Re: Underlying cause of tendon and ligament problems, and hot vs cold treatment.

From: Steve Freides (steve_at_fridayscomputer.com)
Date: 03/28/05 

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:59:58 -0500

<paul_a_n_jones@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1112032258.596639.195230@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Can anyone tell me why I should be so much more susceptible to
> damaging
> my tendons and ligaments than anyone else I know of my age. I am 49
> and
> male. Ever since I was 43 I have had a succession of problems of
> moderately painful inflamed tendons and ligaments, starting with
> tendons around the shoulder (supraspinatus) after some energetic
> back-crawl swimming, followed at various times by tendon and ligament
> problems at the ankle, wrist and thumb, and to crown it all tennis
> elbow.
>
> Could there be some underlying cause of my susceptibility that all the
> doctors and physiotherapists have missed? I lead a gentle lifestyle
> and
> I do swimming for cardiovascular exercise (I now do it gently). As far
> as I know my diet is healthy and balanced. Could I actually have a
> food
> intolerance that is upsetting my body chemistry, making me more
> susceptible?
>
> My next question is: can anyone resolve the controversy over whether
> it
> is better to use heat treatment (such as hot water bottles) or cold
> treatment (such as ice packs) for inflamed tendons and ligaments? I
> have been using one or other of these treatments several times a day
> at
> different stages. Some doctors and physiotherapists say that ice packs
> should be used for an initial period, and from then onwards heat
> treatment. Others say that ice packs should be used throughout. So far
> the physiotherapist that preferred ice packs throughout has proved
> more
> successful at curing problems, but I don't know whether of not this
> is for this reason or other reasons.
>
> My next question is: does applying Arnica to the area help?
>
> The physiotherapists have at various times tried using frictioning,
> ultrasound, acupuncture, electro-interferential treatment, and also
> tried prescribing ibuprofen tablets, and applying Arnica to the skin.
> These approaches seem to cure me very slowly, but I'm not sure which
> ones worked. Does anyone have any more suggestions?

I'm 50 and I'm doing great - I started lifting weights _and_ working on
my flexibility in my early 40's. I still run but not terribly much, and
swim and bike sometimes as well.

I cannot recommend highly enough that you read a few books by Pavel
Tsatsouline. I'd read "Super Joints" http://www.kbnj.com/sj.htm about
joint health, "Relax Into Stretch" http://www.kbnj.com/ris.htm about how
to become more flexible and _not_ stretch tendons, ligaments, or for
that matter, even muscles, and I'd also read "Power To The People!"
http://www.kbnj.com/ptp.htm about strength training. They're all short
books, each $35 or so, but there are no wasted words in any of them.
Companion videos are also available but I've done just fine with the
books alone.

Last but certainly not least, you mention swimming - try posting a
message on the swimming newsgroups as impingment-type shoulder injuries
are quite common amongst swimmers: news:rec.sport.swimming is the
group.

There is an interview with me here for you or anyone else interested:
http://www.dragondoor.com/success_stories/SteveFreides.html?kbid=1022

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

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