Further down the AAOS page, they say that a separated shoulder “can range from a little change in configuration with mild pain, to quite deforming and very painful.” I can testify, whole-heartedly, about the “very painful” part. Without a doubt.

Fifteen years ago, I separated my left shoulder in a tumble, but it was quickly reset and, although I had quite a bit of pain while lying down, it wasn’t too bad. This past Friday, however, I learned what a very painful one feels like.

I slipped on some hard packed snow or ice  (not sure which) and I landed right on my left shoulder. The pain was excruciating. I keep telling people it was worse than childbirth – and I’ve done that three times. The pain was so bad, I couldn’t stand up because any slight movement of my arm would send spasms of pain and waves of nausea.

An ambulance had to be called and they were concerned that I may have hit my head because I couldn’t remember falling, but I’m sure I didn’t hit my head. I think the problem is I fell so fast that I didn’t realize I was falling until I had hit the ground.

Anyway, off to the hospital for x-rays, medications and a “knock-out” dose so they could put my shoulder back. Unfortunately, my shoulder didn’t want to cooperate with the resetting because I damaged the ligaments.

The most common cause for a separation of the AC joint is from a fall directly onto the shoulder. The fall injures the ligaments that surround and stabilize the AC joint.

If the force is severe enough, the ligaments attaching to the underside of the clavicle are torn. This causes the “separation” of the collarbone and wingbone. The wingbone actually moves downward from the weight of the arm. This creates a “bump” or bulge above the shoulder.

I do have to say though – what an odd feeling to be in agony before you go to sleep and then in tolerable pain when you wake up a while later.

I have to wear the special sling that keeps your arm supported and doesn’t allow you to move your arm away from your body. This is particularly frustrating because on Friday, when I fell, I was also in the midst of moving. Yup – moving from a four-bedroom house to a condo. Guess who can’t unpack and do any of the stuff she wanted to get done before Christmas?

According to the AAOS, my shoulder has a good chance of healing properly. I see an ortho surgeon on Thursday to see if all is ok. Surgery is not in my plans, so I’m thinking positively: no surgery, shoulder is healing well.

The thing that worries me though, is that the pain is changing in quality and location. It’s no longer at the back of the shoulder, a bit lower down, but now it’s in the upper arm itself and it’s an intense ache, rather than a sharp pain. Hopefully, that’s all part of the healing process.

So as it stands, regardless of what the surgeon says, there will be physiotherapy in my future. Thank goodness for physical therapists and their magic powers. They are the ones who make sure that successful treatments from doctors are carried through and stay successful.

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Images: iStock.com, PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

Separated Shoulders – They Hurt!

This month, the Nintendo Wii Fit becomes available to the US market. Have you gotten yours yet? 

It’s a unique exercise game with a Balance Board that can measure a user’s weight and their center of gravity, and calculate the body mass index when told the user’s height.  The balance board is that flat board under the model’s feet. — >

There is obvious excitement over this, since the video ads place this as a very fun exercise game/equipment, where one can do yoga, balance, flexibility, even push-ups, play soccer, etc. It’s supposed to make you more mindful of your health, and keep you moving.

Yesterday, I had a phone conversation with Dr. Mark Klion, orthopedic surgeon at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics. We talked about strain injuries resulting from repetitive activities associated with the Wii Sports that were traditionally seen only in actual competitive sports. He reminded us to limit the game to 30 minutes at the most, and to take breaks when a feeling of discomfort or pain sets in.

As a Wii user himself, Dr. Klion shared his thoughts on the new Wii Fit.

Kids Health Notes:  Now Wii Fit – I saw an ad at the Nintendo website. It seems to be marketed as a video exercise program, similar to a Dvd on Pilates or yoga. What’s your opinion about this?

Dr. Mark Klion: I watched the trailer on the website the other day. You’re standing on a pressure plate and I guess it’s figuring out your weight transference. There is one video standing where they show a young kid on a plate and on screen he’s hitting balls with his head. If it’s picking up your feet signal then it’s translating it from the rest of the body to the head. There’s no sensor on your head or in your hand that I’m aware of. If there’s nothing, then you can literally stand on the plate and just move your toes and heels and it will show that you’re leaning forward and hitting the ball with your head.

I’m not sure, if it’s picking up your head movement more than just your feet. So maybe if you’re really leaning to the left or putting pressure on your left foot and leading forward on your left foot, then it still translates that to the screen.

It’s an interesting concept since it is mimicking a little more of balance work and maybe that’s what the Wii fit is really good because you can have biofeedback for balance. Have someone work on balancing exercise and that’s a very reasonable thing. But to say that you’re doing a Pilates or yoga on a Wii board and you’re gonna make the same work out I’m not sure it makes sense.

It’s an interesting concept there’s no question. The jury will be out once it’s released in the US and people can try it and see what’s the ins and out of it are.

KHN: But you’re excited to try that for yourself too.

DMK: It’ll be fun! I play the Wii with my kids and like any video game it dies out after a while. So when the weather gets warm outside you want to play out.

KHN: Well, thank you so much for your time, Dr. Klion. I certainly learned a lot.

DMK: (The Wii) is definitely different. It’s amazing the number of games that’s out there. But the Wii is about sports, say tennis. That’s the shtick of the game. So they have to keep developing games like that to keep that separate than the standard Nintendo.

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The Nintendo Wii Fit will be available on May 21. If you think this one’s for you, then Amazon has pre-orders for $90.

image: Amazon store 

Post from: Blisstree

Is the Nintendo Wii Fit for you? – orthopedic expert weighs in