Can't they all just get along?

That's for all medical care professionals. More specifically, my doctor, PT, acupuncturist, and chiro. Each of them telling me the others don't know what they are talking about is not going to get rid of the pain in my arm and shoulder, or what they have all identified as a rotator cuff injury. ARGH!!!

I went to my PT eval for my right arm pain on Thursday. I told him how my acupuncturist and chiropractor both assessed my pain (deltoid and supraspinatus, respectively). Of course, he wasn't impressed with either, even told me 'that's not it', shaking his head, until I had said they both said it was a rotator cuff injury. He asked if I have ever had any neck issues. Then he palpitated my back, by my shoulder blades, and pointed out that on my right shoulder blade area, the infraspinatus, was atrophying. Great. He didn't seem convinced that he could 'fix' it since the atrophying seemed unexplained. It could be something else. He said within two sessions, he should be able to tell if the treatments are working. I could possibly need further diagnostic testing. Like what, I asked. He said 'nerve testing.' Great. He gave me one exercise to do. I don't even remember if he said I needed to do it every day or not. He said he needed to see me twice a week. An ice-pack was put on my shoulder, and that was it. I scheduled my last PT appts (7 of the 20 total), which go into November. An hour later, my right arm is killing me, more so, since my PT spent at least 10 mins moving it around to test for strength and see what hurt during his eval. Oh yeah, he did tell me not to climb (but he did not say I could not belay anyone....).

Friday, I am at my chiro appt, and I of course tell my chiro what happened at my PT appt the day before. All he says is, 'well, physical therapists are not doctors....' Great. Here we go again. He wanted to know why an MRI wasn't taken of my shoulder since it has been bothering me for so long. What he did do was work on my right arm so it didn't hurt as much from the PT eval from the day before. He did the same thing that my first PT did when they were working on my knees. It felt good for a couple of hours.

Now, I am still getting that tugging feeling along my scar. Since my PT was asking about previous neck pain, I wonder if all my unhappy rotator cuff muscles could be contributing to the discomfort along my scar.