A torn rotator cuff is painful, interrupts sleep, limits movement and can take a very long time to heal with or without surgical intervention. That said, patients who have undergone surgical intervention say the recovery time is greater than the healing time would have been normally and the results are not pain free and motion is still restricted. So, let's look at what is necessary to heal your torn rotator cuff at home. The answer to shoulder pain relief and healing is really the same as for most other sprains, strains, and soft tissue injuries: R. I. C. E. REST The injured shoulder needs to be protected from any movement which causes pain. Pain is your body's way of indicating injury and re-injury. Every time you feel sharp shoulder pain you are experiencing re-injury and a set back of your healing. It is hard not to use your shoulder, especially when picking something up, reaching up for something, or even turning the steering wheel of your vehicle. BUT, without rest, the injury will not heal. Each morning start a gentle range of motion exercise, but not to the point of pain (remember re-injury). Each day following successful rest of the injured shoulder, you should see a gradual increase of your range of motion without pain. Once you have complete range of motion (probably at least a couple of weeks), then start gentle exercise, again not to the point of pain. The purpose of the exercise is to over time restore the muscle strength lost from inactivity. ICE Icing a shoulder is not easy, but is very necessary. Icing interrupts the pain signal and gives instant welcome pain relief for several hours after icing. Icing also constricts the blood vessels and removes inflammation. The sooner inflammation is removed, the sooner the injury will begin the healing process. Icing should be done for 15-20 minutes several times a day. Icing before bedtime will help provide a better nights sleep. Any time the shoulder has been used in activity, it is a good idea to ice it to help reduce the incidence of re-injury. COMPRESSION While the shoulder is sore and inflamed, compression will limit the blood vessel leakage and aid in the removal of inflammation. The easiest way to apply compression is with a shoulder wrap. The compression wrap can be worn most of the day and will help remind you of the REST factor. Do not completely isolate the shoulder movement while it is healing; thus slings are not advised. The isolated movement may cause a restriction of range of motion at a later date. ELEVATION The shoulder is anatomically elevated above the heart except when lying down so really elevation is less important for the shoulder than say for an ankle injury where gravity will increase swelling and inflammation. If you have a severe or complete tear of the shoulder muscles it may not heal properly without surgical intervention. You should have your shoulder evaluated by a MD and follow the advice given. Since the shoulder is such a difficult area to ice completely and apply compression, the use of a shoulder ice compression wrap is an investment well advised. The wrap is typically frozen in a home freezer for several hours, then applied to the shoulder and the compression adjusted. The quality wraps are made from neoprene and have the ice gels sewn into the wrap and a protective rubberized layer against the skin to protect against cryo burn. The icing will last about 15 minutes, but the wrap can continue to be worn for as long as it is comfortable as the compression is beneficial; plus the wrap will limit movement to gentle activity. Two Cool Inc of Lake Oswego, OR manufactures the Cold One Brand of ice compression wraps. The Cold One wraps are known to be of the highest clinical quality, proven effective, and 100% satisfaction guaranteed for 30 days from purchase. Two Cool Inc has a MerchantCircle discount coupon offering 30% off until the end of March 2011. Enter promo code: MerchantCircle022011 at checkout from the Cold One website. Cold One Shoulder Wraps are available for single or double shoulders and in sizes from medium to extra large. ...read more
By Two Cool Inc - Cold One Brand February 16, 2011
If you have just had a bikini wax, avoid hot baths and showers for one day. Also, use aloe on the bikini area to soothe it and wear underwear made from cotton to prevent irritation. Avoid the use of oily products on your skin as well, and keep sweating to a minimum. ...read more
Waxing and shaving are two popular methods to remove body and facial hair. Each method has its own benefits and problems that you may experience. The hair removal method you choose all depends on how it makes you look and feel. ...read more