Injury to Arm But, Don't Want to Take Any Medications

Talk to your OBGYN once you get the information on the meds and the dosage...ask the Ortho if it's safe for pregnancy.

When I was pregnant with my son, I had a really bad injury to my knee and they prescribed anti-inflammatory meds and pain meds. Turned out even though the doctor said I could take them, my OBGYN said nope and recommended heating pads (ThermaCare) and that helped ease me through the pain.

The best thing to do is call you OBGYN explain what happened and ask for advice.

good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

I can recommend a couple of things. My husband tore his rotator cuff a couple of years ago and used Wobenzym to help with healing. Below is a link where you can read up on it. It utilizes food enzymes to assist in healing. He took massive amounts to start. If you are interested call the number listed on the website for more information. My husband was able to avoid surgery, which you should do at all costs. I am certain you can take it without worry, but call to check it out.

http://www.mistergreengenes.com/wobenzym-n-tan-800-tablet...

Another possible therapy is magnets. I buy from BioMagScience.com Check out this link. You will find testimonials. Get a magnetic bracelet also.

http://www.biomagscience.net/magnet-therapy/advanced-biom...

I have used magnets for years for various ailments from bronchitis to migraines to lower back pain. Magnets can definitely be used without fear of harming your pregnancy. I would also recommend you take superfood. It can be found in any health food store and it is dehydrated greens-wheatgrass, ryegrass, spirulina, etc. Superfood will boost your immune system, help you heal faster and will be great for your baby. Superfood is food. Add it to juice. As your children start taking juice, add it to their juice. You will avoid a lot of colds that way.

Acupuncture would be very good.

At the end of your shower, alternate hot as you can stand, cold as you can stand on your shoulder. Alternate back and forth several times. The heat draws circulation to the surface, the cold forces it down deeper into the tissue. Increased circulation delivers oxygen which is what heals you.

You can use all of these therapies combined. Take heart. You can heal this. Be patient as it will take time. Be very careful not to push too hard, too soon. I am sure your doctor will prescribe physical therapy. The more diligent you are, the better you will do.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

You can take regular strength Tylenol for pain. I am a Physical Therapist, you need to get into Physical Therapy ASAP! In an orthopedic clinic we have access to a variety of modalities that can help you cope even while waiting for your MRI results! Until then, ice your shoulder for about 15 minutes multiple times a day (like 4-6 times, use reusable gel packs made for larger joints (buy them at a pharmacy) they are well worth the money...as you will use them over and over again. You need to do this to reduce the inflammatory process from the injury. It also helps reduce pain. Until you get into P.T., do "pendulum exercises" to relieve pain and maintain your shoulder range of motion (lean foward at the waist, allow your arm to dangle down toward floor and slowly move your arm in circles (small progressing to larger) clockwise/counterclockwise and then move you arm forward/back and side to side, do each direction for about 30 seconds each. A rotator cuff tear can be very painful and debilitating. I wish you the best in your recovery!

1 mom found this helpful

I'd honestly be more worried about the MRI than any meds ever. Did the docs inform you that an MRI gives you the equivalent of a full years worth of sun exposure radiation all at once? Compared to an x-ray that is equivalent to 1 days worth of sun exposure. I would be EXTREMELY worried about the radiation effects on your unborn child. The "experts" believe that radiation exposure while still a child and cells are still forming will ultimately be the cause of approximately 20 percent of cancers in the future. Just something to think about.

1 mom found this helpful

Athletes use something called "titanium" bandages.
http://www.thefind.com/beauty/browse-tape-titanium-bandages
Which per a Public Radio episode in which a doctor spoke, says that it really helps aches and pains, and especially since athletes still have to play even though they may be in pain. There is also a cream formulation too, which I have used, and helped. My Mom has used the Titanium bandages as well, and she said it helped. We find it locally at our local "Longs Drug" stores. Maybe your local drug stores have them too?

Or, http://www.stjohn.org/HealthInfoLib/swArticle.aspx?2,69 is another link for info. (sorry, this link does not seem to work).

The thing is, with repetitive movements, it can get worse or take long time to heal, thus pain. I had a carpal tunnel problem in both my wrists when I had my first child. It was just from lifting and carrying my baby so much, repetitively, all the time, as most Moms have to do 24/7. So, I had to wear a splint/wrap on both my wrists, until it got better.

Yes, ask your OB/GYN if you can take anything at all. Or, perhaps they can give you a cortisone shot in the area.

Take care,
Susan

I had a rotator cuff tear and a lot of other things going on in the shoulder. The pain is brutal. Ice it. No heat. Go to physical therapy. I needed surgery, but several "kids" I know in their 20's avoided surgery with a 3-week intensive physical therapy routine. Young people heal faster than those of us in our 50's. Talk to the doctor about an anti-inflamatory and if it's allowed. You need to get the inflamation down--. Good luck, but at your age, you might be able to avoid surgery.

I was six months pregnant when I broke my ankle carrying my 17 month old son. Boy was it challanging to keep up with him on crutches and in pain. I did take vicodin a FEW times, but it mostly just made me sick and then I was sick and still on crutches which made my job harder as a mom. SO....I stuck it out without any medicines. I'm sure I took tylenol...but I just stuck it out. Remember that pain can increase your blood pressure and stress, making that a danger to your baby, so really you have to decide what is worse for your baby. I believe that most developement is done in your abby by the tenth week, so that should help you rest a bit easier too.

Physical therapy would be a good option.

I recommend MonaVie. It is made of 19 whole organice fruits so it is fabulous for you when you are pregnant and contains your essential fatty acids as well (free of mercury & fishy taste). It is also a natural anti-inflammatory and speeds healing. This is a wonderful result of antioxidants found in certain fruits. There is no added sugar or water so you don't need to worry about the calories either. And, it's less expensive and easier than juicing the amount of fruit you will need to get the same benefits. Feel free to call me if you want more information ###-###-####.

Hi J.. I know how scary it can be to take medication when you're pregnant. I had knee surgery in Dec. 07 and was on some serious pain medication called Norco for awhile as I was going through physical therapy. My husband and I found out we were pregnant in April and I was still on the medication. My doctor said it was fine but still... you always wonder. Well my doctor was right because now we have a beautiful week and a half old newborn girl! I only took the meds as instructed and stopped taking them as soon as I could. I hope everything works out ok for you!

I had a very similar experience. I was carrying my son up for a nap and he decided to fight me and we both went tumbling. I extended my arm so my hand could cushion his head and I ended up pulling my shoulder out of the socket and strained my rotator. I was also pregnant with my second son. I ended up dealing with the pain because i didn't want to take any meds and then after my son was born I met a wonderful chiropractor. Just after two visits it was 90% better. After 4 visits it was 100%. The best part was my insurance covered chiropractic and I didn't even know it.

D.

from a physical therapy point of view, try icing your shoulder for about 10 minutes. you can do this a few times a day. use a pillowcase to put the bag of ice in if you're very sensitive to ice. (btw, ice is colder than a cold pack and in my experience works better. if you have a cold pack, you'll have to wet a towel with warm water & wrap it around the cold pack to get the same effect.)if you have a tear in one or more of your rotator cuff muscles then you probably have inflammation in that region; ice will help with the pain (it'll numb the area) and with the inflammation, both temporarily. ask your m.d. what he recommends you to do or take that will be safe but you will have pain in your shoulder. you can ask your m.d. if you would benefit from physical therapy, acupuncture, etc. good luck!

Bebe Physical Therapy may be able to help. They specialize in physical therapy for pregnancy and they are amazing!
http://bebept.com/bebept/

J. -
If you live anywhere near the Burbank area - reply and to me and I'll give you the best referral ever - an amazing acupuncturist. I have had such serious neck/shoulder issues - was on my way to surgery. But this guy completely fixed it - not too expensive at all and very knowledgable. No bizarreness either - he has one foot in western med and the other in eastern. Let me know.

A.

I think your OB will tell you that it's OK to take Tylenol if you really need it. Also, my mother dislocated her elbow a couple of years ago. Insurance was taking too long to approve her treatment so she paid out-of-pocket to go to the chiropractor. She regained full range of motion in one month. By the time she went to her first phys therapy appt. the doctor was amazed that she had healed so well. You might see if one might help you.

In 400 BC Hypocrates said, "Food is medicine and medicine is food." If you are interested in highly concentrated nutrition that will feed the regeneration in your body, let me know. You said you didn't want to take meds and I know of plenty of people that have healed their body without them.

God Bless!

J.

Hi J.,

I'm assuming you are taking prenatal vitamins, but I would highly suggest you look into taking a pharmaceutical grade quality supplement, in particular, I would recommend that you take a high quality grape seed extract. It's extremely high in anti-inflammatory properties and since you are really watching what you take into your body, but also need some relief and healing, you are best served to look into taking this product.

I can direct you to the sites of a couple of medical doctors who specialize in nutritional medicine. Please email me privately at ____@____.com and I'll send you the links. Gotta get that arm feeling better as soon as possible! How difficult it must be for you, being pregnant, and with such a little one to care for at the same time.

Sending blessings,

P.

Not sure where you live, but I have delt with chronic shoulder problems for the past five years - the only doctor so far that did ANY good was Richard Bobinski, chiropractor in Newport Beach. I had x-rays, months of physcial therapy, cortisone shots....nothing helped. I have seen him 5 times and the pain has gone from constant and harsh to occasional and moderate. Good luck! L.

J., Ask your dr or pharmacist which class the medications prescribed are listed. Here is a link to check out the different classes, usually class a and b are safe. HOpe that helps you make your decision.
http://www.globalrph.com/pregnancy.htm
:)