Shoulder Problems

You guys are awesome here. Right now I have decided to swim Monday, Tuesday (stroke work with coach), Thursday, and Saturday. Trying to avoid back to back days in the water at the moment. Its been a week since my shoulders forced me out of the water, and for the most part they seem to be doing better on the reduced yardage. Fins have been great this week, and if the shoulder got too much, I just kicked. The weird thing is using a kick board actually hurt more, so i just ditched it. Swim4Sanity: what you described was actually one change my coach has already made me make. He told me that he has noticed an increase in tendinitis in people who enter with their hand sideways. I am working on making this a habit, and try to stay aware of it during workouts. I'm doing the RC exercises almost every day, always in the evening, and after swimming if i swim for the day willow: I'll try making the change to sleep on my back. My problem is i have a major habit of sleeping on my stomach, one arm at my side, one arm under my head as a pillow. Unfortunately, I am a very squirmy sleeper, so even if I fall asleep on my back, there is no guarantee i will wake up that way. But all I can do is try!

Try and try again sleeping on your back, especially if you don't have sleep issues. Isn't sleeping on your back bad for your lower back? Sleeping on your stomach is bad for your neck, and if sleeping on the side is ruled out as well, there doesn't really seem to be an option. Anyone figured out how to sleep suspended in the air? ;)

I was a diehard shoulder sleeper until my most recent episode with neck/shoulder pain/quote] I am a die hard shoulder sleeper. And I always want to sleep on my injured left shoulder. :shakeshead: I've tried breaking out of this rut, but can't seem to. I hate sleeping on my back. Lately, when I've had shoulder pain, I think it's from my sleeping position more than my training. But I'm such a bad sleeper anyway, I hate to muck with my sleep position. But I really wish I could switch to being a back sleeper. Maybe that will be my new long term goal and I can report a major breakthrough on that score some day. LOL. (I am doing much better on the posture and head jutting score!) Also, I don't have any back issues, but I thought sleeping on your back was good for people with back problems? That's what Mr. Fort was told to do.

Sleeping on your shoulders can be a real no no. Funny that this was brought up as I somehow did this the other night and woke up with a VERY sore shoulder. It's a fair amount more comfortable now but all through my swim last night I could tell that the muscles were a little out of tune because of that mistake.

I was a diehard shoulder sleeper until my most recent episode with neck/shoulder pain, where both of my shoulders would hurt like a mofo with the simplest arm movements, and tendons would go *TWANG* with the slightest medial rotation. I simply could not sleep on my side and endure the total collapse of the shoulder joint that comes with the position. Nothing like PAIN to make you change your habits! I got a memory foam pillow (has a small neck roll on one side and a slightly larger neck roll on the opposite side, and a head-cradling concavity in between) and I sleep now on my back with 2 pillows under my knees (this helps it be just weird enough if you do turn on youir side in your sleep that it serves as an unconscious deterrant to doing so), with my arms relaxed straight at my sides, not crossed over my chest, not flung hither and yon, just boringly straight by my sides. Combining that with some private coaching on my stroke, perpetual posture awareness (shoulders back and down in a ballet "back connection" position) no jutting my head forward while computing, and weight training to stabilize my shoulders, and I feel normal again! I gotta say, though, I really miss the fetal position. Willow

Dang. I've been trying to switch to sleeping on my back the past three nights, but absolutely no luck. Unfortunately, I think my shoulder is made worse by how I sleep, since the right one is taking longer to recover, even though it was not as bad as the left. Grrr. This is going to be a long road.

Since my shoulder issues started, I kind of just migrated to being a back sleeper. I started by sleeping on my chest. After a few nights, it became comfortable and I rolled over to my back. I rarely roll on my side, but when I do I can tell in the morning. Maybe, it'll work for you. Good luck.

I'm curious, how does this book compare to the "Buchberger 12" that I saw talked about earlier? I am definitely like you, i need variation to save myself from boredom.

There is an excellent book/phamphlet with RC, scapular and core exercises at www.rotatorcuffrelief.com. The illustrations and explanation are very good. Worth the $. I need to add some of these exercises to my regimen and vary it more so I don't die of boredom.

I'm curious, how does this book compare to the "Buchberger 12" that I saw talked about earlier? I am definitely like you, i need variation to save myself from boredom. The book has a wider array of simpler exercises. I don't have the Buchberger 12 book, but I watched the video many months ago. I seem to recall that the Buchberger exercises are more complicated, multi-step exercises. I probably need to review the vid again. I also understand that Dr. Buchberger has introduced even more new exercises at his recent clinics. For those considering a non-surgical alternative to shoulder issues or an escape from chronic tendonitis or tendonosis, check out www.treatingpain.com/. I've had four prolotherapy treatments, but I'm switching over to plasma regeneration next month. My doc estimates it's covered by insurance 75% of the time and that it's more effective, more quickly than prolo.