My doctor thinks I have a labral tear. It may not be torn too badly since apparently it wasn't obvious on the MRI. I took three months off of swimming before seeing the doctor - I figured it would get better on its own, but it didn't.
I've done about 4 weeks of physical therapy and will do another two before seeing the doctor again. My range of motion and rotator cuff muscle strength have definitely improved, but the impingement pain and shoulder clicking during freestyle recovery motion is still there. My doctor suggested that after 6 weeks of physical therapy he'd have a better idea if surgery would be necessary. Two weeks to go...
In searching this and other forums, it seems that physical therapy doesn't do the trick for most swimmers with labral tears, and they end up in surgery. Or maybe those that choose surgery just like to post more about it?
If you've recovered from a labral tear without surgery, let me know! I'm willing to do many more months of physical therapy if I think I can avoid surgery!
Brian
Either it's torn or it's not ... usually not a gradual thing.
The people who opt not to do the surgery - don't swim for quite a while and do very very extensive shoulder strength excercises. And if you stop the strength work, the problems often come back...
Same for me with the 2 years although I have seen people (Brunelli come back much faster) -- a lot had to do with working through pain and trusting that the shoulder is back to normal.
Sounds like you are in the surgery camp.
My doctor gave me 3 options: surgery to fix it (sounded like a long rehab), rehab to alleviate the symptoms, or live with the pain. I opted for trying to rehab it before having the surgery, but was trying to see what was involved before I made that time and financial commitment.
Either it's torn or it's not ... usually not a gradual thing.
The people who opt not to do the surgery - don't swim for quite a while and do very very extensive shoulder strength excercises. And if you stop the strength work, the problems often come back...
Same for me with the 2 years although I have seen people (Brunelli come back much faster) -- a lot had to do with working through pain and trusting that the shoulder is back to normal.
Sounds like you are in the surgery camp.
My doctor gave me 3 options: surgery to fix it (sounded like a long rehab), rehab to alleviate the symptoms, or live with the pain. I opted for trying to rehab it before having the surgery, but was trying to see what was involved before I made that time and financial commitment.
