So it has been 4 months since my shoulder injury and things seem to be getting better, until today. Last night I washed my wife's car for the first time since the injury (it's a Z71 Tahoe, it's supposed to be dirty!!) and I could feel that I was placing more stress than usual on my left shoulder. Last night it seemed to be a bit more sensitive than usual with an occasional throbbing. Today at the pool after about 500-600 yards I started to get the throbbing in my shoulder and upper arm again. I suspect that the car washing is to blame as it was probably too much work for my shoulder but how long should I allow this "healing" to carry on for until I ask my ortho to take the next step? I still get the clicking in both arms but I don't mind that too much since it is never accompanied by any pain. Does anybody have any words of wisdom?
I agree about the not panicking. I ended up interviewing Lenny Krazelburg, who had horrendous shoulder problems but managed to overcome them. (He told me that during the Olympic trials when he qualified--against all odds--for the 2004 team, he couldn't even feel his hand when he was racing the 100 back.)
He told me that the most important psychological aspects of rehab are patience and knowing what to expect, with a two-steps forward, one-step back pattern extremely common.
Keep up with your rehab, and take it easy. The fact that your shoulder was getting better before the recent provocative activity suggests it is something that will heal given the right amount of time and active rest. I think the motion you did just got some dying embers of inflammation stirred up temporarily again.
On another note...please see the thread I'm about to start on foot problems.
Don't panic. I suspect the car washing was to blame. Ice it down, take some Aleve, give it a few days. You have to be very protective of your shoulder when it comes to nonswimming activities, even when it finally heals. Keep doing the PT exercises. I have had similar experiences and am still very careful with my left shoulder, even though it no longer bothers me when I swim (after 18 months of rehab).
Have you tried glucosamine yet?
You guys were right, it was no big deal. I hit the pool today and swam about 600 yards easy and pain free. After that I switched to some underwater body dophins. I guess I thought I was beyond any relapse of pain but I now realize that I need to be cautious for many months ahead.
