Anyone hear of PRP injections?

[slonezp]

Doc is recommending this for my shoulder to help with pain relief. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exerci...sma-injections
For those not familiar with my background, I had a work injury in 2012 that took me out of the field. I had 3 surgeries on my shoulder, the last and most evasive was scapular muscle reattachment in 2015. I've been experiencing more pain and discomfort over the last few months. I know I've torn at least one of the repaired muscle off a few years back. Between that, scar tissue, and getting older, I'm hurting. Not looking for supplement or medication advice, just feedback on this or some other type of pain management therapy.

[Ski213]

I know of the PRP stuff but have no personal experience with it. It seems it might be worth a try though.
 

 I have shoulder issues myself but I don’t think they’re the same as yours. I’ve never had them truly diagnosed outside of my PCP being pretty certain it’s a connective tissue issue, so this might not be applicable to you.  I had pretty good results with a chiropractor. It was strictly pain relief obviously. No actual repair. I think it’s called acupressure. He basically applied quite a bit of pressure to a trigger point. Honestly I figured it was going to be a waste of time but it did help significantly with pain. Have you tried one of those TENS units?  I’ve never used one on my shoulder but I have used with some pain reduction success on muscle issues. 
 

I feel for you man. Shoulder pain can be pretty debilitating. Thankfully mine is intermittent but when it hurts it’s bad. I hope you get some relief soon. 

[slonezp]

I've been in constant pain/discomfort since 2012. After my last surgery in 2015, the pain was tolerable and less annoying. It's become more prominent in the last few months. PRP sounds to me like it's similar to  cortisone only using my own blood. I've had cortisone shots before and they are hit or miss. I don't want to waste my time or money on these shots if they don't work. Doc explained them to me. His office does the shots. He is not my orthopedic doc and I have not consulted my orthopedic doc. . Doc in business to make money and while I trust the doc, money affects people in different ways. I question whether he's looking out for my best interest or his best interest. It's why I'm here asking questions.

[throttleplate]

4 hours ago, slonezp said:

Doc is recommending this for my shoulder to help with pain relief. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exerci...sma-injections
For those not familiar with my background, I had a work injury in 2012 that took me out of the field. I had 3 surgeries on my shoulder, the last and most evasive was scapular muscle reattachment in 2015. I've been experiencing more pain and discomfort over the last few months. I know I've torn at least one of the repaired muscle off a few years back. Between that, scar tissue, and getting older, I'm hurting. Not looking for supplement or medication advice, just feedback on this or some other type of pain management therapy.

I have had 3 shoulder surgeries. You could have a pinched nerve in your cervical spine or thoratic spine or a pinched nerve in your shoulder joints. Ask the dr to have an EMG test on your shoulder to rule out a spine problem.

 

Search youtube vids on how to stretch your 4 rotator cuff muscles. I stretch mine 2 times a week, the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.

Also stretch your 3 deltoid muscles, the anterior, medium and the posterior muscles. Other muscles that are in a way connected are the serratus, teres major, pec muscles, lats, traps, rhomboids.

 

There are so many possibilities that could be causing referred pain problems that the drs just want to shoot up and hopefully hit on the problem area but its a crapshoot for them.

 

 

 

[slonezp]

5 hours ago, throttleplate said:

I have had 3 shoulder surgeries. You could have a pinched nerve in your cervical spine or thoratic spine or a pinched nerve in your shoulder joints. Ask the dr to have an EMG test on your shoulder to rule out a spine problem.

 

Search youtube vids on how to stretch your 4 rotator cuff muscles. I stretch mine 2 times a week, the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.

Also stretch your 3 deltoid muscles, the anterior, medium and the posterior muscles. Other muscles that are in a way connected are the serratus, teres major, pec muscles, lats, traps, rhomboids.

 

There are so many possibilities that could be causing referred pain problems that the drs just want to shoot up and hopefully hit on the problem area but its a crapshoot for them.

 

 

 

The rhomboids and trapezoids are the ones that were torn off the shoulder blade. They are just sutured back on. Unfortunately my range of motion and strength is a fraction of what it should be. Simple actions like resting my arm out the window while driving will cause muscle spasms and headaches for hours. Stretching doesn't do much more than cause spasms as well. I have an indentation on the blade and can literally feel the muscles slide around. Don't want to sound like I'm copping out but what I can do physically is limited at best.

[Captain Phil]

I suffered with spinal stenosis for years.  I tried epidural injections and they only lasted a few days. A year ago I had a laminectomy and four vertebrae spinal fusion. It relieved my major leg and hip pain when standing, but replaced it with some new pains.  It was a big improvement and I can do most everything I want.  I was heading for a wheel chair, so I am happy with my result.  Unfortunately, surgery can not make you young again. Everyone is different. What works for me may not work for others.  I would try everything available.  I would avoid anything that requires expensive repetitive treatments unless you enjoy paying your doctor's Porsche payments. 

[Jigfishn10]

No experience with that treatment, so I really can't help. You know me well enough that medication is off the table. From what I read the injection is using what you biologically produce as a treatment. It sounds like it's a procedure that is in its infancy, and I'm sure there are some critics out there poo pooing on it, but this would be something I would roll the dice on as a treatment.

 

I'm also a believer in self healing and if there are some stretches and exercises that can be done, I would inquire what those would be, if any, and put in action once the healing begins. 

 

You can only trust the doc at this point and I hope you trust your PCP.

 

Sorry, not much help, but I wish you all the best. 

[Kev-mo]

You probably already know all this...

If I recall correctly from the article I read there is minimal blood supply to certain areas of the body. So you have limited nutrients (oxygen etc.) getting to those areas to help with healing and/or building more tissue. The PRP premise is that by bombing the the injured area with blood (oxygen, nutrients etc.) you'll get better healing etc. I believe some people had really good results and others not so much. 

 

To me it seems as if this would best utilized right after surgery during the recovery and rehab portion. However if your insurance will pay it can't hurt to try....

 

Really sorry you are struggling! I've had my share of injuries, surgeries, car accidents etc. over the years and the body suffered. So I get it, at least a little bit.....

[throttleplate]

6 hours ago, slonezp said:

The rhomboids and trapezoids are the ones that were torn off the shoulder blade. They are just sutured back on. Unfortunately my range of motion and strength is a fraction of what it should be. Simple actions like resting my arm out the window while driving will cause muscle spasms and headaches for hours. Stretching doesn't do much more than cause spasms as well. I have an indentation on the blade and can literally feel the muscles slide around. Don't want to sound like I'm copping out but what I can do physically is limited at best.

if you have headaches you may have very tight scalene muscles and related myofascial pain in your neck or pinched nerve in cervical spine. I learned alot about shoulders from this guys vids.

 

 

[Fishlegs]

I don't know anything about the procedure you mentioned, but I hope you're able to find a way to get some relief.

[Captain Phil]

This is unrelated to shoulder issues, but it may help someone contemplating back surgery.  Before I chose to have my surgery, I sought out all possible options.  What I discovered was back problems are a major health industry cash cow.  Pinched nerves, slipped disks, spinal narrowing, sciatica and neuropathy are so common, millions of dollars in marketing is devoted to these aliments each year.   My MRI showed serious narrowing of my spinal canal.  After watching a TV commercial, I sent my MRI to one of these companies.  A doctor on the phone told me he could fix my back with a laser for $10,000. I asked if the procedure was covered by Medicare or insurance and the doctor said it was not.  I am fortunate in that I can go to any doctor I wish, so I passed on that offer.  Back surgery is an art.  Don't choose your surgeon on the advice of a TV commercial or what someone else tells you.  Try everything before going under the knife.  Lose weight, don't sit for long periods of time and walk as much as you can.  From the first day I met my surgeon until I had my surgery was 6 years. Ask him/her how many of these surgeries he/she has done?  Ask how many were successful? Ask if any were unsuccessful and why?  If they say they can use a laser to fix anything made of bone, leave and find someone who knows what they are doing.  

[deaknh03]

If I remember correctly, kobe bryant went overseas to have this done for his knee and swore it helped him heal.

[schplurg]

I'm just going to comment about what you said earlier about not trusting the doctors. You are correct not to rely on them.

 

My story is long so I won't get into it but I learned that you must advocate for yourself, do your own research on any suggested procedures, and look for alternatives on your own. If you don't get what you want, push harder or look elsewhere.

 

I would have gotten nowhere if I just listened to the doctors. They will push stuff that does not work (alternative woo medicine in my case) and not suggest other things (science based) unless you bring them up yourself. Which I did.

 

I finally, after many months, got a nerve conductivity test and then an MRI (for tendinitis) at my repeated insistence and the problem was found because of it. Turns out it's a nerve in my neck and it affects both arms, and they would have never found it without me pestering them.

 

And always remember: "You know what they call the person who graduates last in their class in medical school?"

 

"Doctor"

[slonezp]

8 hours ago, schplurg said:

I'm just going to comment about what you said earlier about not trusting the doctors. You are correct not to rely on them.

 

My story is long so I won't get into it but I learned that you must advocate for yourself, do your own research on any suggested procedures, and look for alternatives on your own. If you don't get what you want, push harder or look elsewhere.

 

I would have gotten nowhere if I just listened to the doctors. They will push stuff that does not work (alternative woo medicine in my case) and not suggest other things (science based) unless you bring them up yourself. Which I did.

 

I finally, after many months, got a nerve conductivity test and then an MRI (for tendinitis) at my repeated insistence and the problem was found because of it. Turns out it's a nerve in my neck and it affects both arms, and they would have never found it without me pestering them.

 

And always remember: "You know what they call the person who graduates last in their class in medical school?"

 

"Doctor"

I completely agree.

I went around for a few years looking for a doctor that could figure out what was wrong with my shoulder. I had already had 2 surgeries and was still having problems. The doc that did the 2 surgeries is a shoulder specialist with a great reputation and works with some of the professional sports teams in Chicago. Both surgeries he performed were in the ball joint. He was honest with me and said he didn't know why i was still having issues.

I saw 2 different neurologists to see if the problems were associated with my spine. They found nothing after doing numerous tests. I went thru pain management therapy getting injections in my neck and they wanted to burn the nerves that were causing my headaches. No solution for the loss of dexterity in my hand and strength in my left arm.

Well, I was deemed legally disabled and now fired from work after 2 years of being on workmans comp. I started looking for other opinions. Had another doc want to do a bicep tenodesis. I ran that by my shoulder doc and he said "I can do that surgery but it won't fix your problems."

I brought the topic of my shoulder up on another forum and someone said "I know what's wrong with you" and gave me the name of a shoulder doc in KY. I did a phone consultation and drove to Louisville. I wasn't in the office more than 5 minutes and was diagnosed that I tore my trapezoids and rhomboids off my shoulder blade. He was the doctor who originally discovered this problem and pioneered the surgery. I was patient 300 or so in the country that had the surgery. Because I was part of research, the cost of the surgery was almost completely waived as long as I agreed to keep in contact for 3 years after the surgery. 

My doc and physical therapist in Chicago did all the follow up work. 

Had I not had the surgery I would have put a bullet in my head. That's the honest truth. 

While the pain and discomfort I have now is nothing close compared to pre-op, it's annoying. 

 

 

[detroit1]

That explains your avatar completely. I wish you the best for some kind of relief soon, sounds like you suffered enough.

[throttleplate]

10 hours ago, slonezp said:

I completely agree.

I went around for a few years looking for a doctor that could figure out what was wrong with my shoulder. I had already had 2 surgeries and was still having problems. The doc that did the 2 surgeries is a shoulder specialist with a great reputation and works with some of the professional sports teams in Chicago. Both surgeries he performed were in the ball joint. He was honest with me and said he didn't know why i was still having issues.

I saw 2 different neurologists to see if the problems were associated with my spine. They found nothing after doing numerous tests. I went thru pain management therapy getting injections in my neck and they wanted to burn the nerves that were causing my headaches. No solution for the loss of dexterity in my hand and strength in my left arm.

Well, I was deemed legally disabled and now fired from work after 2 years of being on workmans comp. I started looking for other opinions. Had another doc want to do a bicep tenodesis. I ran that by my shoulder doc and he said "I can do that surgery but it won't fix your problems."

I brought the topic of my shoulder up on another forum and someone said "I know what's wrong with you" and gave me the name of a shoulder doc in KY. I did a phone consultation and drove to Louisville. I wasn't in the office more than 5 minutes and was diagnosed that I tore my trapezoids and rhomboids off my shoulder blade. He was the doctor who originally discovered this problem and pioneered the surgery. I was patient 300 or so in the country that had the surgery. Because I was part of research, the cost of the surgery was almost completely waived as long as I agreed to keep in contact for 3 years after the surgery. 

My doc and physical therapist in Chicago did all the follow up work. 

Had I not had the surgery I would have put a bullet in my head. That's the honest truth. 

While the pain and discomfort I have now is nothing close compared to pre-op, it's annoying. 

 

 

yeah, lots of stuff goin on there.

 

Each scapula has 17 muscles attached to it: 1. Posteriorly, from superficial to deep: trapezius, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, levator scapulae, teres minor, teres major, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, and subscapularis. 2.

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, detroit1 said:

That explains your avatar completely. I wish you the best for some kind of relief soon, sounds like you suffered enough.

Had the avatar before the injury. How do you explain that? LOL

There's a little Al Bundy in all of us. Some more than others. 

 

[slonezp]

1 hour ago, throttleplate said:

yeah, lots of stuff goin on there.

 

Each scapula has 17 muscles attached to it: 1. Posteriorly, from superficial to deep: trapezius, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, levator scapulae, teres minor, teres major, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, and subscapularis. 2.

All I know is I have a long scar on my back and a bunch of holes drilled in my shoulder blade where they sutured the muscles back on. 

The surgery stabilized my shoulder and aligned it back where it was supposed to be. I've probably got 60% range of motion and maybe 40% strength. The arm still fatigues very quickly and I do baby it. I think I already mentioned I tore something again a few years back. Most people's arms swing when they walk. My left arm just hangs to my side.

It looks much better now almost 10 years post op

[throttleplate]

4 hours ago, slonezp said:

All I know is I have a long scar on my back and a bunch of holes drilled in my shoulder blade where they sutured the muscles back on. 

The surgery stabilized my shoulder and aligned it back where it was supposed to be. I've probably got 60% range of motion and maybe 40% strength. The arm still fatigues very quickly and I do baby it. I think I already mentioned I tore something again a few years back. Most people's arms swing when they walk. My left arm just hangs to my side.

It looks much better now almost 10 years post op

didnt the therapist or dr instruct you to build back the muscle by doing isolation strength training?

[slonezp]

Yes, the theory being strengthen the good muscles and that would help overcome the issues with the bad. The problem is the shoulder is the most complicated joint in the body.

I've also torn one or more of the muscles off again and I refuse to go thru another surgery. The recovery was horrible. 

[deaknh03]

16 hours ago, slonezp said:

All I know is I have a long scar on my back and a bunch of holes drilled in my shoulder blade where they sutured the muscles back on. 

The surgery stabilized my shoulder and aligned it back where it was supposed to be. I've probably got 60% range of motion and maybe 40% strength. The arm still fatigues very quickly and I do baby it. I think I already mentioned I tore something again a few years back. Most people's arms swing when they walk. My left arm just hangs to my side.

It looks much better now almost 10 years post op

Is there a chance that tattoo is contributing to the pain? I know its causing me mental anguish looking at it. 

[slonezp]

9 minutes ago, deaknh03 said:

Is there a chance that tattoo is contributing to the pain? I know its causing me mental anguish looking at it. 

They have pills for that.

[deaknh03]

4 minutes ago, slonezp said:

They have pills for that.

I'll need eyedrops too, for the burning