About six weeks ago, I was in the Loop just leaving the international Lyme disease conference, briefcase in one hand, shopping bag filled with I-don’t-remember-what in the other, when my foot caught an irregular sidewalk crack and down I went, hard, landing full force on my left shoulder.
(Permission to cringe.)
I was immediately helped up by what felt like a busload of high school students visiting the big city. Knowing immediately that I’d either broken or dislocated my shoulder, I got into a cab home, where I grabbed my wife and my Medicare card and headed to the emergency room.
“Not broken, just dislocated” I was told when the x rays came back, though I’m hugely skeptical about all sentences containing the word “just.” After an injection of something to put me to sleep for five minutes, during which time a husky resident popped my poor shoulder back home into its socket, I found myself wearing a sling and was told to follow up with an orthopedist.
Studying shoulder dislocations
I went online to learn something about shoulder dislocations (like you, I use Dr Google for situations outside my scope of expertise). Reading that I’d be wearing a sling for anywhere from three to four weeks, after which the shoulder sort of heals itself, I thought I’d postpone the surgeon and get an MRI instead, to gain a better picture of what was going on.
Yikes! The MRI showed two complete rotator cuff tears, a torn labrum, and an impacted (this means not displaced) fracture of my humerus. Apparently in my attempt to tackle the sidewalk, I had lost.
I got the name of a top shoulder surgeon from two orthopedists and scheduled a visit. He certainly seemed to know shoulders, but I was less than delighted when he informed me this would never heal on its own and that without surgery I’d have severe limits on my left arm’s range of motion for the remainder of my long life.
He recommended that I undergo something called a reverse shoulder replacement as soon as I could schedule it. I’d never heard of this procedure. In fact, while I knew shoulder replacements existed, I’d never known anyone who’d actually had one. I asked about his experience doing the procedure. He chuckled competently and said he was doing six of them next week.
Back to Dr Google
I must admit he made the whole process sound like a walk in the park. The procedure would take less than an hour, require just one overnight hospital stay, and I could be back at work within three days at the outside. It flashed through my mind that all surgeons, regardless their specialty, play down recovery time, probably because being honest can impair business.
When I looked into reverse shoulder replacement online, I got some goosebumps, and remembered, too, that surgery follows the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 rule. After surgery, a third of people are better, a third worse, and a third pretty much the same.
Then, over the next couple weeks, though I was agonizing over having the surgery I actually felt I was getting better, with less pain and a somewhat better range of motion. It was then I began having real misgivings about the whole undertaking.
Checking various physician websites, I began to suspect my surgeon had been less than candid. The procedure was listed as taking three hours, with a five-day post-operative rest period and weeks to months before significant improvement.
In addition, I didn’t fulfill the main criteria for actually having a shoulder replacement. Pain was number one and after a couple of weeks, I really wasn’t in much pain unless I moved my arm beyond its range of motion, in which case a painful jolt stopped me in my tracks. At first, moving a couple of inches was painful. Later, I could examine patients, type notes, etc, without too much discomfort.
Diminished range of motion was the second criterion. Physical therapy works on improving range of motion, half inch by half inch. I never gave this much of a fair shake, wimping out with an MRI and an orthopedist instead.
Thoughts in the night
Then, tossing and turning one night, worrying this decision like a dog with a bone, I remembered a book I’d read some years earlier, The Healing of America by T.R. Reid, subtitled “A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, Fairer Health Care.” The author himself had some sort of health issue and had travelled the globe to explore how physicians in different countries would treat it.
“Omigod!” I said aloud at 2:30 AM, sitting up. I remembered that Reid had a chronically bad shoulder from an old injury.
Now wide awake, I pawed through my library (remember, I’m still in a sling), found the book, and opened it to Chapter One. The very first physician Reid visited was an orthopedic surgeon in Colorado who recommended (you guessed it) that he schedule a shoulder replacement as soon as possible.
Ha! And double ha!
I flipped to Chapter Two in which he heads to Asia. There the physicians don’t even consider surgery. “Begin with acupuncture,” he’s told. There’s also some massage and physical therapy.
In India, it’s Ayurvedic medicine and in France, Canada, and the UK it’s physical therapy. No one suggests surgery except the US orthopedic surgeon.
The next morning, I called and cancelled my surgery, explaining I was getting better on my own, promising to check back if things took a turn for the worse.
Physician, heal thyself
I then went to the WholeHealth Chicago office and talked to Mari Stecker about the situation. Now you should know that Mari and I and the late Kirk Moulton founded what would become WholeHealth Chicago just about 25 years ago. This means Mari and I have worked together for close to a quarter century. And while I personally do look older, Mari is ageless and looks pretty much the same as she did when she first contacted me all those years ago.
Some of this is good genes, but she puts a lot of credence in a Chinese anti-aging technique called facial guasha, which she teaches here at WholeHealth Chicago.
But I digress.
If the voice of a perfectly sweet, competent individual could drip contempt, Mari’s did just that when I explained my situation. I believe I even saw a hint of a sneer on her upper lip.
“David,” she began, “I simply can’t believe you’re telling me this. Haven’t you learned anything in our 25 years of working together? You actually would have gone to surgery without trying acupuncture first? I’ve lost track of the number of torn rotator cuffs and torn labral tears I’ve treated. You’ll be fine.”
Well, Mari was as confident as the surgeon and let’s face it, acupuncture is a lot more pleasant that having someone hack away at your flesh and bones.
During my first acupuncture session I climbed onto the table and started unbuttoning my shirt to expose my shoulder. “Leave your shirt on,” Mari said, “I’m not needling your shoulder. Don’t you remember anything about the meridians?” (Apparently not.)
She then placed needles along the energy pathway (the meridian) affecting the healing of my left shoulder. To my surprise, this turned out to be my right foot and ankle.
Now comes the best part. Before inserting the needles she asked me to demonstrate for her my limited range of motion. Lying on my back, I could move my arm no more than 10 to 15 degrees away from my body. You can try this yourself if you stand up, arm straight down at your side. Ten degrees is a motion maybe three inches outward.
Needles in place, she said “Okay, finished. Listen to your music and I’ll be back in about 40 minutes.”
I popped Billy Holliday into my cassette player (no comments, please, about my old technology) and dozed off. When she returned to withdraw the needles she said to me “Okay, move your arm” and lo! up it went, from ten to a full 90 degrees.
“Good heavens!” I expostulated, “That’s magical! That’s…witchcraft.”
“It’s just acupuncture, David. And I can’t believe you got yourself scheduled for surgery.” She snorted irritably but good-naturedly and said, “Come back in three days.”
The way forward and a word on surgeries
Although my shoulder isn’t perfect, I can certainly live with it as chiropractic physician Cliff Maurer guides me through physical therapy and I continue acupuncture with Mari two to three times weekly. Mari also recommended glucosamine/chondroitin and bone broth.
I don’t have full range of motion, but I can raise my arm to shoulder height. What I also don’t have is anxiety over surgery I didn’t necessarily need that wasn’t necessarily going to produce better results that I have right now.
I want to add one final comment. This last year, I had as a patient an anesthesiologist who works at a well-known medical center.
A question for him had been nagging me and I phrased it as follows. “Look, you don’t have to answer this, but I’m really curious. Since you watch surgeries being performed all day every day, in your opinion what percentage of them are probably unnecessary and are being performed just to “do something.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Oh, at least half, probably more. I’d say 60% are really not needed.”
Be well,
David Edelberg, MD
Thanks for sharing your story, David! I’ve been suffering from severe lower back pain for almost a year. I went to see an orthopedic and she advised me to undergo physical therapies. And since I’m currently pregnant, I opt for acupuncture. It really helps alleviate the pain, making me able to do daily tasks without having to worry about my back pain.
Aika
I do like the Greek Chorus image. Add the Dei ex Machina of your physical therapist and acupuncturist
Dr E
I had a similar experience with a torn meniscus. I was subjected to a Greek chorus of health professionals wanting to operate with no guarantee my left knee would ever be totally functional again. I took a chance, did physical therapy, acupuncture, and in general babied it for a year. Ten years later, except for not being able to kneel to wash my floors (the ONLY way to get them really clean!), I have no problems with it. Makes you wonder, right?
Mary Krohn
David,
In the old neighborhood, you would have received 2 aspirin and, if lucky, a sling.
Mike Lawler
I would like to endorse Janet Mroczek’s eloquent comment and add that Whole Health seems to have a bias vs. Medicare patients and seniors in general. Can this be addressed?
ML carroll
Hi ML carroll. Medicare reimbursement is incredibly low (well below our actual costs) compared to commercial health insurance and their reimbursement is based upon the conventional US health care model of 7-12 minute physician visits. As you know, at WholeHealth Chicago, our physicians spend 60-90 minutes with a new patient and 30-45 minutes with a follow up patient. Our decisions are based on our belief that in order to provide quality care, we need time with our patients. Medicare reimbursement does not allow for this to occur. Thank you for your understanding.
Dr. R
David, greetings from North Carolina. I was scheduled to have rotator cuff surgery last month. My orthopedic surgeon saw me a week prior to surgery and declared that I now no longer need it! Will see what the future brings. I had done acupuncture on myself and saw a colleague for chiropractic medicine. So, yeah, you probably lucked out by remembering why you do what you do.
I worked with you in 1995 and 96. I did not know that Kirk Moulton had passed. He was a good man. I’m so sorry for our loss. Be well David, and listen to the talented folks that surround your amazing clinic.
David W Bailey, DC
David W Bailey, DC
BRILLIANT! What you just described is what makes you such a fantastic Physician. I am sorry you had to go through this, but I and I am happy that Mari got you re – focused. You all are TOP – NOTCH!! Best wishes to you!!
Andrea Wilson
Amazing! I, too, was told that I needed rotator cuff surgery about 5 yrs ago. I decided to try acupuncture. After 5 treatments, I had my full range of motion & I’ve not had to return for treatment for that. Yearly, I go for a couple of treatments to help manage my allergies to Central TX cedar and I good to go.
Diana Argersinger
Glad you are ok. Nothing wrong with listening to music on cassettes, or vinyl! Just don’t go to Best Buy, as I did, and ask for blank cassette tapes.
Elizabeth Wolszon
This is a wonderful article. I am wondering how we can find a good acupuncturist and a chiropractic physician? I would certainly come to Whole health but I live in southwest Michigan and seems a bit too far to go.
I too have had a shoulder issue and DEFINITELY would not want surgery
Merry Froelich
yeah I have a story too, tore something in my knee. Chose to go to an excellent chiropractor rather than ER and a week later I raked all the leaves in our yard AND bagged them too! I too went to Dr, Google first, figured it was my miniscus which it was and a couple other muscles. This is why I go to you Dr. David!!!!
Sandra King
Sounds to me as though you made good choices, eventually…. I would add some Homeopathy to that and flower essences. You could use 5-Flower Formula for the trauma and shock to your etheric body, perhaps Arnica essence [CA FES]. If a bone was broken, Symphytum 6 [Comfrey] helps mend broken bones pretty fast. I am a practitioner in N. California. Best and complete healing to you. My website is presently under refurbishing, but the email works.
Patricia Meyer
Great article! (Full of lots of cringes!) I’ve had an issue with my shoulder having a very limited range of motion for at least nine months and, although I get acupuncture every single week without fail, I’m embarrassed to realize that I never thought to ask my acupuncturist for help with it. Instead, I’ve been waiting nearly 2 months for a referral to an in-network physical therapist. I can’t wait to share this with him. Thanks for the nudge and for sharing.
Tammy Letherer
I’m very glad you’ve had a good outcome. Both my rotator cuffs are torn and do start to heal a little until I do something outgrageous like pick up a glass of water or tuck in my shirt. My problem is that my insurance covered hospital (massive) has ONE acupuncturist with a very bad attitude and his office is far away. That, and I can’t afford 2 or three appointments a week out of pocket.
This situation causes me to mull in the night over surgery as well. Glad to get some real info about the success rate of such surgeries. For now I’ll continue with the gel the shoulder surgeon prescribed.
Roxanne R Mizner
Wow. Thanks Dr. E. for your usual honesty. What struck me is all your had to go through–as a doctor!– to get to the right solution. What hope is there for most of us, especially senior citizens? Would we know to try to get an MRI after an ex-ray and confident diagnosis at the emergency room? And how? You presumably could order your self one, and, I presume, have the wherewithal to pay for it. Would we have the bookshelf with just the right book after a sleepless night? Would we have a stable of alternative practitioners at the ready to help us? Could we afford them? They are not covered in our Medicare Advantage policy. Could we even see you? I regrettably had to stop seeing you when I turned 65 and you did not take Medicare. I am glad that you found the right help for yourself. What about the rest of us?
Janet Mroczek
David
Great story and lesson thanks for sharing. All rotator cuff tears do not NEED surgery. It’s like asking an orthopedic barber if you could be better with a hair cut. Worse repairs are wrought with very high failure rates…worse yet Dr Philippe Hernagou (France) has demonstrated use of interaoperative AUTOLOGUS stem added to the repair greatly reduces the rate of repair failure! Why this is soooo slowly adopted…conformation bias. This is an epidemic especially for physicians who think they are well trained!!! another phrase for complacent or single minded bias or lazy close minded. Sorry that’s harsh but true.
I hope to meet you some day see my Webb site below
be well Dom Costabile DO MS FAAFP RMSK and soon IFMCP.
dominic costabile
Dan and I read Reid’s book two years ago, and sponsored a seminar jump north at the library to talk about Healthcare For All in the USA. Dan gave a summary of the book and the audience was super appreciative of what they learned. I gave a talk after Dan’s talk, about what Medicare For All means and how it would work in our country. Whenever people say in my presence that we have the best healthcare, I lauch into a lecture of how we pay the most, but don’t get the most. If you ever have time, watch the video FIX IT . We show that video up north, too, as well as in NC whenever we can find a free venue in which to show it. We have several Drs and nurses in our chapter who follow up with a Q&A session. I have learned so much since being one of the co-founders of our PNHP (Physicians for a National Healthcare Plan/Program) chapter in Asheville. WE are called HCFA-WNC (Healthcare For All – Western North Carolina.
Mery
So glad to hear you will not need surgery and that you found something that works great to get almost full use of your shoulder again. Now you won’t miss any cabin time either. Fly down to visit Dan here in NC, while I’m away in Feb. He would love your company and maybe I’d get to see you for a few hours, too.
Mery
Thanks for this and may you again experience full range of motion. Perhaps that can be achieved with some stem cell injections.
Sharon Figueroa
Thank you David for this personal story. It reminds us again the importance of listening to our bodies and to trust alternative therapies. Thank you for your honesty.
Your last sentence….. I knew this but seeing it in writing is a bit horrifying.
Linda Silbert