I Took Collagen to Heal a Serious Shoulder Injury and Here’s What Happened.

A wonderful added benefit of my collagen therapy was that my hair, which had fallen out after chemo, grew like gangbusters.

Shoulder Pains

Back in Winter of 2021, as our signature New England freeze set in, I needed a great indoor project to focus on.  After consideration of the greying state of my once white walls, I took on painting them - ceilings included.

Now ceiling painting is not such a difficult job once you get your drop cloths in place - but it’s one that requires an awkward head tilt and the patience to roll paint over your head for hours on end. There’s also an uncomfortable pressure that you have to apply in order to get the paint to push onto the surface.

When it was done, while I really enjoyed the fresh new look, my right shoulder rotator cuff wasn’t happy.

It was stiff and sore, and every grocery bag lift or top shelf reach made it worse. Over a few weeks the situation progressed to a state in which my entire right arm was virtually immobilized.

I couldn’t lift my hand above my waist, and finally it was so painful that it would wake me up several times every night.

My Dad used to say, “If I wait long enough aches and pains usually go away on their own”. I kept that in mind as I waited through weeks and months hoping the pain and stiffness would resolve itself. 

Going into my sixth month I started to resolve that maybe this was my new reality.  I tried ice, omega supplements, glucosamine, heating pads, Tylenol - everything helped a little bit for a while, but nothing really made a difference.

I talked to many men and women who’d experienced similar problems with torn rotator cuffs. From close friends to random people I’d meet walking down the street. One had gone to a chiropractor; many had had surgery.

Having just gone through a major medical ordeal in 2020, heading back to the hospital for more surgery just really wasn’t appealing.  Also, people (and my own research) told me that even with surgery their shoulder rehab took up to a year anyway.

Then I discovered collagen! I’d read that it’s great for skin, but I hadn’t considered it as a therapy for my shoulder until I googled and realized that it’s great for all connective tissue. So I grabbed a jar of a popular brand and blended it into smoothies for a few days.

The results were surprisingly noticeable - within a few days I experienced increased mobility and the pain seemed to subside a bit. So, I kept at it, taking a couple of servings of collagen powder in various flavors every day.

I’ll never forget the moment about 3 weeks in, standing in the shower, when I could finally raise my arm to shoulder height - it was such an emotional and physical milestone.

Not familar with collegen? Here’s a quick overview:

Collagen, the essential protein that forms the building blocks of our bodies, is vital for maintaining our overall health and youthful appearance. As we age, collagen production decreases, making supplementation and incorporating collagen-boosting foods a trendy choice. Whether you seek radiant skin, healthy joints, luscious hair, or strong bones, collagen is proported to help with it all.

You can take collagen in many forms such as pills and liquids - I used the powdered version mixed into smoothies or yogurt.

What is Collagen?
Collagen, derived from the Greek word "kolla" meaning glue, is the most abundant protein in our bodies, acting as a structural scaffold for our skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Comprised of long chains of amino acids, collagen fibers provide strength, elasticity, and stability, essentially holding our bodies together.

Types of Collagen
There are several types of collagen, each serving a different purpose in our bodies. The most common types are Type I, II, and III:

1. Type I: Predominantly found in our skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments, Type I collagen provides strength and structural support.

2. Type II: Found in cartilage, Type II collagen cushions our joints and provides flexibility.

3. Type III: Generally found in our skin, blood vessels, and organs, Type III collagen supports the structure and maintains elasticity.

Collagen Sources
While our bodies naturally produce collagen, the production declines with age, resulting in visible signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging skin, and joint discomfort. However, collagen can be derived from various sources, including:

1. Bovine Collagen: Obtained from cows, bovine collagen is commonly used in dietary supplements, skincare products, and medical applications.

2. Marine Collagen: Sourced from fish and shellfish, marine collagen is highly regarded for its bioavailability and absorption rate.

3. Porcine Collagen: Derived from pigs, porcine collagen is similar in composition to human collagen, facilitating its use in medical procedures.

4. Plant-Based Collagen Boosters: While plants themselves don't contain collagen, certain foods like fruits, vegetables, and soy-based products aid in the production of collagen in our bodies.

As with everything there are pros and cons to supplementing with Collagen powder:

It took about 3 months of Collagen, along with simple shoulder exercises I found on TikTok before my shoulder seemed healed.

While I was elated to get mobility back and to finally be pain free, there have been some drawbacks to my extended collagen habit.

Sugar and calories can lead to weight gain
One unfortunate side effect of the brand I chose was that the flavored blends were loaded with sugar and calories - which is not great especially if you’re unable to exercise to offset the increased calorie intake. I ended up gaining a fair amount of weight which I’m now working to take off.  I was able to find a brand with no sugar and a fraction of the calories of the brand I originally started with.

It can be Difficult to find a vegan or non-animal sourced collagen supplement
Another issue is I had been trying to convert to a vegan, or at least vegetarian diet. The majority of collagen on the market is derived from animals, typically cattle or fish. The collagen I was using was sourced from the hides of grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine.

Over weeks and months collagen can be expensive
Another key issue - the cost. Collagen is a premium product and is often priced at a premium as well. I was able to find reasonable prices at Marshalls and Home Goods - but if purchased at a grocery store a smallish container runs in excess of $30 which really adds up.  However when I considered the cost of the alternative: surgery and aftercare co-pays, prescription drug costs, and lost productivity at work while my right arm was immobilized, it did make sense.

Once you start taking collagen it’s hard to stop.
It’s not like drug addiction, but when you step down or stop taking collagen it is quite noticeable.  Even now when I don’t take it for more than a week I can feel a jolt of stiffness in my shoulder and even pain in my knees.  I don’t like *having* to take a supplement as it can build up in your liver and other organs in an unhealthy way.

Want to try collagen for your joints and other “grey girl” issues?  Here are some tips:

1)      Find a brand with no sugar and the lowest calorie count possible.

2)      Shop stores like Marshalls and Home Goods for deeply discounted products so that taking collagen doesn’t become a financial burden.

3)      Start slowly and see how your body reacts to it.  You could be allergic to the source product or it could just not be compatible with your digestive system.

4)      Blend it into virtually any liquid – most brands can withstand heat so you can dose into soup, stews or stir fry and you’ll never taste or notice it.  It really has little to no flavor but can create lumps in yogurt or smoothies if you put it in afterward which you may not like.

5)      Of course, check with your doctor before starting any supplements or regimes. Your pain could be caused by something very serious that may need urgent attention.