Prolotherapy ??

[GOINGDEEP]

DD has been pitching since 8u ( now about to be 15 ) same style with no problems. We always start up in January slowly to get ready for the new season/year. All seemed to be fine until a few weeks ago she was complaining about her shoulder hurting. Long story short, we went to the Sport's Doctor and he diagnosed Rotator Cuff Tendinitis. The Physical Therapist says she has strained 3 of the 5 ligaments in the cuff.

My question is, any idea of why this happened? Is this common for each ace pitcher ( meaning they pitch the majority of games ) to go through this at some point in their career due to more aggressive training and innings pitched? And I feel we do no more than other's have posted on this site.

Any 'home' remedies?

Any advice?

My nephew had elbow problems ( from pitching ) this past summer. He went to have the PROLOTHERAPY done and swears his arm has never felt better. The closest place is about 300 miles from here and has a 2-4 week waiting list. Has anyone on here had this procedure done?

 

[sluggers]

My question is, any idea of why this happened?

It is hard to tell. Most likely, she is stronger than she was last year, so the amount of stress she is putting on her arm is more. If she has flaws in her motion, the risk of injury is higher. (There is a risk of injury no matter how good a pitcher's motion is--however, a bad motion carries with it a higher risk of injury.)

My DD started having shoulder problems when she started throwing a "real" breaking pitch (one that move 12 inches or so). Maybe your DD got good enough with a breaking pitch so she is putting a lot of stress on the shoulder.

Is this common for each ace pitcher ( meaning they pitch the majority of games ) to go through this at some point in their career due to more aggressive training and innings pitched

Yes, it is. That is why teams need a couple of good pitchers.

Home remedies?

This is going to be tough to hear--but, she has to rest and stop pitching for a while. If she is going to pitch after she heals, she may need to start sitting out (not playing even another position) for half the games.

 

[GOINGDEEP]

Her curve and screw have really taken off this year. ( before the injury ) So IDK? To me, old dad, she has good ( not great ) mechanics. She is a step style pitcher.

She was cruising speed 58 early this year, then slowly dropping down. Last weekend never got over 54. So I figured something wasn't right. And her pain has been increasing. That's why we went to the doctor.

She is very upset. She is a freshmen and had been told she was pitching majority varsity games. Now she feels she has let the whole team down. ( I figure that's why she kept trying to work through the pain until she just couldn't anymore )

We go back to a shoulder specialist this Friday. I'm trying to brace myself and her for the bad news of a long/slow recovery.

Hope to see if anyone has tried the Prolotherapy.

Thank you Sluggers.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Is tendonitis the same as a strain? I though the 2 were different.

Anyway, how does she ice and is she consistent with it? Is she icing the injury, now?

How long is she taking to warm up? And does she keep a jacket on when it is cool?

Has she had to pitch, cold? I mean was she taken from a different position and been asked to pitch, w/o warming up?

 

[GOINGDEEP]

I'm not a doctor. I thought I understood that the tendonitis comes from the inflammation and infection from the strain. Did I hear correctly? I guess I was more concerned with how long we would be out of action at the doctor's office.

We ice after a weekend travel tourney, but not after pitching practice or single HS games. Should we be? I had to ice in baseball after every game, maybe that is my fault. But we have never had a problem in all these years.

She requires a good long warm up to get in the zone. Always has.

She has not pitched 'cold'. But we have been pitching practice in HS around 40 degrees 5 days a week, 100+ pitches.

She just moved to 43'. Just wonder if that might have had any baring on injury. She has really been snapping the ball to get ahead of the Senior pitcher.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Yes. Ice after practice and single HS games. And ice now until she sees the specialist. It seems to me that ice would reduce the inflammation. (No, I'm not a doc, either. I am glad you are seeing one or two.)

I feel for her. Shoulder pain is just absolutely horrible. I had to rehab both shoulders several years ago (no surgery), but I thought I would pass out a few times.

When my DD developed shoulder problems in HS, I remember that a nurse wanted to give her a cortisone shot and the doctor said "absolutely not."

If it is tendonitis, like I think of tendon inflammation, hopefully you have caught it in time and it is minor.

Sorry, I don't now anything about prolotherapy. I have been interested in kinesiology tape, though. You could look on Youtube at that type of therapy.

Good luck.

 

[GOINGDEEP]

Thanks Amy. The Orthopedic doctor said ice is the best medicine she can take now. We will see his boss, the shoulder specialist Friday. Let you know what I can find out.

 

[jasonr]

My daughter had tendonitits in her elbow the doctor attributed more to her overhand throwing mechanics than her softball pitching. She had to sit out a month with zero throwing or batting. We just shut her down. We alternated ice and heat and also used ultrasound therapy on her. She swore the ultrasound stuff helped her more than anything. Hope you're daughter gets better.

 

[GOINGDEEP]

Jason I had ultrasound done on ankle injury during basketball. Good stuff. This Prolotherapy is post to be very good. The top guy in the country is in Nashville. I have heard nothing but good responses to his treatments. The baseball pitchers I have talked to said they have never seen anything like it, but love the results.

Prolotherapynashville.com

 

[jnochta]

This is simply an overuse issue. Contrary to the old school of thought it is not advisable to throw every day. While the windmill motion put LESS strain on the shoulder, one must remember it is still a violent motion. Also by not giving proper rest there is a buildup of acids ( not lactic) in the shoulder muscles that require 36 / 48 hours to dissapate. Once your daughter is symptom free please adopt a program of one day on one day off. Remember she is not a professional athlete and she does not have access to the therapy that professional or college programs have. Her long term health is the issue here.