Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 11:30 pm | Updated: 1:34 am, Thu Oct 28, 2010.
Welcome to Ask Doc Dossman, a weekly column where you can ask Long Beach’s pre-eminent sports therapist…whatever you want! If you already forgot who Doc is, click here to read our introduction. To visit Doc’s website, click here, and buy his book, What I’ve Learned From Your Kids by clicking here. Email questions to Doc at askdoc@docdossman.com.
Hello there! I trust your week has gotten off to an incredible start! I also hope that you are finding the column to be worthwhile as well. I am enjoying this opportunity to help those outside of my office. Stay tuned for this week’s video blog. We will be discussing SHIN SPLINTS. It will be another edutaining/entercational experience, indeed!
Okay . . . I got a few good questions today so lets get started!
Hi Doc!
I have lupus so I have a lot of issues with my joints. Two years ago I lost a lot of weight by exercising and eating right, but recently I found out I have Avascular Necrosis in my knees that prevents me from doing any of the exercises I did before without being in severe pain. What do you suggest I do that would be easy on my joints but still give me a good workout?
Brandi W.
Hey Brandi! I am sure the news of Avascular Necrosis (AVN) was quite disappointing since it seemed you were on a roll with your health and fitness. You do still have hope in continuing your health quest! You just have to switch things up and get creative--you need to change from weight bearing exercises to non-weight bearing ones. Here is a list of recommendations I give my patients: swimming, water aerobics, cycling (stationery/outdoor), elliptical cross-trainer, yoga, Pilates, seated rowing, tai chi…
Hey Doc, my son is a freshman playing varsity football. How do I manage a stinger he got from a hard impact on his neck and shoulder?
Coach L.
Congrats Coach! I know that it’s no easy feat to make varsity as a freshman on any team here in Long Beach. So your boy got a “stinger”? We also call them “burners”. If this is his first one, it is typically not something to worry about. Many of them just go away on their own. It is the recurrent ones that are a problem because they can be due to a stretch or a crush injury to the brachial plexus.
The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that go from your neck into your shoulder, arm, and hands. Those nerves are responsible for almost every muscle in your upper extremity. As I said, most stingers just go away, but I treat the ones that linger with massage or active release technique (www.activerelease.com) to the involved muscles.
Often, the contact that caused this crush or stretch also causes other problems as well such as rib pain/displacement, muscle bruising, and his spinal alignment could even have been misaligned. Because he is so young and plays a heavy contact sport, I’d recommend that you get him checked out for peace of mind if nothing else.
Hey doc. I’m still having tingling in my left leg even after all the physical therapy I have been doing out here. (Of course they don’t do the same things you did for me in the summer :-/ ) My trainer says that if I still have tingling at the end of this month they're not going to let me play at all during pre-season. Maybe you could talk to my trainer so we can see if I should be doing anything different. I really trust your opinion :)
April C.
Hey AC! I’m sorry to hear that things aren’t moving along in the timely fashion that we would like. I am certain that your trainers have your best interest in mind by restricting you from play. You only get one body and as a scholarship athlete, you are their investment. I don’t mind talking to your trainer if they are interested. The best advice that I can give right now is that you have to take responsibility into your own hands. It is your body.
At the end of the day, you are ultimately responsible for your own health. With that said, I think you should get a second opinion outside of the school training staff. I don’t know any doctors in your area but I tend to trust active release practitioners with musculoskeletal conditions. If you visit www.activerelease.com, there is a link where you can find a practitioner in your area by entering your zip code.
If you are not getting any type of result after 6 weeks of any rehabilitative program, you need to try something different. I’m sorry I can’t be of much help here in Long Beach, but when you come home, you know where to find me!
I got an injury called "Trigger Finger" does this go away naturally? My left hand ring finger would actually lock if I made a fist. It's not as bad as it was a few months ago. Do I need to have surgery to fix this problem?
Bill H.
Mr. H! Trigger finger is no fun. It isn’t considered “self-limiting”, so it’s unlikely to go away on its own. The good news is that if it is NOT progressing (getting worse), you are in good shape! It is highly unlikely that you have a surgical situation on your hands (pun intended) if things are improving even in the least bit. I know this might seem like today’s column is brought to you by the creator of Active Release Technique, but ART can help (www.activerelease.com)!
I promise they don’t pay me for this marketing. I’m actually annoyed with them because I am not listed within the database on the website. I am full body certified and probably the only one in Long Beach proper with this qualification, and yet you cannot locate me on their site! Ok I’m finished ranting . . . Back to your question, my friend.
It is a joint contracture so ART does wonders with stuff like this. It is also known to be an inflammatory condition so ice, NSAIDS, cold laser and garden-variety anti-inflammatory options might do you some good here. Go get treatment for that finger. Don’t just sit on your hands (pun intended) and wait for it to magically go away! I hope this helps!
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Remember to send me your questions! Ask me anything! That was pretty fun! I love this stuff! Of course, I always wish I had more information. Remember, my perspective on your problem is limited to the information you provide, so don’t take my recommendations over your own physician who actually examines you regularly. The more information you give me, the more I can help. I need to know things like age, sex, date of injury, past injuries, and things of that nature.
Well that is all we have time for today folks! Until next week, stay STRONG BEACH!!
Doc Dossman
To visit Doc’s website, click here, and buy his book, What I’ve Learned From Your Kids by clicking here. Email questions to Doc at askdoc@docdossman.com.
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