Anyone know of a good website for swimmers with sore shoulders?
I'm 50, male, swim 12-15k yds/week, have a touch of arthritis
starting elsewhere, and have never had a problem before.
Started about 2 months ago; doesn't want to go away.
Motrin and ice help a lot. Stopped swimming for two weeks
in December, but that seemed to make things worse. I don't
do weights regularly. Hurts when I lift my elbows over my shoulders, but very little discomfort while swimming free.
Been swimming 3-5x/wk for 13 years.
Any other ideas or recollection of previous discussions here?
Thanks
Parents
Former Member
You need to go see a good orthopedic doc to find out exactly what is the problem. There are numerous possibilities, but several of the most common are: impingement, rotator cuff problems, osteoarthritis of the A/C joint. Impingement usually requires some combo of rest, technique change, anti-inflammatories and surgery. Rotator cuff problems require surgery if they are severe (tear, etc) , but often can be improved with rest and rehab exercises if not too bad. Highly recommended book: The Seven Minute Rotator Cuff Solution.
I went for a year with symptoms that had everyone convinced that I had impingement, but an MRI revealed little of that. turns out it's osteoarthritis of the A/C joint and it feels alot like it's in the shoulder, but it's not. The good news there is that the doc said I could use it as long as I could stand the pain and then the surgery would likely be quite successful. Bottom line is that it's be 3 years and 1300+ miles of swimming and I still haven't had to get cut and it hasn't really progressed.
Go to an "A" team doctor and get the diagnosis. (Two recommendations, although they are way out of your way: Brian Sennett at Univ of PA in Philly and Leigh(anne) Curl in the University of Maryland system.)
-LBJ
You need to go see a good orthopedic doc to find out exactly what is the problem. There are numerous possibilities, but several of the most common are: impingement, rotator cuff problems, osteoarthritis of the A/C joint. Impingement usually requires some combo of rest, technique change, anti-inflammatories and surgery. Rotator cuff problems require surgery if they are severe (tear, etc) , but often can be improved with rest and rehab exercises if not too bad. Highly recommended book: The Seven Minute Rotator Cuff Solution.
I went for a year with symptoms that had everyone convinced that I had impingement, but an MRI revealed little of that. turns out it's osteoarthritis of the A/C joint and it feels alot like it's in the shoulder, but it's not. The good news there is that the doc said I could use it as long as I could stand the pain and then the surgery would likely be quite successful. Bottom line is that it's be 3 years and 1300+ miles of swimming and I still haven't had to get cut and it hasn't really progressed.
Go to an "A" team doctor and get the diagnosis. (Two recommendations, although they are way out of your way: Brian Sennett at Univ of PA in Philly and Leigh(anne) Curl in the University of Maryland system.)
-LBJ
