About four months ago while doing an open water competition I started noticing a little discomfort in my right should while swimming crawl. I took about a week off of training and then worked back up to my 5K. I then swam the Corsiquana (sp?) Cup 5K and got beat up pretty badly by the surf, did not finish, and had more shoulder pain. Took another week off, iced, and so on. Went back in and swam the Pan Am open water 5K and had major issues, finished but not pretty. Shoulder pain got worse. Then, because it was paid for already, flew up to the Northeast and swam another event. I have not swam for about a month and a half until Friday (yesterday).
I talked with my doctor about it and he wasn't that concerned about it, said rest it and give it time. I should also say that I am not able to take NSAID's for pain and stuff.
I did a 400M warm-up (long course), then did a slow set of 8 x 50 crawl then 8 x 50 *** (my stroke of choice), and then for the hell of it did 2 x 50 back, and 1 x 50 fly, and then 200M warm down. See, I was trying to be a good boy and not kill myself easing back in (I'm not a good liar, someone started back-washing the filters and once I could no longer see the lines I gave up).
Shoulder pain is back in my right shoulder, not severe, but a dull aching anytime I rotate the arm (or when my dogs pull the leash hard that I hold in that hand). As I was swimming I noticed I do not have problems with the breaststroke, but the crawl and backstroke hurt. Couldn't really tell on the fly as I suck at that stroke and am more worried about not drowning than being in pain.
Suggestions? Anyone ever do all breaststroke workouts while recovering from an injury? Am I nuts to even think about trying?
Thanks!
Totally agree Mick as I too am 65 and i too am 8 years post damaging my shoulder. Very frustrating and with many false dawns of recovery during that time.
I was determined not to have surgery. Dont really know why, except i know of lots of folk that have had some with varying degrees of success.
My current plan consists of :
- having alternative sports activities - i took up golf at age 60 / helped form a walking group / started online rowing - alternative sports use different muscles/ i meet new people/ helps put injuries in perspective and cheers me up a lot.
- swimming in very different ways other than my main stroke freestyle - many as suggested above - surprisingly I currently do much more fly than i used to. Actually its flop more than fly, but two arms help each other when synchronised AND more importantly the shoulder rotation action is slightly different from freestyle, allowing sore tendons to rest and recuperate.
- take advantage of good days or weeks - i had a good spell during October and used my Nationals entries and got 2 golds & 2 silvers with unexpectedly steady times. I never know when the pain will return so i still enter all the usual meets in the hope i will be okay on the day. Hmmm... actually 1 in 4 meets is all i manage most times now
- keeping my metres and miles totals going. No matter how slowly i train, i know that time in the water is good good good. If pain receeds, as it does from time to time, i know i have basic fitness to get a shift on, as we say here in the uk :)
BTW my handicap is down to 19 - yeah!
T
Totally agree Mick as I too am 65 and i too am 8 years post damaging my shoulder. Very frustrating and with many false dawns of recovery during that time.
I was determined not to have surgery. Dont really know why, except i know of lots of folk that have had some with varying degrees of success.
My current plan consists of :
- having alternative sports activities - i took up golf at age 60 / helped form a walking group / started online rowing - alternative sports use different muscles/ i meet new people/ helps put injuries in perspective and cheers me up a lot.
- swimming in very different ways other than my main stroke freestyle - many as suggested above - surprisingly I currently do much more fly than i used to. Actually its flop more than fly, but two arms help each other when synchronised AND more importantly the shoulder rotation action is slightly different from freestyle, allowing sore tendons to rest and recuperate.
- take advantage of good days or weeks - i had a good spell during October and used my Nationals entries and got 2 golds & 2 silvers with unexpectedly steady times. I never know when the pain will return so i still enter all the usual meets in the hope i will be okay on the day. Hmmm... actually 1 in 4 meets is all i manage most times now
- keeping my metres and miles totals going. No matter how slowly i train, i know that time in the water is good good good. If pain receeds, as it does from time to time, i know i have basic fitness to get a shift on, as we say here in the uk :)
BTW my handicap is down to 19 - yeah!
T
