that I'm probably not going to get too much faster or serious about my swimming return without surgery on my right shoulder. I get an inflamed and impinged tendon (the bicep tendon I believe) in my rotator cuff causing some discomfort, but more that I just lose all strength. I saw a sports doc a few years ago and had an MRI and he wanted to go in but I put it off as I'm 37, not competing or a PRO athlete, and can live with it. It only bugs me when I really start to push and train. Rehab/strengthening doesn't seem to work or help.
Between the shoulder and a back issue (Spondylolysis) I just can't train like I need or want to. I'll still swim, strive to be as good as possible, but it kind of sucks to just realize it. The fixes just are worth going under the knife. I just want to have fun with swimming nowadays anyway, try some open water for the first time, and be healthy. Anyway...sorry, just needed to vent a bit. Nobody likes to be limited!:cane:
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Former Member
Jeff -
Do not get too depressed.
This is my story:
About a year ago, I thought my recently rekindled swimming career was over, too. I thought I had a torn rotator cuff, or any other of a series of problematic issues. I felt a twinge in my right shoulder during a race, probably slept on the shoulder at night, and woke up the next morning unable to lift my right arm over my head or across my chest. I gave it a few weeks of rest, to no avail. Went to an ortho surgeon, who performed all the usual tests - diagnosis: no torn RC, but rather probably acromio-clavicular joint (aka AC Joint) arthritis, and some impingement. Gave me a shot in the shoulder. Basically 100% relief after 3 days.
A few months later (March 2008), it felt like the same thing coming on in the LEFT shoulder. Back to the ortho surgeon. No shot this time. Advice: lay off the hand paddles. Careful with the weight-lifting exercises that strain the RC (bench press, etc). Careful with amount of freestyle swimming. Do the RC exercises periodically.
Fast-forward to August 2008. I strapped on a B70 and swam much better than expected.
My two cent's worth: focus on doing what doesn't hurt, consult a specialist, try RC exercises and correcting any muscle imbalances.
Jeff -
Do not get too depressed.
This is my story:
About a year ago, I thought my recently rekindled swimming career was over, too. I thought I had a torn rotator cuff, or any other of a series of problematic issues. I felt a twinge in my right shoulder during a race, probably slept on the shoulder at night, and woke up the next morning unable to lift my right arm over my head or across my chest. I gave it a few weeks of rest, to no avail. Went to an ortho surgeon, who performed all the usual tests - diagnosis: no torn RC, but rather probably acromio-clavicular joint (aka AC Joint) arthritis, and some impingement. Gave me a shot in the shoulder. Basically 100% relief after 3 days.
A few months later (March 2008), it felt like the same thing coming on in the LEFT shoulder. Back to the ortho surgeon. No shot this time. Advice: lay off the hand paddles. Careful with the weight-lifting exercises that strain the RC (bench press, etc). Careful with amount of freestyle swimming. Do the RC exercises periodically.
Fast-forward to August 2008. I strapped on a B70 and swam much better than expected.
My two cent's worth: focus on doing what doesn't hurt, consult a specialist, try RC exercises and correcting any muscle imbalances.
