On the Cutting Edge Without Surgery

My frozen shoulder could have been a rock star. For the past five months, it has had its own entourage of medical specialists, including not only an MD and physical therapist, but also an array of “alternative” practitioners, including:

•  an acupuncturist
•  a chiropractor
•  an athletic trainer who specializes in therapeutic conditioning
•  a massage therapist
•  a neuro-muscular therapist
•  a Thai yoga therapist

My shoulder is healing far more quickly than had I just gone the traditional Western route, and I've noticed an encouraging change in attitude on the part of my docs, who are now more eager to learn about non-traditional treatments because their patients report good results. And emerging data indicates that the results are legit, not hokus-pokus.

Currently, my insurance plan covers only the chiropractor. But once physicians see how effective alternative therapies can be, the hope is that patients like me won't have to bankroll these new-to-us but ancient remedies.

East meets West

No tears in the tendons, the orthopedic surgeon reported, after reading the MRI, meaning I probably wouldn't need surgery. I was about to shout “hip, hip hooray” when he pronounced the diagnosis: “adhesive capsulitis,” a.k.a., a “frozen shoulder.”

I had no clue what that was, except that the motion on my left side was so limited and the rotator cuff so inflamed that I couldn't raise my arm at all. The pain woke me up at night. With rigorous physical therapy, the doctor said, it might take a year, if not longer.

That's when I decided on an all-out Eastern therapy assault.

Not exactly what the doctor ordered

I decided to try an acupuncturist for my frozen shoulder and pursued more alternative treatments with not-so reckless abandon. The acupuncturist led me to a chiropractor, who suggested a trifecta of specialists--the massage therapist, athletic trainer and neuro-muscular therapist. The neuro-muscular therapist introduced me to the Thai yoga therapist.

Pre-frozen shoulder, I hadn't heard of “neuro-muscular therapy” or “Thai yoga.” Nor did I know a chiropractor did anything except “crack backs.” I thought unconventional therapies were way out there rather than “real” medicine.

But I really think I'm onto something important, as do my conventionally trained specialists. My orthopedic surgeon, who holds a teaching position at Harvard, thinks my “cocktail” of professionals is clever. My physical therapist, who admits he never gushes, has pronounced my progress “outstanding.”

In fact, the physical therapist wants to try the Thai yoga guy so he can recommend him to his patients, the chiropractor wants the name of my acupuncturist, and the MD has asked for the business card of the neuro-muscular therapist. If only I had brokered a fee!

Today, my injured arm shoots straight up in the air, I can hold weights, and serve (as poorly as I always did) when I play tennis. Because I'm still a little stiff, I see most of these specialists, but a couple of times a month now, rather than a week.

A primer of professionals

•  Neuromuscular Therapy: uses soft-tissue manipulation techniques to treat trigger points and individual, rather than groups of, muscles. With thumbs, fingers, elbows and pressure bars, the therapist balances the central nervous system with the structure of the musculoskeletal system.
•  Thai Massage or Thai yoga therapy: focuses on assisted passive yoga stretching, muscle lengthening, joint manipulation, and energy work.
•  Athletic trainer with specialty in therapeutic conditioning: helps people with injuries or limitations to exercise safely.
•  Deep tissue massage: works deep levels of muscles and connective tissues

Today, I am less likely to dismiss something that I've never done before or don't know much about. I do know I'm glad I didn't give eastern medicine the cold shoulder.