Any one who has read my previous posts knows that I've been having some shoulder problems. I've been to the doctor several times and everything has been going good. I've been doing rotator cuff strenghting exercises for about a month, every day, and the doc said that my shoulder strength was doing very well. But for about the last week or so, it has been aching down in the AC joint where my bones are rubbing and clicking together (one is sliding under the other), causing the pain. I thought that since my shoulder was stronger that it should be holding my bones in place, but it started aching like it hasn't improved at all. Then the other day at work, I was carrying a bucket of ice and the muscle on top of your arm..not sure what's it's called, not the bicep but the one that is to the outside... felt pulled and it kept felling like it was pulling my shoulder joint down; it kinda felt like it was pulling it out of place downward, and the doctor said that my shoulder only popped out slightly to the front now so I've been doing back exercises. Now today my whole shoulder is sore. Has anyone else with shoulder problems experienced something like this before? Should I go back into the doctor or just take ibuprofen (sp?) regularly and keep doing my exercises. Thanx!
~Kyra
Parents
Former Member
I would see the shoulder doctor. Be prepared to the line "it will never be 100%" or something to that effect. I don't know why doctors tell swimmers this. I don't care if my shoulder is "100%", I just want to swim fly, and back, and free, OK I will settle for breaststroke!
What I have learned over the years and surgeries is, for me, with trying to swim is that my shoulder is not and never will be 100%, it's not 80% or even 50%. I can't swim the yardage that I want without it loosening up and popping out from carrying a gallon of milk in the house.
So here are some ideas that have worked for me:
I NEVER stretch my shoulders out before I swim, I pull very little (around 300 yards a week) and will cut down even more if need be. I do not use a kickboard because it hyperflexes my shoulders and I hardly ever swim full length of fly.
This is what my body tells me I have to do now if I want to stay in the water without that oh so wonderful popping/grinding/subluxing/achy feeling.
Listen to your body and the signals it tells you, rest, follow up with a doctor who is not your primary care doctor and knows about athletics.
:p
I would see the shoulder doctor. Be prepared to the line "it will never be 100%" or something to that effect. I don't know why doctors tell swimmers this. I don't care if my shoulder is "100%", I just want to swim fly, and back, and free, OK I will settle for breaststroke!
What I have learned over the years and surgeries is, for me, with trying to swim is that my shoulder is not and never will be 100%, it's not 80% or even 50%. I can't swim the yardage that I want without it loosening up and popping out from carrying a gallon of milk in the house.
So here are some ideas that have worked for me:
I NEVER stretch my shoulders out before I swim, I pull very little (around 300 yards a week) and will cut down even more if need be. I do not use a kickboard because it hyperflexes my shoulders and I hardly ever swim full length of fly.
This is what my body tells me I have to do now if I want to stay in the water without that oh so wonderful popping/grinding/subluxing/achy feeling.
Listen to your body and the signals it tells you, rest, follow up with a doctor who is not your primary care doctor and knows about athletics.
:p
