It got me thinking that it's funny how any kind of shoulder pain really worries us as swimmers. I get little nagging aches and pains all the time and don't get too concerned, but as soon as my shoulder hurts I worry. I'm sure breaststrokers feel the same way about any knee pain.
Excellent observation, Kirk. Stuff like lower back pain, the sensation of having a lost sewing needle driven into the bone of my heal, fleeting agonies in the mid brain that makes one wonder if a jagged wire has somehow wandered in there: I get MUCH worse pains quite frequently, as well, but usually manage to dismiss them.
But if my shoulder is experiencing even a little twinge, it's as if my entire consciousness gets sucked into monitoring the progress of whatever inflamed and malformed tissues I imagine lurk therein--hoping against hope that I will find my way back to health, which is in this case defined as "not noticing my 'sore' shoulder anymore"--an impossible hope, of course, when every iota of failing brain power is focused on monitoring precisely that body part!
I should really start drinking again. That may be the real secret to shoulder health: oblivion.
One bit of advice for my fellow shoulder worriers: resist at all cost searching the Internet for relief. You will absolutely not find it here--only more fodder for believing your only hope is a shoulder transplant, possibly from a cadaver.
Have had some on and off again typical problems that most of us experience. Found that by moving my pull a little further outside centerline, they've seemingly diminished.
Here's a good one - the week before Coral Springs SCY Nat's, 2006, I woke up and had some really bad pain in my right shoulder area on the backside. I thought I'd slept on it wierd. Continued the taper anyway. I got a massage after the 1000 at the meet 'cause it hurt like all get out and the lady said "something's wrong with your shoulder". A day or so later, Lo Knapp happened by, took a look and said as soon as I get back I should have an Othopedist look at it. Turns out I developed "long thoracic nerve palsy" aka "scapular winging" in the right shoulder.
The shoulder is real weak in the overhead position but fortunately not as affected during breaststroke. My intervals took a real hit for about a year and my speed finally took a turn for the better around the end of summer 2007.
Whatever, I've learned to deal with it. It's coming up on 21 months now and the prognosis is that it (the nerve) may or may not ever kick in again. For a while there, I was somewhat depressed.
It got me thinking that it's funny how any kind of shoulder pain really worries us as swimmers. I get little nagging aches and pains all the time and don't get too concerned, but as soon as my shoulder hurts I worry. I'm sure breaststrokers feel the same way about any knee pain.
Excellent observation, Kirk. Stuff like lower back pain, the sensation of having a lost sewing needle driven into the bone of my heal, fleeting agonies in the mid brain that makes one wonder if a jagged wire has somehow wandered in there: I get MUCH worse pains quite frequently, as well, but usually manage to dismiss them.
But if my shoulder is experiencing even a little twinge, it's as if my entire consciousness gets sucked into monitoring the progress of whatever inflamed and malformed tissues I imagine lurk therein--hoping against hope that I will find my way back to health, which is in this case defined as "not noticing my 'sore' shoulder anymore"--an impossible hope, of course, when every iota of failing brain power is focused on monitoring precisely that body part!
I agree!! I can obsess about my shoulder 24/7. But I've run with multiple stress fractures and ignored tendonitis in my foot for 6 months with barely a worry.
Jim, what is the treatment for scapular winging? What if the nerve doesn't "kick in"? Pain? You seem to be swimming very well despite it!
I seem to have chronic low grade shoulder problems, but so far these have not forced me to stop swimming. I no longer do butterfly, and not much backstroke, either. I don't use paddles or kickboards. Otherwise, I just muddle through the discomforts, which are sometimes greater and sometimes lesser.
I have definitely become depressed over shoulder pains in the past, especially when the pain gets fairly significant and I fear it will eventually force me out of the water. Mood and pain are powerful reinforcers for one another. Exercise is one of the best ways for me to fix a bad mood. If I can't swim with an optimal level of effort because of shoulder pain, I put on zoomers and find I can still get my heart rate up high--if not higher--and this lets me stay in the pool and enjoy the camaraderie of my teammates.
Me too. It's very depressing to be in pain. More depressing to not exercise. My shoulders were feeling the best they had in two years, then I trashed them doing too much fly. I'm my own worst enemy. :shakeshead: But ART and massage help.
I modify my workouts all the time. Fin addict. No distance free, lots of kicking and backstroke. Limited fly. No paddles, very minimal use of kickboards. It's really a shame I can't do evilstroke like Allen.
Well, I actively try to avoid fly (can't swim it worth a darn), but I still have low-grade shoulder problems. Lately I think it's been caused in part by trying to improve my elbow position (more EVF-ish and with a small outsweep at the start to improve my catch). I've cut down on my yardage and frequency, but kept swimming. Last night at practice I actually got in 3400 yards and today my shoulders both feel pretty good.
I do like my zoomers, lost my paddles a couple years ago and never bothered to buy a replacement, and rarely use kickboard (unless I want to do kayak drills, which for some reason I really like - heckuva good way to take some of the boredom out of kick sets!).
Skip Montanaro
After 30 years of swimming, I finally has to have both shoulders worked on. My left shoulder was just a quick scope to clean out some built up scar tissue.
My right shoulder was a total rebuild. Both of these took place last summer. I swam Nationals in Federal Way then took the summer off. I did rehab 3 times a week for 7 weeks, plus including on my own. I got back in the water in November. I still have to keep doing the shoulder excerices, and I have not had problems since.
Had a problem but fixed by technique change. Not able to answer anything on the poll.
Yeah, but George, you're not swimming much or really training or competing. I don't think just swimming casually would put much stress on the shoulder.
Had a problem but fixed by technique change. Not able to answer anything on the poll.
I have shoulder issues every once in a while when I slide back into bad habits. It reminds me to correct my stroke and it goes away by the next practice.
Hurt shoulder in college, PT was not helping, got a bit depressed because I couldn't keep up with everyone at practice and I absolutely stunk at meets... so I started to dislike the sport and I quit (that was hard)... but the shoulder did not get better after rest - it still hurt with regular activities as simple as driving or pouring a glass of milk - so I had an amazing doctor do the surgery (arthroscopic)... my pain isn't as bad now, but I still have to watch it or I will have to get more of an evasive surgery done.
:eek:
I overdid it a little last week by swimming seven days straight. Usually I swim no more than three or four in a row without a rest day. Anyway, my left shoulder started hurting and I decided to back off.
It got me thinking that it's funny how any kind of shoulder pain really worries us as swimmers. I get little nagging aches and pains all the time and don't get too concerned, but as soon as my shoulder hurts I worry. I'm sure breaststrokers feel the same way about any knee pain.
