I’m a 16 year old female and I hurt my shoulder playing softball. I had a physical therapy appointment yesterday. At my appointment they did ultrasound, and put Electra pads on my shoulder. Then today my shoulder is hurting me really bad to where my whole arm has throbbing pain. It even hurts to move my arm. Could physical therapy cause more pain than what you started with? Please help.
#1 by Richard C on December 22, 2009 - 11:07 am
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Here is my problem. Why are they still using modalities after you have been in therapy for one year. At this stage it should be hands on only. Where are you going for therapy? Is the place owned by a therapist, doctor, or a corporation? Find out the answer to that and ask if the person treating you is an actual therapist. No therapist would be upset if you asked to see their license, in fact it should be on display. At this stage a change of therapist might be in order. Talk to the one that is treating you now and ask why the modalities at this stage. Ice will do more to control the pain and any swelling without any adverse effects. One thing that you have not stated is what the diagnosis is. Was there any surgical intervention?
#2 by mom on December 22, 2009 - 5:29 pm
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starting therapy always increases pain in the beginning because you have not been using it. as you keep going it will get better . but if you don’t carry through with what your therapist tells you to do , or not do at home, you wont get better. if your sore after therapy ,put some heat on it when you get home, and stick with it. they are there to help you.
#3 by skcsarah on December 22, 2009 - 5:37 pm
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yes. physical therapy is very painful at first. make sure you keep your therepist up to date on how your feeling and if certain exercises make it hurt worse. keep ice on it to keep the swelling down and reduce the inflamation.
#4 by churchla on December 22, 2009 - 10:12 pm
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Probably. But you can always check with your physical therapist to make sure. Sometimes those injuries can take a long time to fix.
#5 by Anonymous on December 23, 2009 - 5:00 am
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Richard…good point about modalities after one year. Yet, I’ll go one step further…why modalities at all? Any practicioner that has picked up a piece of scientific literature knows how incredibly ineffective they are….
#6 by Andy S on December 23, 2009 - 10:43 am
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Yes, especially if the technician screwed something up. Call the PT office and tell them what’s going on with your arm. I hope you feel better quickly!
#7 by S P on December 23, 2009 - 10:51 am
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That’s normal. It will go away.