Shoulder- ouch!

Lauren_ · 08-23-2007, 12:57 AM

My myotherapist says I've torn my supraspinatis and anterior deltoid in my right shoulder. And have overuse symptoms in some neighboring muscle groups (the other rotator cuff muscles) and the opposite shoulder.

Competition is this weekend. In two days. I'm doing veil, only I can't really lift my arm above shoulder level.

I'm taking pain relievers, using ice packs, gently taking the arm through its range of motion. I wish I could rest, but I'm up to 14 classes a week now (half BD, half yoga).

One of my students who's also a massage therapist gave me some bio-freeze, that's good stuff!!!

So, what else is there?

tahiradancer · 08-23-2007, 02:03 AM

Cortezone shots.

Sorry, that and 6 months of theropy are about all I can offer at this point. But you also might want to adjust your choreography so that the moves are smaller on that side if posible.

{{{HUGS}}}

sumayasaahir · 08-23-2007, 07:01 AM

Just keep icing and rubbing. Im *still* nursing a shoulder/neck injury from last winter. It will probably get better after the competition when you can actually take a break from practicing ;) at least, thats what Im hoping!

Michelle75 · 08-23-2007, 07:33 AM

Lauren, can you leave out the veil routine? I've never been in a competiton before so I don't know if that is an option. I know you want this so bad but in the long run and seeing the entire picture (your 14 classes) it may not be worth damaging your shoulder more. I'm such a worry wort. Can you tell?

You may end up permanently damaging your shoulder and that could effect the way you teach your classes.

If not, I'd second the cortisone shots.

aazura · 08-23-2007, 07:33 AM

Don't have much advice, Lauren, but offering you a (((hug))). I'd suggest taking it easy in your classes and maybe have one of your intermediate or advanced students help demonstrate moves to the beginner classes so you can rest your shoulder. At least that's what I would do ... but I'd probably also just grit through my competition performance and hope for the best -- not great medical advice but you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes...

Genisis · 08-23-2007, 07:56 AM

I would be really really careful if I were in your situation. One of the member of my dance troupe has that exact same problem. Her arm is taped down for the next few weeks and she is effectively out of commission. Her Doc told her that if she didn't lay off it that she would have to have surgery to fix it. You must have done something pretty bad to do that to yourself! Yikes! Please don't push your body too far and please give it some time to heal. You only get one standard issue body per life time. ;-)

~*Genisis*~

danidance · 08-23-2007, 08:10 AM

Lauren,

I second the suggestions to lay off the shoulder - even cancel some classes for a few weeks if you can. Get a substitute for the beginning/interm. if possible of course, but you need to rest. You might want to consider closing the studio for a week (I realize that's hard) - although I suspect a week isn't enough time.

One of the girls at work damaged her rotator cuff - she did Physical Therapy for about 3 months 2x per week. She's okay now. It was headed toward surgery & the PT made that eventuality disappear.

be careful!

antimony · 08-23-2007, 08:15 AM

Everyone has given you great advice, I've also had great results with arnica. Any health food store should have various arnica products available, and I've found it works amazingly for muscle injuries.

resullivan · 08-23-2007, 08:18 AM

I agree with all the suggestions to take it easy. I really strained a hamstring way back in high school, and continued to run a track season (we were all somewhat injured, jut take advil and run). It will still sometimes hurt to this day, for instance if I have to sit for a while. I wish I hadn't pushed my body so far.

Lauren_ · 08-23-2007, 08:28 AM

It would be great if I could take time off, but I just can't afford it. Hmmm, I can ask the higher level students to come to classes & help me demo snake arms, though.

I don't have that option for yoga but maybe I can lay off down dog for a few weeks. My students might not mind a little break from sun salutations this session.

bintbeled · 08-23-2007, 08:36 AM

No advice to offer, but crossing my fingers for you!

08-23-2007, 09:15 AM

Dear Lauren,
Best of luck to you and sending you healing energy.
I highly recommend getting your advanced girls to sub for you - I would completely do nothing but rest it, ice it, until the competition. Not even housework.

laura 2 · 08-23-2007, 09:49 AM

Does this always happen before competitions? So far we've had one person drop out completely due to injury, I get a cold when I almost never get them (and when I do it's always in the winter months), and now you've got a shoulder injury. Yikes!

I know finacially, it's hard to think about cancelling classes. My worry would be how much income you would lose if you damaged your shoulder to the point where you needed surgery, and then you'd have to close shop for a *really* long time. Can you do some video watching classes, at least for the BD ones?

Is there a way to ditch the veil for the competition? I know when I'm performing, the endorphins take over and I probably wouldn't feel it if I overextendede to the point where my arm fell right off. I'm just concerned that in the heat of the moment, you won't be able to be careful about your range of motion.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you, habbibi!

Kimahri · 08-23-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laura 2

Does this always happen before competitions? So far we've had one person drop out completely due to injury, I get a cold when I almost never get them (and when I do it's always in the winter months), and now you've got a shoulder injury. Yikes!

Just to clarify, the other contestant had a medical concern (details of which are private) but she isn't injured.

~~Kimahri

elljay · 08-23-2007, 02:46 PM

Accupuncture.

laura 2 · 08-23-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimahri

Just to clarify, the other contestant had a medical concern (details of which are private) but she isn't injured.

~~Kimahri

Whoops, sorry! I was going off of Danielle's post in the other thread.

badriya_al_ahmar · 08-23-2007, 04:08 PM

Are you doing a whole veil piece, or is it more a swish and toss entrance deal? I was just watching a Fifi video the other night and noticed that in her veil entrance, the veil rarely came above mid-torso level. So if Fifi can do it...

Know what you mean about competitions and illness/injury--I'm two days before a competition and my knee is acting up and all my joints have that flu kind of ache

ssipes · 08-23-2007, 04:13 PM

Lauren:

I'm so sorry about your shoulder. I have performed when my neck and upper back are spasming (like a "crick" but X 10), and with next to no mobility in my head.

I won't say my dancing was 100%, but I did find that adrenalin or something got me through it and suspended the pain and mobility issues during the performance.

Not recommending this for injuries where any use will greatly increase the damage, obviously.

I'll bet you'll get through the contest fine. The ongoing classes are more of a problem.

Sedonia