The Brinks on sun 17 jan 99
To Kathi LeSuer, and all
You mentioned an exercise your therapist advised to strengthen your
shoulder muscles...pulling on rubber strips attached to your wedging table
legs. Can you describe the height of the rubber bands (would heavy bongee
cords work?) --- do you stand back a ways and pull towards yourself, or are
they attached low and you pull them up?
My left shoulder has been borderline sore all my life, long before I was a
potter, but the last few months it is BAD. I went to a specialist who did
an x-ray and he said that a flat band of muscle coming from the top of my
shoulder blade passes under some other bone before attaching to the ball
joint (my words). Anyway this other bone has more of a down-curve than on
most people, and irritates the muscle . He said take anti-inflammatory
medication and don't do whatever makes it hurt. And if it still hurts, a
cortisone shot would be next. Luckily, I am getting a lot of relief with
a few Advils each day.
Wedging doesn't bother me, although I usually stay under 10 lbs, and like
my clay soft anyway. Some of the motions of throwing hurt , and I am
conscious of subtly altering some of my postures to feel bettter. As long
as that works, I'll feel very lucky.
If there are any other exercises for the shoulders that you would be
willing to share by describing them, I would be happy to hear about them,
and I imagine so would many others. A lot of people in my age group
(guess which!) are having shoulder surgery, some with really good results,
but for sure that's not the first thing you think of doing. You must have
a really good therapist if you're throwing 15 lbs of clay. Glad you recovered.
from Ann in CA, happy because I spent all day cleaning up my studio,
re-acquainting myself with some things I forgot I had and meant to use in
claywork...some test tiles reminding me of glazes to mix, etc.
So much to do, so much to try...
e-mail billann@impulse.net
John K. Dellow on mon 18 jan 99
Before going to a surgeon ,try a chiropractor who uses the activator method. I g
to one each month. I know i'm the one who says wedge by hand :). But what I
haven't said is that after 3 car accidents I have a very stuffed back . That's w
I do stretching exercises each day , to keep the joints supple. I stress "gentle
exercises".
John Dellow "the flower pot man"
ICQ : #2193986 {jacka}
E-mail : dellow@usa.net
25 Hugh Guinea Ct, Worongary Q 4213
Ph:+61-7-55302875 Fax:+61-7-55253585
Home Page : http://welcome.to/jkdellow
Abro on tue 19 jan 99
Have to respond to this one. Sounds like your doctor gave you some brush
off advice. Find another health care practioner and/or physical therapist,
someone who will help you find better answers than don't do it if it hurts,
cortizone shots, and surgery. Exercise, massage, chiropractic, ice/heat,
acupuncture, determining the best work positions, posture, etc. are all
things to look at. Good luck.
Karin A.
-----Original Message-----
From: The Brinks
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Sunday, January 17, 1999 8:12 PM
Subject: Shoulder pain
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
To Kathi LeSuer, and all
You mentioned an exercise your therapist advised to strengthen your
shoulder muscles...pulling on rubber strips attached to your wedging table
legs. Can you describe the height of the rubber bands (would heavy bongee
cords work?) --- do you stand back a ways and pull towards yourself, or are
they attached low and you pull them up?
My left shoulder has been borderline sore all my life, long before I was a
potter, but the last few months it is BAD. I went to a specialist who did
an x-ray and he said that a flat band of muscle coming from the top of my
shoulder blade passes under some other bone before attaching to the ball
joint (my words). Anyway this other bone has more of a down-curve than on
most people, and irritates the muscle . He said take anti-inflammatory
medication and don't do whatever makes it hurt. And if it still hurts, a
cortisone shot would be next. Luckily, I am getting a lot of relief with
a few Advils each day.
Wedging doesn't bother me, although I usually stay under 10 lbs, and like
my clay soft anyway. Some of the motions of throwing hurt , and I am
conscious of subtly altering some of my postures to feel bettter. As long
as that works, I'll feel very lucky.
If there are any other exercises for the shoulders that you would be
willing to share by describing them, I would be happy to hear about them,
and I imagine so would many others. A lot of people in my age group
(guess which!) are having shoulder surgery, some with really good results,
but for sure that's not the first thing you think of doing. You must have
a really good therapist if you're throwing 15 lbs of clay. Glad you
recovered.
from Ann in CA, happy because I spent all day cleaning up my studio,
re-acquainting myself with some things I forgot I had and meant to use in
claywork...some test tiles reminding me of glazes to mix, etc.
So much to do, so much to try...
e-mail billann@impulse.net
Phyllis E. Tilton on tue 19 jan 99
Ann: The use of the bands should be directed by a therapist or that
specialist. The bungee cord would not be good. The rubber bands to use are
called therabands and have different tensions and are different colors.. I had
rotator cuff surgery last February. My internist sent me to a rheumatologist
first. I had tendonitis in my elbow, hand and shoulder. She injected all
three. The shoulder did not improve so it was on to physical therapy at a
sports med place. In addition to electrical treatment, moist packs(I went to
sleep every time) they had me work out on some specific machines. They gave me
handouts with instructions for exercises to do at home--with and without the
therabands. These were tied to a door knob or I stood on the band. The
exercises that were too painful, they said not to do--could further injure the
shoulder. To make a long story short-the therapist sent me back to the
rheumatologist who sent me on to have an MRI. That test showed much damage so
I was sent to an orthopedic surgeon-again sport med specialist, After surgery
I,again, had therapy-and almost a year later, am pretty much pain free. There
was some bone removal in addition to reattaching the tendons, etc, VERY
painful. In addition to the exercises, he had me do some weight lifting-very
slowly. I have been throwing since last May-small amounts but increasing as my
muscular strength increases. No drugs now but once in a while, the shoulder
will tighten up and ice and a heating pad work wonders. Have you been checked
for arthritis? That is one of the other things that can cause the pain.
Please follow the doctor's instructions. The rheumatologist understood my love
for clay because she has been somewhat involved in pottery. In addition to
that, she is a pharmacist(I am a retired pharmacist) using pharmacy to help
her finance med school.
Good luck
Phyllis Tilton
Daisypet@aol.com
Betsy Wilding on tue 19 jan 99
Watch out for that cortisone shot suggestion--I hurt my wrist, the
doctor said, by carrying something too heavy too far out in front of me
(probably a plaster bat full of wet clay), then suddenly jerking my
arms--anyway, he shot cortisone in there and it felt better right away
BUT he said repeated shots would dissolve the wrist tendons, so now I'm
just careful.
The Brinks wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> To Kathi LeSuer, and all
>
> You mentioned an exercise your therapist advised to strengthen your
> shoulder muscles...pulling on rubber strips attached to your wedging table
> legs. Can you describe the height of the rubber bands (would heavy bongee
> cords work?) --- do you stand back a ways and pull towards yourself, or are
> they attached low and you pull them up?
>
> My left shoulder has been borderline sore all my life, long before I was a
> potter, but the last few months it is BAD. I went to a specialist who did
> an x-ray and he said that a flat band of muscle coming from the top of my
> shoulder blade passes under some other bone before attaching to the ball
> joint (my words). Anyway this other bone has more of a down-curve than on
> most people, and irritates the muscle . He said take anti-inflammatory
> medication and don't do whatever makes it hurt. And if it still hurts, a
> cortisone shot would be next. Luckily, I am getting a lot of relief with
> a few Advils each day.
>
> Wedging doesn't bother me, although I usually stay under 10 lbs, and like
> my clay soft anyway. Some of the motions of throwing hurt , and I am
> conscious of subtly altering some of my postures to feel bettter. As long
> as that works, I'll feel very lucky.
>
> If there are any other exercises for the shoulders that you would be
> willing to share by describing them, I would be happy to hear about them,
> and I imagine so would many others. A lot of people in my age group
> (guess which!) are having shoulder surgery, some with really good results,
> but for sure that's not the first thing you think of doing. You must have
> a really good therapist if you're throwing 15 lbs of clay. Glad you recovered.
>
> from Ann in CA, happy because I spent all day cleaning up my studio,
> re-acquainting myself with some things I forgot I had and meant to use in
> claywork...some test tiles reminding me of glazes to mix, etc.
> So much to do, so much to try...
> e-mail billann@impulse.net
--
Betsy Wilding --- Silver Spring, MD
mailto:ewilding@digizen.net --- http://www.digizen.net/members/ewilding
Jane Rekedal on tue 19 jan 99
As a potter recuperating from clavicle surgery a month ago and now starting to
do physical therapy, I'd like to warn that not every exercise is universally
applicable. It's a little like passing your prescription drugs around to your
friends, in that what is appropriate for one isn't always for another. Sure,
consulting the medical profession costs money, but it could be a real bargain
in the long run. Seems that there are lots of clinics that specialize in
sports medicine nowadays and even most health clubs seem to have physical
therapists availble, altho you need a referral to go to a p.t. Just a word of
caution.
Jane Rekedal
Ray Carlton on tue 19 jan 99
i had the same thing a few years ago and the dr called it a rotator cuff
injury...i found that after i bought the pugmill [just after i had the
problem] it slowly went away but still comes back if i do the wrong
thing..digging with a shovel is dynamite...sometimes i also have tingling
hands, sore back, sore arm muscles etc etc etc..i guess doing this kind of
physical work for so many years it eventually starts to wear bits of you
out...i found the best thing i ever did for my arms and shoulders was spend
2,000.00 on a pugmill
At 20:11 17/01/99 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>To Kathi LeSuer, and all
>
>You mentioned an exercise your therapist advised to strengthen your
>shoulder muscles...pulling on rubber strips attached to your wedging table
>legs. Can you describe the height of the rubber bands (would heavy bongee
>cords work?) --- do you stand back a ways and pull towards yourself, or are
>they attached low and you pull them up?
>
>My left shoulder has been borderline sore all my life, long before I was a
>potter, but the last few months it is BAD. I went to a specialist who did
>an x-ray and he said that a flat band of muscle coming from the top of my
>shoulder blade passes under some other bone before attaching to the ball
>joint (my words). Anyway this other bone has more of a down-curve than on
>most people, and irritates the muscle . He said take anti-inflammatory
>medication and don't do whatever makes it hurt. And if it still hurts, a
>cortisone shot would be next. Luckily, I am getting a lot of relief with
>a few Advils each day.
>
>Wedging doesn't bother me, although I usually stay under 10 lbs, and like
>my clay soft anyway. Some of the motions of throwing hurt , and I am
>conscious of subtly altering some of my postures to feel bettter. As long
>as that works, I'll feel very lucky.
>
>If there are any other exercises for the shoulders that you would be
>willing to share by describing them, I would be happy to hear about them,
>and I imagine so would many others. A lot of people in my age group
>(guess which!) are having shoulder surgery, some with really good results,
>but for sure that's not the first thing you think of doing. You must have
>a really good therapist if you're throwing 15 lbs of clay. Glad you
recovered.
>
>from Ann in CA, happy because I spent all day cleaning up my studio,
>re-acquainting myself with some things I forgot I had and meant to use in
>claywork...some test tiles reminding me of glazes to mix, etc.
>So much to do, so much to try...
>e-mail billann@impulse.net
>
cheers Ray Carlton
McMahons Creek Victoria Australia
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