I'm a 35 year old former collegiate swimmer who has been back at it for the past two years. About 5 months ago I started experiencing pain in my left shoulder. It has been diagnosed (exams plus MRI) as an arthritic AC joint. A cortisone shot lasted about 2 weeks before the pain returned.
At this point I believe my only real option is undergoing surgery to eliminate interference between the two bones in the joint.
I believe I've read about Dara Torres having this done after Beijing. Has anyone here gone through this procedure? I would like to hear about recovery time and what to expect long term.
Thanks,
Micah
Parents
Former Member
Micah -
I have had the same experience - long layoff from swimming, with a diagnosis of AC joint arthritis after about a year back in the pool. Over the past 3 years I have had at least 6 injections. Having said that, I have been pain free for close to 8 months now.
What has helped:
- religiously doing my RC exercises (particularly theraband "press-out" with shoulder blades squeezed)
- avoiding any heavy overhead lifting (military press, etc)
- by my own amateur diagnosis, improving the "balance" between the strength in my chest (pecs) and the weakness in my back. The imbalance led to my shoulders rotating forward.
- avoiding lots of hunched over keyboard typing.
Re the balance, I have been doing the P90X routine, which includes lots of back strengthening exercises (pull and chin ups, mainly). This has made a huge difference.
Unless your surgeon shows you a significant bone spur that is rubbing and causing pain, I would view surgery as a last resort. Two years ago I was in so much pain that I begged my surgeon to do the procedure. He refused(!).
Reply
Former Member
Micah -
I have had the same experience - long layoff from swimming, with a diagnosis of AC joint arthritis after about a year back in the pool. Over the past 3 years I have had at least 6 injections. Having said that, I have been pain free for close to 8 months now.
What has helped:
- religiously doing my RC exercises (particularly theraband "press-out" with shoulder blades squeezed)
- avoiding any heavy overhead lifting (military press, etc)
- by my own amateur diagnosis, improving the "balance" between the strength in my chest (pecs) and the weakness in my back. The imbalance led to my shoulders rotating forward.
- avoiding lots of hunched over keyboard typing.
Re the balance, I have been doing the P90X routine, which includes lots of back strengthening exercises (pull and chin ups, mainly). This has made a huge difference.
Unless your surgeon shows you a significant bone spur that is rubbing and causing pain, I would view surgery as a last resort. Two years ago I was in so much pain that I begged my surgeon to do the procedure. He refused(!).
