bursitis, tendonitis, frozen shoulder, kenalog - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

ezhbez · 12-14-2006, 12:43 PM

Well, after some "research", i decided to post on this paricular board, altho i expected to find boards specific to the afflictions listed in the above subject. Anyway, i have been diagnosed (via a work-related worker's comp repetitive stress "injury"

) with tendonitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder(?), and "blunt force trauma" to bones of the shoulder joints (from prolonged lifting of excessive weights at an advanced age [60-ish]), along with other self-diagnosed complications that might well include other afflictions such as myositis, myofacial pain syndrome, and metabolic byproduct residue leading to a condition approximating "calcification" of the muscles of the upper body. Note that initially there was very little pain in the actually shoulder joint areas, 99% of the pain onset was musculoskelatol, with severe muscle spasms of the back being predominant...

After two months of physical therapy that was finally terminated due to failure to improve range of motion or related pain, my condition was classified as "chronic", and i was referred to an ortho specialist. For the shoulder problems, I have received "Kenalog" injections the inflammation. Initially, after the first round of injections, i felt that there was a slight lessening of pain for a short time (which was likely just the muscular pain receding), and therefore started on a second round of injections.

However, two months into this process, after the initial slight improvement, i am experiencing severe worsening of pain in the actual shoulder joints. The "regression" started with popping and cracking of the shoulder joints, not painful at first, slowly migrating to painful, eventually falling into what feels like the bones of the shoulder sockets being so loose that it almost feels like near-dislocation, with the joints locking up (NOT from "adhesive capsulitis", but from the joints being so loose and getting slightly "out of place") and pain progressing to the point of occasional incapacitation.

So, in this initial post regarding my current trauma, my immediate concern is to try to determine if the kenalog (or any steroid) injections might well be causing the shoulder joints to go from pretty much OK to not OK at all (so that I can make the decision to stop the injections, as the ortho is a biased mercenary for worker's comp......).

I did note in "researching" kenalog injections, that it might "dissolve scar tissue" and likely will "weaken tendons", which, to me, might explain the "loosening" of the shoulder joints and the pain associated with it...

I did search for "kenalog" on this site to no avail (does not seem to be used for shoulder inflammation...), and as indicated earlier, not sure exactly where this post actually belongs, but might we, oh almighty moderator, consider a board for the noted afflictions? sorry if i missed it...

6foot3 · 12-15-2006, 11:59 AM

ezhbez........I always believe in attacking inflammation internally and not externally as you'll have to depend on these topical steroids for the rest of your life.You should research the uses of Fish oils as these are some of the most powerful antiinflammatory foods/compounds on earth (EPA/DHA).Also Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, and MSM (MethylSufonylMethane) as these help in rebuilding the Joints and Cartilage....

lucky427 · 12-15-2006, 05:42 PM

you should do some research on trigger points.
I recommend the book by Clair Davies - he suffered himself from (and cured) frozen shoulder

ezhbez · 12-15-2006, 06:06 PM

lucky427 - i have previously reviewed the workbook briefly (although i understand that there is now a new book in addition to the workbook) at a bookstore, but i did not buy the workbook, as for some reason i got the impression that it might not be exactly what i need, not even sure why, maybe because i am not convinced that the problem is actually frozen shoulder specific to adhesive capsulitis as much as it is more musculoskeletal, if not multiple problems - but, maybe i will give it another look, thanks...

6foot3 - well, i have always taken fish oil, as well as other basic nutritional supplements, and have lately been considering some type of glucosamine/msm, altho when i took it in the past, on a preventative basis, i seemed to recall that i had an adverse reaction to it, the msm likely as it is sulfur based? - anyway, i have noted a product called "move free advanced" which also includes bioflavanoids and Hyaluronic Acid, but i have always been wary of the schiff brand products for some reason, you know, excipients, fillers, etc., plus i did try a similar product early on in the extremely painful stage and it had absolutely no noticeable effect at that point, maybe i should try it again;

but thanks, and anyone else ???

to reiterate, my immediate concern is to try to "determine if the kenalog (or any steroid) injections might well be causing the shoulder joints to go from pretty much OK to not OK at all"[/COLOR]

lucky427 · 12-16-2006, 09:34 AM

Ehzbez-

Trigger points are actually a muscular pathology. Given your weightlifting history and your symptoms, it definitely seems like its worth checking yourself out for trigger points. The nice thing about it is that you should be able to determine very quickly if they are the source of your symptoms. IE if you find trigger points in the relevant muscles they are likely the cause of your pain. And then they are fairly easy to get rid of. Clair Davies actually had trigger points in his latissimus dorsi muscles that caused the pain in his shoulder.

I do not know whether steroid injections could be making your symptoms owrse (I dont really no why they would). But my point is that if you take a few hours (or less) to properly examine the specific muscles that might be referring pain to your shoulder you might be able to determine that your pain is trigger point-related and you will not need to continue with any injections.

Of course, consult your doctor as well.