My family doctor diagnosed my shoulder pain as an impingement. He shot an x-ray, and explained a gap between two bones was responsible for the pain. He'd give a referal to a surgeon if the pain grows worse. Has anyone else had this type of experience, or have any recommendations? I'm 40 years old now, and swam competitively for five years during school years. I've done a few open water events, and a couple triathlons. I'd settle for any lap swimming. I'm going to try using the "Combat Swimmer's Stroke" hoping it lessens the strain on my shoulder. (Unfortunately, my knees don't handle breaststroke's whip kick well.) Please share any advice on overcoming a shoulder impingement. As it stands right now, my future in the pool may be limited to just kicking with fins. I'm hoping to hear some great advice, what can you share?
Parents
Former Member
I really don't want to be the bearer of any bad news, but I had to have rotator cuff surgery in 1993 and in early 1995, impingement surgery. And I remember the exact swimming moment the impingement happened; it stopped me dead in the water. Two surgeries, same shoulder.
To make sure, my orthopedic doctor did an MRI and my impingement had to be fixed by surgery. Also, I am not a person to wait around to try to get better, I want things fixed so when I saw that MRI, I saw the writing on the wall.
The good news is: most injuries are fixable one way or the other. Just make sure you have a very good doctor, view the film, and run with the diagnosis. The sooner an injury can be fixed the better depending upon how severe the injury is; maybe some people don't need surgery; mine was really busted up pretty bad and the collarbone was fractured; I had no choice.
Please take care of it on the good advice of a trusted doctor---there are lots of wonderful sports doctors out there and mine was 12 years ago, I am certain there are better methods today to try to fix sports injuries!!!
donna
I really don't want to be the bearer of any bad news, but I had to have rotator cuff surgery in 1993 and in early 1995, impingement surgery. And I remember the exact swimming moment the impingement happened; it stopped me dead in the water. Two surgeries, same shoulder.
To make sure, my orthopedic doctor did an MRI and my impingement had to be fixed by surgery. Also, I am not a person to wait around to try to get better, I want things fixed so when I saw that MRI, I saw the writing on the wall.
The good news is: most injuries are fixable one way or the other. Just make sure you have a very good doctor, view the film, and run with the diagnosis. The sooner an injury can be fixed the better depending upon how severe the injury is; maybe some people don't need surgery; mine was really busted up pretty bad and the collarbone was fractured; I had no choice.
Please take care of it on the good advice of a trusted doctor---there are lots of wonderful sports doctors out there and mine was 12 years ago, I am certain there are better methods today to try to fix sports injuries!!!
donna
