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
Former Member
I'll be following this thread with keen interest. I am in the process of being treated for a possible labral tear, which seems so incredibly unfair, as I just learned to swim at 37. Right now I am all kinesiotaped up and pouting. My PT said I can do kick sets with my arms at my sides and *** only, no weights for now but very conservative Pilates ball work is okay.
I am so bored and I have a border collie staring at me 24 hours a day with his frisbee in his mouth glaring "J'accuse, Maman!"
Well, my mid-November follow-up visit with my doctor has changed so many times it's now scheduled for Jan 30...
In the meanwhile I've continued to do the strength and range of motion exercises from physical therapy (though not very frequently now; I've gotten lazy...), and recently started swimming.:applaud: Started with just 500 meters easy, now at 2,000 meters with some decent intervals, and I'll go back with my Masters team starting next week. My shoulders are a bit sore afterwards so I'm building yardage slowly and limiting myself to two swims a week for now.
I was surprised that I could swim without pain on my first swim in December. When doing "air swimming" at home I still had (and have) a sharp impingement pain during recovery. But in the water I found if I concentrate on good rotation and high elbows during recovery, I experienced no pain at all. If I start swimming flatter, ouch!
I still can't swim backstroke without light pain during recovery, and I suspect fly will be very painful (kinda hard to rotate and keep elbows high in recovery!). No problem with breaststroke.
The good news is no surgery! Even if I can't swim fly or back again I'll probably not elect surgery. The bad news is that I suck at breaststroke. :afraid:
Brian
Got this good thread when trying to find causes
www.usms.org/.../showthread.php
It will help people currently dealing with this.
But, what causes it? How to avoid it?
Got this good thread when trying to find causes
www.usms.org/.../showthread.php
It will help people currently dealing with this.
But, what causes it? How to avoid it?
In my case I'm fairly sure it was caused by a combination of lack of flexibility and lack of strength relative to my training load. Maybe some poor technique in there too, particularly when swimming tired.
I'm planning to maintain a stretching and strength program (light weights) this year to see if it helps. Hopefully it will...
Brian
I had a torn labrum with a long loose flap that didn't show up on the arthrogram and less invasive tests. It was finally diagnosed when the orthopedist explored it under general anesthesia with the arthroscope. I tore it when I fell backward onto an outstretched arm.
The reconstruction surgery, rehab, screw removal surgery all involved a lot of expense and downtime and some pain but definitely the outcome made the surgery very worthwhile.
Define "core" work please.
I am also suffering from a "slap tear" and had to quit swimming.
John Smith
There was a good article in the Wall Street Journal about shoulder surgery awhile back. It stated most people typically don't start to feel normal until two years after the surgery. I had the surgery two years ago this May and just recently have more confidence in the water to race. It was not fun, but, it was better than giving up swimming altogether. When you look at how well the 60 year olds are swimming you have a lot to look forward to.
Does anyone know a website that has exercises designed to combat torn labrum symptoms?
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.
