30 years of pulling recoil ropes in my business my shoulders are also shot, ate Tylenol max like candy, couldn't lay on my right side, couldn't raise my arm from my side any further than my hand at same height as my waist, at times couldn't raise my arm to bring food to my mouth, or rest my arm on the arm of the couch without pain or arm from elbow down falling asleep, I hear and feel your pain. the pain was getting beyond tolerable, so I finally went to see an orthopedic doctor and after a slew of xrays, MRI and EMG and nerve tests, we had confirmed exactly what I had expected, my shoulders especially my right were shot, only threads of my rotator cuff remained, and the other connective tissue was in laymans terms pulling apart. then came the diagnosis and treatment. first was cortisone injections which it was very clear the doctor was very against doing and was only a bandaid and could only cause further damage or problems down the road. Second was shoulder surgery which I do not have 6 to 9 months of recovery which with my shop I do not have that kind of time. Third was PRP procedure which she explained to me in great depth, I also had a ton of questions of my own.
The procedure is considered to be experimental and not covered by insurance, she had told me the sports industry has been doing it since the 80's, the hospital where I go has been doing it for 14 years and the odds of the procedure being successful were better than 80%. The procedure involves drawing a bunch of your own blood, spinning out and concentrating your own platelets and plasma, no other medications or chemicals used in the mix. With the use of an ultrasound machine and a long needle it is reinjected with precision into where the doctor wants to place it. what it does is trigger major inflammation which forces the body to want to heal and where the regeneration takes place. She said the process takes 3 phases, the first was inflammation, second was regeneration/healing, third was strengthening and said I wouldn't know the full effects of procedure until January. I had the procedure done at the end of July, she had told me it was very painful and I thought....how bad could it be as I've been through enough already, and let me tell you it ranks as probably the worst pain I have ever felt and it initially took about 3 days for it to somewhat subside. My arm wasn't ever in a sling as she said it would be likely it would lock up. I could feel every crack in the interstate heading north after the procedure. I couldn't really do nothing with it for 2 weeks which then I started physical therapy, I went twice a week for 3 weeks and had my first evaluation and was told there was no need for me to return. the following Monday I had my 6 week evaluation with my ortho doctor who also performed the procedure. She did a much more in depth evaluation. I was supposed to come back again at 12 weeks. But after her evaluation I was told I no longer needed to come back and as good as I was feeling I wouldn't have the full effect until about January. I have full range of movement, i can pull ropes without cringing, I can lay on my shoulder, put my arm of the arm of the couch, or window sill of the car and I haven't had to reach for Tylenol since. I apologize for being long winded, and off subject but wanted to respond with my personal experience with shoulder pain and damage and the fix I sought out and share my experience and so far success story. If you were wondering what the procedure cost..... $1000 yep.... one thousand dollars. my series of xrays and mri cost more than the procedure did.
