Shoulder pain

From the brief description I have to agree that is sounds similar to tendonitis (most likely the beginning of it). Make sure that you warm up properly before you swim and cool down properly after your workout(s). Also, make sure that you utilize ice and heat as much as possible after and before (respectively) your workouts.

Thanks! I'll ice it tonight when I get home from work and I'll be mindful to warm up/cool down more thoroughly. I don't want this to sideline me.

Sounds like rotator cuff tendinitis. I would stay away from paddles, and avoid bench press and dips in the gym. Ice your shoulder after you swim and again before bedtime. Check out this article from the USA Swimming website: www.usaswimming.org/.../ViewMiscArticle.aspx

I had a scare late last year and the beginning of this year with my left shoulder. After reducing my training and going to a bunch of specialists and having xrays and MRI taken, there was no definite answer. Could be burcitis (sp?) Could be slight tears in two of the tendons Could be simple inflamation The least painful option was anti-inflammatory medication. Doc said to scale back training and let pain be my guide. I went to my trainer and his assessment was my left shoulder was weaker. Did more intense dry land training and after a long while, shoulder felt better. I could start training more, although I was sick from the Cold From Hell that was zapping everybody last spring. That put a damper on training until May. Anyway, the moral of this story is that shoulder problems could result from a bunch of different factors. Talk to multiple people, especially those who deal with athletes on a regular basis. They will be more likely to understand all of the demands a given sport (ie. swimming) places on the body. Rest is a good start but get professional advice. I was reluctant but when ice and rest did not cure the problem, the doctor steered me in the right direction. That's my story, hope it helps.

Just a quick follow up question... I am working on these RC exercises and icing. However, should I not be in the pool until I feel better? I've been swimming but my yardage is pretty light. Only about 1700 yds max in a practice (I'm still slow....). I've been doing more kicking, breaststroke and back and taking it easy, etc. Those Zoomers....ugh that blister they gave me hurts worse than my shoulder! I've got to find something else. Anyway, should I just stay out of the pool? If so, for how long? I hope the answer is I can still swim. I'm loving swimming so much. Unless you're having intense pain, I'd probably keep swimming. But keep modifying your workouts to include kicking, SDKs, drills, hypoxic work and strokes that don't cause pain. I hate zoomers, myself. If they give you blisters, try the zura fins, which are more forgiving. I had chronic tendonitis for well over a year before I went to an ART doc (PT didn't work). He sent me for an arthrogram, which showed some labral tearing. I did ART and PRP for a year, and it's substantially better. Although I am chronically paranoid and overprotective of my shoulder ... However, I never stopped swimming. (But, then, I do kick intensive workouts and use fins and monofin.) If the pain doesn't get better soon, get it checked by an ortho. Although make it a good one; shoulder pain is hard to diagnose, especially without an arthrogram. You have to be proactive with shoulder pain and give it a big dose of RC exercises, PT, massage, ART, etc. Cortisone is a very temporary solution. Good luck! It may take awhile for it to heal. Give it a few weeks perhaps.

Just a quick follow up question... I am working on these RC exercises and icing. However, should I not be in the pool until I feel better? I've been swimming but my yardage is pretty light. Only about 1700 yds max in a practice (I'm still slow....). I've been doing more kicking, breaststroke and back and taking it easy, etc. Those Zoomers....ugh that blister they gave me hurts worse than my shoulder! I've got to find something else. Anyway, should I just stay out of the pool? If so, for how long? I hope the answer is I can still swim. I'm loving swimming so much.

Anyway, should I just stay out of the pool? If so, for how long? I hope the answer is I can still swim. I'm loving swimming so much. For what it's worth, I stayed in the water and kept swimming, but limited the yardage and modified my workouts (no paddles, no butterfly). However, I saw an orthopedist as well as a physical therapist who designed my RC program and told me to keep swimming.

Thanks all! My pain is very mild...noticeable, but mild. I wanted to get on top of it before it became a huge issue. The RC exercises I've been doing have been great so far. I am feeling better today especially (but I didn't swim today...had an early meeting at work). I'm keeping up with the RC stuff...icing it in the evenings and after a workout. Zura fins...I'll check them out. They have Zoomers at the pool but blechhh....don't like 'em at all. I'm still hitting the water unless I experience a setback in my improvement. But so far, so good! Thanks everyone...your advice is very good and comforting! :bliss:

I just wanted to say thanks again for all the advice here. All of it wonderful. My shoulder is much better...about 95%. I'm keeping up with the RC exercises. Thanks again!