, and the number of knees I assume he has, it occurred to me that he should have at least postdated the check on the last one, to make sure it took.

 

[etdefender19]

Yep, David...two on each knee. I'll need a third on my right knee at some point: ACL has been torn since 2006, I've had the meniscus cut on twice since then. Pretty recently, I think I tore another part of the meniscus (at least it feels like it). If I go under the knife again, I'll probably get it all fixed (ACL and meniscus) this time (have held off to this point because I don't want to take six months off from playing ball).

To answer the anticipated follow-up question: I have played roughly 500 games since I tore the ACL. How? It isn't "all the way" torn, so I still have most of the stability in my knee and can still play at my level. Whether the ACL is torn a little or completely (as my left one was in the late 90s), it's the same surgery to fix it so I've put it off

 

[DavidSauls]

You must be a whiz on crutches.

*

I've been to the Ortho 5 times, resulting in 3 surgeries, 1 prescription for physical therapy, and 1 prescription for rest & anti-inflammatories. (I've done the meniscus for both knees---thankfully, no ACL---and labrum in shoulder).

I haven't done the cortisone shot, so perhaps not very helpful for Dr. Smooth, but......with the shoulder, I spent 2 years trying everything else to avoid going to the Ortho, including physical therapy (and rest and chiropractor and other things). I would have saved myself a couple of years of playing if I'd just gone there early in the process, and found out what the real problem was.

 

[Dr.Smooth]

Thanks so much dgers!

I believe it was inflamation in my shoulder socket caused by a ball of the shoulder getting closer to the cap from age/wear kind of thing.

But no x-rays or anything so I can see why most recommended the ortho, xray, mrt kind of thing.

The shoulder felt good the last two days of playing league. I never threw over 80 percent which is how you should dg anyway.

But the young gun in me always want to go for the big holes and I've never turned down an opportunity to deuce the bomber holes that most can't..... until this year realizing my "golden arm" doesn't recover as quickly now...I'll be 40 in June!!

I need to get a specific explanation from the PT. To get better advice here on this topic so you all the med field can give better advice.

Thanks again..