I wish it was because that can be quickly remedied. The doctor seems to think that I have a loose/torn piece of cartilage that is causing the popping and clicking and is probably also causing the discomfort by contacting a nerve. My guess is that this happened back in my weightlifting days a few years ago. The swimming has just aggravated the problem. He has ordered an MRI and based upon those results I may see an orthopaedist for surgery. Until we know more I was advised to lay off the swimming to reduce the damage done to my shoulder. Further damage might warrant much more extensive means of repair. This is the ****tiest day of my year without question. I am trying to convince myself that several months out of the pool will be okay but as with everything else today, I have not been succesful.
Parents
Former Member
I doubt that the MRI will show "loose cartilage." More likely you have so-called swimmer's shoulder with impingement leading to tendinitis (the tendons become trapped between the head of the humerus and the ac joint like Kyra said). The MRI will exclude a rotator cuff or labrum tear. If it's not a surgical problem like a tear, exercises to stabilize the scapula (shoulder blade) and strengthen the rotator cuff are needed to reduce the impingement. I had an MRI showing arthritis of the ac joint but no tears, and the clicking and popping that I was experiencing improved with PT, as well as ice and antiinflammatory agents. My orthopedist recommended a six month trial of PT before considering decompression of the ac joint. Even with surgery, the problem will recur without PT exercises to address the underlying problem.
I doubt that the MRI will show "loose cartilage." More likely you have so-called swimmer's shoulder with impingement leading to tendinitis (the tendons become trapped between the head of the humerus and the ac joint like Kyra said). The MRI will exclude a rotator cuff or labrum tear. If it's not a surgical problem like a tear, exercises to stabilize the scapula (shoulder blade) and strengthen the rotator cuff are needed to reduce the impingement. I had an MRI showing arthritis of the ac joint but no tears, and the clicking and popping that I was experiencing improved with PT, as well as ice and antiinflammatory agents. My orthopedist recommended a six month trial of PT before considering decompression of the ac joint. Even with surgery, the problem will recur without PT exercises to address the underlying problem.
