Q & A / View or ask Dr Joe de Beer a question

Question

Dr De Beer

I broke head head of my humerus at its base in 1988.  It has never been right since.  I am know 47 years old and over the past year have been loosing movement. (I have never since the injury been able to put my hand behind my back). it has got to a point that i am living on pain killers and antinfam. I am suffering form terrible back pain as I can only sleep on my left side.  If i sleep on my back I have to have a pillow under my arm for support. Physio has never really helped me and in the past (few years ago) I went for physio but it just made it worse.  I also broke my coller bone at the same time.  Could you give me your opinion and  recommend a shoulder surgeon in JHB if you can. 

Thank you

Lynette Hall

Question

Hi Dr. i injured my right shoulder playing tennis (serving) a while ago. Gradually the pain increased, and my mobility decreased. At this point just touching the AC joint area hurts a lot, moving my arm straight across my chest hurts. With a straight arm, lifting sideways and to the front husrts as well. I live in Pinetown (KZN), is there a shoulder specialist in this area i can see?

Regards

Marius

Question

GEAGTE DR. DE BEER

EK HET IN FEBRUARIE 2011 VAN MY FIETS GEVAL REG OP MY SKOUER. AANVANKLIK GEEN PROBLEME NIE. MET TYD KON EK DIE ARM AL HOE MINDER GEBRUIK.UITEINDE V.D. SAAK WAS `N SKOUEROPERASIE WAARTYDENS DIE VOLGENDE GEDOEN IS: SHOULDER:ACROMIOPLASTY, ARTHROPLASTY:DEBRIDEMENT LARGE, MUSCLE +TENDON REPAIR:ROTARY, ARTHROPLASTY:EXCISION MEDIAL,ARTHROSCOPY (EXCLUDING AFTER-C, MANIPULATION LARGE JOINT.

EK IS DIE OGGEND GEOPEREER EN HET UIT TEATER GEKOM MET N BO-ARM WAT GESWEL WAS.EK HET MY EERSTE FISIO REEDS DIE AAND GEHAD EN DAARNA OP `N GEREELDE BASIS. EK HET AL N KORTISOONINSPUITING GEHAD. NOG STEEDS IS MY SKOUER GEVRIES. MY GROOT BEKOMMERNIS IS MY BO-ARM WAT NOG STEEDS DIK IS. EK HET AAN DIESELFDE KANT (DOMINANTE KANT) N MASTEKTOMIE GEHAD EN DAAR IS TWEE LIMFKLIERE VERWYDER. PARTYKEER VOEL MY VINGERS STYF EN DIK. EK HET ONTSETTEND PYN V.D. BO-ARM TOT IN MY HAND. EK LEEF VAN PYNPILLE. EKSTERNE ROTASIE 35 GRADE.SKOUER WAS ERG ONTSTEEK MET OPERASIE. EK IS N ONDERWYSERES MAAR EK KAN NOU FEITLIK NIKS MET DIE ARM DOEN NIE DAN VERERGER PYN. SLAAP BAIE SLEG SNAGS EN IS BAIE MOEDELOOS. WAT STEL U VOOR?

Question

Dear Dr. de Beer,

I have a Christmas wish - I wish you could come to PE at the end of January to perform surgery on my shoulder together with Dr. Hurter.

After 20 years of playing highly competitive handball in Slovakia and in Germany it´s time for repairs. Two days ago I was diagnosed with the Supraspinatus tendon tear and SLAP lesion.

At the moment I´m finishing doctoral studies in Industrial Engineering at NMMU and waiting for examiners´ results. I will need my shoulder again in March to finalize the thesis and before we relocate overseas (April/May).

I wish to come on your list in PE.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Klaudia

Question

Dear Dr. Joe de Beer,

I'm 16 and had surgery to stablize my shoulder almost a year ago today (december 2010). It disloacted quite a few times before surgery but nothing was torn. I did physical therapy before to try a different method but it didnt work. After surgery I started physical therapy on Janurary 5th 2011 and have been going twice a week since then. Also, my middle and ring finger were numb and weak along with the top of my shoulder. The feeling did however come back eventually. 

I still have an incredible amount of pain and a really limited range of motion. My fingers randomly go numb and pins and needles, typically my pinky and pointer. My shoulder blade also gets the pins and needles. I constantly get knots in my bicep all the way up my arm to the top of my shoulder. Whenever i lift my arm up it feels blocked, same with up to the side and rotating out. I get really bad pain whenever i put my shoulder blade back and down in the front and top. My neck is also constantly  tight and in pain. Its VERY tender to the touch in the front of my shoulder (by the incision) and along the under part of my clavicle and down the pec.  Im skipping a lot of other things that cause pain because this is getting a little long.

Now, my muscle is atrophying in the back. My bone is popping out and bruising the skin. When my arm is at my side its like a crater. My shoulder incredibly weak and it just gets more and more painful by the day. My pinky goes numb almost daily. Although my ROM is increasing by a few degrees, my clavicle is extremely painful when i drop my arm down to rest.

I had an MRI of my neck and a nerve conduction test done, which was negative. My physical therapist and I are now stumped. Nothing is adding up and its really starting to cause set backs. 

Please please help,

Kelsey

ps the first picture is the bone popping out; 2nd is the crater