Shoulder Problems?

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djmm

DJ Extraordinaire
Nov 20, 2007
317
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55
Pittsburgh, PA
www.djmagicmoments.com
I thought for sure I had a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder. Went to the orthopedic and he said that there was no tear and that it was just inflamed and sore.

He did an injection of cortisone and it seemed better for about 6 months. I went and received a second shot, into a different area, and got no relief at all.

Has anyone else had shoulder issues from carrying gear, for some many years. I am entering my 29th year of dj'ing and it's finally catching up to my shoulders.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Scott
 
For the past year or so....I have had a pain in my left shoulder.
I'd bet I would get the same diagnosis as you did.

I have plenty of aches and pains, that I DON'T attribute to hauling gear....
but I'm pretty sure that it makes it worse!
 
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Ausumm said:
I have plenty of aches and pains, that I DON'T attribute to hauling gear....
but I'm pretty sure that it makes it worse!
Click to expand...

You are right. I have always contributed my shoulder pain to the way we carry gear. To our sides and hanging down.

Some days are better than others but it looks like another trip to the orthopedic doctor for me.
 
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44 years so far and still going. But I don’t lift anything heavy anymore, basically I can’t. I have my son assist and/or redesigned equipment to be lighter. No more large heavy speakers or racks. If you those issues they come back if you don’t change your routine.

My first question when purchasing anything, is how much does it weigh?

Stuff is lighter now but a assistant help immensely.
 
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When you get to my age (old), you’re almost always dealing with some ache or pain, and injuries are always possible if you’re not careful. It helps that I’ve been in pretty good shape most of my life, but a lot of the (stupid) things I did when I was young are causing me problems today. You can’t go back and undo it though. I’ve only been DJing for a few years, so I can’t blame any of my pains on gear hauling. My right shoulder has restricted motion, which I’m pretty sure is from passing footballs and basketballs well into my 40’s. I played City League flag football until I was 36, and basketball until I was 45. I have some issues with my knees and hips too, but nothing so serious that I can’t deal with it... nothing that stops me from loading/unloading, setting up and tearing down by myself, but it’s also the reason I continuously try to lighten my systems every year.[emoji4]
 
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I started having pain in my right shoulder about 4 months ago. Pretty sure it was from moving gear. I didn't see the doc .. pain didn't appear to be in the shoulder, but in the tendons around it. Laying off heavy lifting since January (OK, an occasional gig) seems to have helped. I can still feel a little pain if I extend the arm straight out and then lift up .. but no where as much as a couple months ago.

It does suck getting older.
 
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My both shoulders crack when I move them any way but front and back. I played hockey and boxed when I was younger and was known to throw a few punches outside of the ring too. I also wiped out a motorbike when I was 15 and dislocated the right one. I figure lifting gear probably didn't help but I can't blame it all on that.

I have chronic pane in several areas of my body since I was 35 but I got to say since I started hiking my knees and hips have improved greatly...My back not so much it's gotten worse
 
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Jeff Romard said:
My both shoulders crack when I move them any way but front and back.
Click to expand...

Jeff,

That is EXACTLY how mine started. I noticed the cracking then the constant pain. They describe it as a plastic bag. With no oil in a plastic back, it is very rigid. With oil, it moves smoothly. I have lost my oil.

But, no tears. (Thank God).

Huge wedding season this year (biggest ever), so I need to get the shots again and soon.

Scott
 
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djmm said:
Huge wedding season this year (biggest ever), so I need to get the shots again and soon
Click to expand...
Make sure you ask about your specific use of and reactions to repeated cortisone injections.

You may or may not be susceptible to the more serious side effects.

Also look into alternate, possible more efficient tools for moving heavy equipment. (Material handling tools)

Good luck getting your health issues managed.

P.S.
steve149 said:
It does suck getting older.
Click to expand...
..that too!
 
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djmm said:
Jeff,

That is EXACTLY how mine started. I noticed the cracking then the constant pain. They describe it as a plastic bag. With no oil in a plastic back, it is very rigid. With oil, it moves smoothly. I have lost my oil.

But, no tears. (Thank God).

Huge wedding season this year (biggest ever), so I need to get the shots again and soon.

Scott
Click to expand...

I'm pretty lucky it's not constant pain but I move the wrong way I sure know it. I do find when it's damp outside there is a little more pain
 
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I try to make it a point to roll gear in Roll it to where it goes then pick it up from there using my legs as much as possible. I just got over a bad round of piriformis syndrome I was apparently using my back to much. Since the change have been doing great, I use a roadie (my nephew college student) for big gigs even then heavy things are team lifted.
 
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I raced motocross for years and have been wadded up like a rag doll many times. I dislocated both shoulders twice, broke my neck and back, 3 broken ankles and many more injuries. I live with pain every day. I takeAcetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 10 mg. twice a day. It works wonders and does not give me that narcotic effect at all. Unlike many of the other drugs I have tried, that get me high the Hydrocodone does not make me feel high what so ever. They have been wanting to do surjury but once they start cutting on you, it can make things worse then not doing anything at all. The war on opioids makes them hard to get these days but my doctor gives me all I want. Hydrocodone is the only med that works for me, and gives me the least side affects of all the others I have tried. Ask you doctor for a sample and give it a try. DO NOT BUY STREET DRUGS. Get a script and get them legally. Tramadol works pretty good but not as good as the hydrocodone does. Tramadol is easier to get but does very little for my pain. My 84 year old mother likes the tramadol and it seems to work for her.
 
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djmm said:
No thanks on the pain pill advice. Not my thing.

I don't even like taking advil unless I must.
Click to expand...

Same with me I rarely take anything. if the pain is chronic most pills don't work anyway and with a lot of them you still feel the pain you just don't care.

I've been having back problems when I'm hiking lately it could be the few extra pounds I put on while I was down with the heart trouble or it could be something else so I'm seeing a Chiropractor tomorrow I'm going to mention the shoulders and neck too while I'm there see if he can twist me up and fix it.
 
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I have a partially herniated disc in my back .. I take Celebrex as needed .. not usually more than a couple days a month, but it's one of the few more potent pain relievers that seem to work and don't have much side effects in me (at least in the doses I take).
 
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steve149 said:
I have a partially herniated disc in my back .. I take Celebrex as needed .. not usually more than a couple days a month, but it's one of the few more potent pain relievers that seem to work and don't have much side effects in me (at least in the doses I take).
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I loved Mobic (same class as Celebrex but a little older). It recently caused an ulcer and I had to stop taking it. I'd always taken it judiciously as that whole class caries vascular risk (heart attack / stroke) but the side effect profile is much much better then the heavy duty pain killers. I recently started taking Alieve and Motrin (Same class yet a little more older) on and off as they have a much shorter half life. If the symptoms of a ulcer crop up I stop them for a week or so.

My doctor is hesitant to prescribe one of the newer acid reducers (PPI) for the ulcer as they've been linked with bone loss. :eek: I see her this week and will see what else she has in her arsenal. The choice between nothing or a heavy duty pain killer isn't much of a choice when working requires working brain cells.
 
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I had a family member that had no less the 10 knee surgeries and 3 knee replacements. Thay cut him off on his opioid pain meds, so he didn't tell anyone but he was taking over 30 Advil a day. It destroyed his liver and he passed away form liver failier. He went from taking 3 safe opioids a day to 30 unsafe Advil a day. So witch is worse? Taking a safe dose that worked, vs. a very unsafe dose that ended up killing him. It's the abusers that ruin it for those that really need it. Occasional mild pain we all deal with, But there are many with constant savvier chronic pain that basicly leaves you bed ridden. But cutting back on safe legal opioids they forced people to turn to unsafe street drugs. Opioids do not make me high, they just help controle pain. If I want a buzz, I'll smoke a big fatty thank you very much.
 
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oldschool said:
I had a family member that had no less the 10 knee surgeries and 3 knee replacements. Thay cut him off on his opioid pain meds, so he didn't tell anyone but he was taking over 30 Advil a day. It destroyed his liver and he passed away form liver failier. He went from taking 3 safe opioids a day to 30 unsafe Advil a day. So witch is worse? Taking a safe dose that worked, vs. a very unsafe dose that ended up killing him. It's the abusers that ruin it for those that really need it. Occasional mild pain we all deal with, But there are many with constant savvier chronic pain that basicly leaves you bed ridden. But cutting back on safe legal opioids they forced people to turn to unsafe street drugs. Opioids do not make me high, they just help controle pain. If I want a buzz, I'll smoke a big fatty thank you very much.
Click to expand...
It really depends on the person. I know doctors are swinging the opposite way with opioids. 10-15 years ago they couldn't give you a bottle of pills/increase your dosage fast enough now it's pulling teeth to get anything more than over the counter. A friend of mine had bypass surgery recently. They sent her home three days after surgery with Tylenol 3. I thought that was ridiculous but she was okay with it.

For me I feel much better mentally when I'm off the heavy duty stuff for a couple weeks. Mental clarity that I didn't even realize was missing comes back. It's quite eye opening to be honest. I see how people get hooked and stay in that feedback loop or go to street drugs from prescriptions but my perspective is that these were always made to be either temporary post op/major injury or end of life drugs. They just aren't very effective for chronic use. I've always been blunt with my doctors. I feel the opioids are like using a machine gun to go deer hunting. Sure it's get the job done but it's overkill and screws up a lot of meat in the process.
 
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