While I was swimming 5 miles on Monday (first time doing this distance), my right elbow started hurting and it did again today when doing an easy 2 miles before work. With my arm outstretched, palm facing up, the pain is on the right, outside side of my elbow, which I think might be lateral epicondylitis, as opposed to medial epicondylitis. I will see the NP in the orthopedic/sports medicine office tomorrow. He's the same guy who misdiagnosed my foot injury for months, which eventually required major surgery that put an end to my long-distance running so I will also follow up with a sports medicine specialist, but may not be able to see him until June 23rd.
In the meantime, any tips on the best type of catch and pull that will not put further stress on this part of my elbow?
Finally got in to see the sports medicine doc today (instead of the physician assistant at the orthopedic surgeon's office). He seemed to know what he was talking about--made a point of 'name-dropping' that he's seen the same issue in NY Yankees pitchers that he treats.
He says the real problem is with my shoulder and the elbow injury is secondary, from over compensating for the shoulder issues, which are scapula (shoulder blade) and rotator cuff (tendons and muscles in the shoulder that connect the arm to the) scapula. My shoulder doesn't even hurt, but he demonstrated that it is in fact weaker than the other shoulder when doing some movements. Apparently, he can see it even with my poor posture that I am holding one shoulder higher than the other. He gave me a whole new set of exercises and is sending me to physical therapy for the shoulder. (I always breathe on that side so maybe I should learn bilateral breathing?)
He says I can start swimming again as long as I'm not in too much pain and compensate with poor form. He does not want me to work on speed drills or worry about my time, but (surprisingly) said that I should be able to do the 3.1-mile open-water swim I'm signed up for in a couple of weeks.So I am changing my goal from time to finishing without pain as slowly as I can without sinking.
Finally got in to see the sports medicine doc today (instead of the physician assistant at the orthopedic surgeon's office). He seemed to know what he was talking about--made a point of 'name-dropping' that he's seen the same issue in NY Yankees pitchers that he treats.
He says the real problem is with my shoulder and the elbow injury is secondary, from over compensating for the shoulder issues, which are scapula (shoulder blade) and rotator cuff (tendons and muscles in the shoulder that connect the arm to the) scapula. My shoulder doesn't even hurt, but he demonstrated that it is in fact weaker than the other shoulder when doing some movements. Apparently, he can see it even with my poor posture that I am holding one shoulder higher than the other. He gave me a whole new set of exercises and is sending me to physical therapy for the shoulder. (I always breathe on that side so maybe I should learn bilateral breathing?)
He says I can start swimming again as long as I'm not in too much pain and compensate with poor form. He does not want me to work on speed drills or worry about my time, but (surprisingly) said that I should be able to do the 3.1-mile open-water swim I'm signed up for in a couple of weeks.So I am changing my goal from time to finishing without pain as slowly as I can without sinking.
