As I mentioned yesterday, we had a couple of dinner guests from Italy, last night. And, though I’ve told you about his son’s upcoming arthroscopic surgery for a torn lateral meniscus, there was more. The father, Mario, himself had another issue.
 
It never ceases to amaze me that nearly everyone I meet has some orthopaedic problem or other. I suppose, given my age and that of the people I tend to meet, that I shouldn’t be surprised. Most of us are Boomers, who are deep into middle age and developing a myriad of aches, joint pains and various problems. This was no exception.
 
I had noticed that he moved his right arm and shoulder a lot like Senator John McCain. Naturally, though I noticed this, I didn’t bring it up, until he did.
 
He happened to mention that he has ongoing stiffness and pain in that shoulder. And he can’t elevate it above his head. Even the attempt gives him pain.
 
At his request, I did a little “curbside consult” and examined him. He had a significant deformity in his right clavicle (collar bone), when you felt it. It didn’t show, from the outside, but it clearly zig-zagged and was different from the other side.
 
Seems he had a motor vehicle acident many years ago. He had a shoulder injury, but did not have any treatment. This, in a country that has one of those “National Health Plans” that certain elements are determined to foist off on us, here.
 
Feeling around and doing a cursory shoulder exam, it was apparent to me that he had had a malunited clavicle fracture in that MVA. It had healed in that zig-zag position. But he was most tender at its outer end, where the clavicle joints the socket of the acromion process of the shoulder blade (scapula). Not only that, but the end of his clavicle was both tender (indicating arthritis of the AC joint)AND it was “sprung” a bit–meaning that it could be pushed down and it would move. This means that he also had partial rupture of the ligaments that secure the clavicle to the AC joint, what we call an AC Separation (probably grade I).
 
On the other end of the clavicle, there was a prominent lump at the upper end of his sternum (“breast bone”), where the clavicle joined it. So this guy had really screwed up his collar bone, its joints on both ends and we hadn’t even gotten to his shoulder joint, itself. 
 
At this stage of the game, the damage is long done. This should have been set properly and immobilized at the time of the injury. Now, all that can be done is to try various things to reduce inflammation, like taking my ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade fish oil,   DR. BILL’S POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA
 
http://www.favoriteformulas.com 

It’s well known that omega 3 fatty acids have proven anti-inflammatory effects, in addition to their heart and brain healthy properties, and their ability to “thin” the blood, lower triglycerides and reduce arterial plaque formation.
 
But his story points out how important it is to get the right treatment, in a timely fashion. And all this might have been avoided had he gotten the appropriate treatment at the time of the injury. That doesn’t mean surgery, either. In this instance, the conservative treatment of setting the clavicle fracture and splinting it with a figure-of-eight strap is the usual initial management. Would have saved him a bunch of trouble today.
 
Same thing with other joints, as well. Knee pain is best managed with conservative, non-operative measures, at least initially. And those treatments can be alternative, not just conventional. What matters is that whatever you do, it work to give you fast relief. That’s what I present in my newest healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY
 
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
Thing is, these measures are not only effective, but they don’t “burn any bridges,” meaning that if they fail to give you needed relief, you can always get more aggressive, or even surgical treatment, later.
 
It just makes sense to start with milder, less invasive treatment first (with a few exceptions, like open fractures, a locked knee, a fully dislocated knee, or a fulminant infection in the knee, among others). It’s like climbing a ladder–you start at the bottom rung and work your way up, a step at a time. Milder treatments first and move on up to more and more aggressive measures, as needed. 
 
But for heaven’s sake, don’t ever ignore an injury. Get treated! Or you’ll end up like my new Italian friend, a long time regretting it.

Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,
 
Dr. Bill
 
“The Wellness Warrior”         TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
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