Humerus/shoulder impact injury

Perhaps not the same injury, but my experience was similar enough, I figured I'd share. On July 26th, 2014, I got in a very serious bike wreck while traveling 30mph on pavement. Impact was mostly on my left side, breaking my collarbone, 4 ribs and shoulder blade. I didn't fracture my humerus, but the humeral head was slightly displaced and the doctor said I might not regain full range of motion. I'll give you my timeline and ultimate return to the pool. I was very concerned when I couldn't even think of moving my arm 4 weeks after the accident. I thought I might never be able to fully rotate it again because even just trying to lift it even an inch from the side of my body was excruciating. I thought that I might have had some rotator cuff damage or some other soft tissue damage. And I might have, but I didn't have insurance at the time so I didn't get it checked out any further. I was diligent with rehabbing and started doing range of motion exercises and rotator cuff strengthening exercises as soon as I could without too much "bad" pain. I also made sure to walk every day to get my heart rate up to increase blood flow and hopefully help speed the healing process. Sometime around week 5 or 6, the pain started to diminish very slightly and I could raise my arm just a small bit. Between weeks 6 and 8 I worked hard a getting full range of motion back. I heard some criticism from some people about rushing it too much. I am pretty in tune with my body from being a life-long athlete, and I feel like I understand the difference between pain that's damaging and pain that's not. So I pushed the boundaries a bit and slowly tried to regain movement in my arm. Making sure to stop if I thought the pain could be causing damage instead of helping with the healing. I also used comfrey compresses on the bones (scapula and collar bone) and drank some herbal tea that was supposed to be high in minerals that help heal bones more quickly. Not sure if those things actually helped but they certainly didn't hurt me. I started back swimming sometime around week 5 or 6, when I could safely get in and out of the pool, but I only kicked on my back with my arm at my side when I started. Eventually I tried to kick with both arms extended above my head...once I started getting some range of motion again. I think that was sometime between weeks 7 and 8. My first "workout" was on Sept. 26th, a full 9 weeks after the accident. As for success stories, by November, I was swimming pretty well again, but didn't have full strength back on my left side. I did manage to do the 3000 and 6000 yard ePostals and somehow won my age group in both! And then I attended a meet on November 15th and posted a top 10 time in the 800 SCM free (9:51). So, in terms of advice, I'd say just try to rehab as best as you can, as soon as you can do so without doing damage. Keep up some sort of physical activity every day that gets your heart rate up, get lots of sleep, eat healthy meals and just try to stay positive. You'll be recovered quicker than you think and hopefully will regain full range of motion, or, like me, enough range of motion that it doesn't significantly impact your stroke.

Hi there. Sorry about the injury. Yuk! I had a similar injury several years ago falling from my bike. Didn't know it was broken until several months later when I finally had it looked at. The original doc in a box said it was probably just a strained ligament. I had pain from my shoulder up through my neck and behind my ear for a long time, but thought it was stress from work. Once I finally had it looked at and an MRI done, it was obvious that the edge was broken and the pain was from the tendons/ligaments rubbing on it. I was downing a lot of prescription strength aleve to ease it somewhat, but not all. Had an easy scope surgery to smooth out the bone and seriously, within 48 hours of it, the pain in my neck was gone. I did a lot of PT at home afterwards with bands, but was back in the pool in about 2 months. Now it occasionally barks at me with paddles, but I've gone on to do some long OW swims without any issues. I'm back to 100% for sure. The swimming definitely helped getting that shoulder strong again. Get a second opinion, but if it appears that it just needs to be smoothed out/cleaned up, go for it.

Thanks so much for sharing. I got the go ahead from the physical therapist to kick as long as I am very careful getting in and out of the pool. I'll use the suggestion of keeping my arm at my side. Thanks!

Good luck with your recovery!

I'm glad to hear you're in PT. I'm getting back into the pool after almost six months because of a torn labrum (the tendon that runs from along the shoulder and connects to the shoulder joint). Mine had separated at the joint so it required a lot of down time, and but PT before and after helped considerably. So what you're doing is very smart. The only way to see exactly what's going on is with an MRI, and I'm assuming you had one done. But if surgery isn't an option, therapy is the way to go. Flystorm, I had very similar symptoms and spent months in PT before they finally did the MRI and figured out no, steroid shots and PT alone weren't going to make a difference. Surgery is yucky and I hated not being able to swim, but it sounds like you really rocked your recovery.:applaud:

Congrats on your good progress! Keep at it!!!

I thought I would update on my progress in case anyone else ends up dealing with this type of injury. I am 13 weeks out and doing great. *** stroke is no problem. Freestyle is still a work in progress. The pull creates a sharp pinch, especially when breathing to the left, but I can do it. I probably will not be able to do fly because of how the bones healed but I am fine with that. I hope to join my masters group again, at a slower pace, soon. The PT is what has really helped.

Keep up the good work and I'm so glad to hear an update that you're making some headway with PT. Just listen to your body and if it's barking at you, slow down or stop until it's better.

Twenty years ago I suffered a similar injury (walking dog in park, foot into a hole, ankle twisted and down I went. Caught myself with right hand). I do not have full range of motion in my right elbow even though I underwent surgery to put my elbow back together and MONTHS a of PT. Five years a left shoulder injury which also resulted in surgery. Range of motion is almost 100%. Slight pain in shoulder when hand enters and exits water.