	AllExperts > Repetitive Strain Injury
	Search

About Julie Donnelly, LMT
Expertise
I can accept questions that relate to chronic or acute pain caused by muscle spasms and contractions. Repetitive Strain Injury is actually Cumulative Trauma to muscles. Releasing the spasm &/or contraction will relieve the strain that is felt at the insertion point on the bone.

Experience

Past/Present clients
Privacy prevents me from filling in this section without prior consent from my clients.
Life Experience: I began to get interested in the treatment of muscle spasms and contractions while I lived in Honolulu, HI. A sailing friend had severe pain following raceing each week. He would lie on the grass, bearly able to breathe from the pain in his back. I would rub his back, feeling "bumps" that I would "smooth out", and his pain would completely go away. This intrigued me, until I eventually went to school to learn how to be a Massage Therapist. I went to work on a cruise ship and had the experience of working on approximately 3000 people in one year - a great opportunity to really feel muscle spasms and contractions! I concentrated on thoroughtly learning one muscle every day, locating it on each client, and feeling "what hurts & what doesn't hurt". A six month stay in St. Thomas, USVI, was beneficial because I worked with an Osteopath who taught me excellent release techniques that I still use. Next I moved to Hawaii and worked in a clinic that only treated chronic pain patients. It was in Hawaii that I wrote my first book "Massage Therapy Healing Techniques Workbook". It was written for massage therapists and was a compilation of treatments for very specific painful conditions. The book was revised in 1996 and a companion video was added at that time. In 1995 I suffered with Frozen Shoulder - an incredibly painful condition. I was told I'd never be able to regain full range-of-motion in my shoulder. I did deep muscle therapy on myself, while a friend work where I couldn't reach. The condition healed 100%. In 1997 I developed carpal tunnel syndrome that put me out of business. Surgery was recommended, I refused because of my awareness that scar tissue from the surgery could be more detrimental than carpal tunnel syndrome. Using the knowledge I had gained through the years, especially what I had learned through the Frozen Shoulder episode, enabled me to work out what was REALLY causing the carpal tunnel condition. I worked each affected muscle, and eventually regained 100% use of my hand, completely pain free. I quickly began to treat my clients using this new knowledge, and soon afterward began teaching them how to do the self-treatment techniques. It worked everytime, except a person had already had surgery! I began clinical trials at a medical facility, where I still teach the techniques with incredible success. In 1999 Zev Cohen, MD, who was working with me developing the carpal tunnel treatment, joined me in the business. We wanted to bring this effective technique to the world, not limited to only our town. In 2000 I published my second book "How To Be Pain-less...A Beginner's Guide To The Self Treatment of Muscle Spasms". In this book, using 114 photographs, I show how to self-treat muscles throughout the body. In the summer of 2000, Dr. Cohen and I produced an instructional video teaching the carpal tunnel self treatment, and in March 2001 we opened a web site (www.aboutcts.com) to teach people about the muscular component of carpal tunnel syndrome, and to share the self-treatment system with the public.

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical & Health Issues > Repetitive Strain Injury > Clumsy then shoulder popped

Repetitive Strain Injury - Clumsy then shoulder popped

Expert: Julie Donnelly, LMT - 11/2/2009

Question
I was walking down stairs and fell. While I was falling my arm caught onto the wall and bent back. I heard a popping sound. I am very sore now in my shoulder and bicept area. I can't extend my arm all of the way forward, but I can move it backwards. What could I have possibly done?

Answer
Hi Brooke,

Have you gone for an MRI to make sure you didn't tear the biceps tendon? If that is all clear, then we know that it's muscular. As I think you understand already, not being able to extend your arm forward tells me that your biceps are involved because they need to totally stretch in order for you to straighten your arm.

Try squeezing your bicep hard with the opposite hand and see if you get any relief. Also, massage the muscle of your upper chest, under your armpit, and in front of your shoulder blade (under your arm).

It will help the pain to massage arnica gel (get it at a good health food store) into your entire arm, shoulder, upper chest, under your arm, and upper back on the hurt side. Arnica is a homeopathic remedy that has been used for pain, swelling, and bruised muscles for over 200 years. It is very safe.

Let me know how you are doing after you massage the muscles and have the MRI. If you still can't move we'll look into this further.

Wishing you well,
Julie Donnelly

If you are still in pain

Add to this Answer Ask a Question