Any Distance Swimmers w/ Labral Tears?

Former Member
Former Member
I've always had right shoulder stability and soreness issues. But I could usually control it with ice, Aleve, and rest. This year, probably due to too much too soon over-training once my pool reopened in May, my shoulder pain became unmanageable. My ortho ordered an MRI arthrogram that revealed labral tears from 4 to 12 o'clock. She described the tears as wear-and-tear, as opposed to acute. I recently started PT for the same. In terms of swimming, I can handle my daily work outs of 2700-3600 yards with little to no pain. But my weekly long distance swims of 5+ miles are killing me. By the end my entire right shoulder aches and it seems like every muscle is sore and tight. For those long distance swimmers out there with this injury, do you have any coping mechanisms, whether it be stroke changes or dry-land exercises? Thanks!
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Olive -- I haven't personally had a shoulder labrum injury (I did have surgery for rotator cuff tear however). I do have a long distance swimming friend who once had a labrum tear years ago, and over time with medical assistance he was able to get it to heal without surgery. But, in your case I might suggest you read up on Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. I had it done in my knee for a meniscus tear. After two treatments, the doc said the tear was no longer visible. Here is just one case that I found online for shoulder labrum PRP treatment. Good luck. www.regenerativeorthopedicinstitute.com/.../ Dan I wish I had known about PRP before I had three knee meniscus surgical repairs--of limited success, haha. I'm gonna give this a look, thanks for the tip! oh oh oh mr cotter mr cotter at one point i was up to 24advil and 4 aleave a day after 8 months my liver begged for mercy and i took a few days off mine was torn 10-2 ... so 4hrs worth just like yours your only real option is a bicep tendonisis like what i had done it will not heal no amount of bands in/out/saw will fix this the pain does NOT get less it will hurt even NOT swimming ... just not as much sorry to tell you the truth that no one else will steve Haha this is not a rosy outlook. Also, my tear is actually 8 hours worth, all the way around the clock from 4 to 12. Awesome, right?
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Olive -- I haven't personally had a shoulder labrum injury (I did have surgery for rotator cuff tear however). I do have a long distance swimming friend who once had a labrum tear years ago, and over time with medical assistance he was able to get it to heal without surgery. But, in your case I might suggest you read up on Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. I had it done in my knee for a meniscus tear. After two treatments, the doc said the tear was no longer visible. Here is just one case that I found online for shoulder labrum PRP treatment. Good luck. www.regenerativeorthopedicinstitute.com/.../ Dan I wish I had known about PRP before I had three knee meniscus surgical repairs--of limited success, haha. I'm gonna give this a look, thanks for the tip! oh oh oh mr cotter mr cotter at one point i was up to 24advil and 4 aleave a day after 8 months my liver begged for mercy and i took a few days off mine was torn 10-2 ... so 4hrs worth just like yours your only real option is a bicep tendonisis like what i had done it will not heal no amount of bands in/out/saw will fix this the pain does NOT get less it will hurt even NOT swimming ... just not as much sorry to tell you the truth that no one else will steve Haha this is not a rosy outlook. Also, my tear is actually 8 hours worth, all the way around the clock from 4 to 12. Awesome, right?
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