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
I just had my MRI this week. AC joint inflamation and supraspinatus tendonopathy... that tendon is inflamed and may have some microtears. I've been kicking for a month, and now I'm giving that up for a month, since kicking puts pressure on my shoulder, and I still can't swim without severe pain. The plan now is to rest for a month, and ease back into it... for now, then add back the dryland. I hope to avoid surgery, but time will tell. I've been back swimming USMS for several years, but it just caught up to me this year. One contributor to my shoulder problems may have been I slacked off the dryland this summer (sleeping in), which I always do some RC related exercises. I may be paying the price now. Or maybe I'm getting old. It's doubly frustrating, since I had a good SCY season with several masters PRs, so I was looking forward to building on that, and we finally have some good younger swimmers on the team now to push me, at least on freestyle (what are those other strokes about anyways?). Now all I can do is watch them swim. Maybe I need the rest, and will come back stronger. In the mean time, I'll try to pick up the running, biking, and spinning and work may weak legs and strengthen my core and try to lose too much conditioning. I will be going to swim practice in the morning, but will go for a run, then hit the gym for some legs and core work.
I just had my MRI this week. AC joint inflamation and supraspinatus tendonopathy... that tendon is inflamed and may have some microtears. I've been kicking for a month, and now I'm giving that up for a month, since kicking puts pressure on my shoulder, and I still can't swim without severe pain. The plan now is to rest for a month, and ease back into it... for now, then add back the dryland. I hope to avoid surgery, but time will tell. I've been back swimming USMS for several years, but it just caught up to me this year. One contributor to my shoulder problems may have been I slacked off the dryland this summer (sleeping in), which I always do some RC related exercises. I may be paying the price now. Or maybe I'm getting old. It's doubly frustrating, since I had a good SCY season with several masters PRs, so I was looking forward to building on that, and we finally have some good younger swimmers on the team now to push me, at least on freestyle (what are those other strokes about anyways?). Now all I can do is watch them swim. Maybe I need the rest, and will come back stronger. In the mean time, I'll try to pick up the running, biking, and spinning and work may weak legs and strengthen my core and try to lose too much conditioning. I will be going to swim practice in the morning, but will go for a run, then hit the gym for some legs and core work.
