Shoulder Problems

Perhaps my story will help. My shoulder had partially dislocated perhaps 5-10 time over a 5 year period after a snow skiing accident. The partial dislocations usually occurred as a result of moderate trauma or abnormal arm/shoulder movement accompanied by a lot of pain. During the 5 yr period of shoulder instability, I swam competitively which included a fairly aggressive weight lifting program with minimal stability (no dislocations) problems during training and competition. In Fall of 1995 I finally went to see an orthaepedist after dislocating my shoulder putting on chest waders (that was the final straw). In December of 1995, I had arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder. The surgeon found minimal tear/damage to the rotator cuff and diagnosed the problem as being caused by loose ligaments. He performed a procedure in which the ligaments were shrunk using electrically generated heat (I can't remember the name of the procedure). As I recall, I was his first patient using this new procedure of using heat to shrink the ligaments to stabilize the shoulder. After surgery, I wore a sling for 6-weeks. The doctor did not have me do PT because he was afraid the PT guys would try to restore full flexibility in my shoulder, which could undo the effects of the surgery. Post operative pain was minimal and I have had no long-term pain. During the post operative visits, he assessed the success of the surgery by having me hold my arms to the side at 90-degrees with my fore-arms vertical. Then he would have me rotate both arms as far to the rear as possible. The "good" shoulder could rotate approximately 5-degrees to the rear, whereas the formerly unstable shoulder could only rotate to a vertical position. In the 9-years since the surgery I have had no dislocations. I have had a couple mild traumas that may have tested the stability of my shoulder in those years. In all cases, the shoulder remained stable. I can still only rotate my fore-arm to a vertical position as described in the test above whereas my "good" shoulder will rotate approx. 5-degrees to the rear. In those 9-years, I have not done any formal swim training or other activity on a regular basis that would put strain on my shoulder. I have lifted weights very sporadically with the longest period of regular weight lifting being approximately 3-months. The only problem I have had is general weakness, as compared to my "good" shoulder. On one occasion several years ago I saw an orthopedic specialist due to a feeling of instability in my shoulder. The orthopedist conducted stability checks on my shoulder and found that the shoulder was stable. The doctor believed that I had irritated my shoulder by typing at a keyboard for long hours at a computer. He suggested this was due to the weakness in my shoulder. This is the only time I have seen a doctor about my shoulder since the surgery. I have recently started training for a triathlon, which got me back in the pool for the first time in about 10 years. No problems with the shoulder except tightness in the streamlined position and weakness. I have started rotor cuff excercises to over-come the weakness and prevent stretching of the ligaments which might cause future instability. I am considering getting involved in Masters Swimming if I can fit it into my schedule. I have a little apprehension about how my shoulder will hold up with regular strenuous swimming. I am currently trying to get in contact with the orthopaedist who did my surgery to see if he has any recommendations or warnings for me. Butterflyswim01 - I wonder if the orthopaedist you saw ruled out arthoscopic skrinking(tightening) of the ligaments for your situation. Perhaps he wanted to give PT a try first. I would see an orthopaedist again and ask him/her about procedures to tighten ligaments like the one I had. I have been very pleased with my results, but then again, I have not done any butterfly stroke with my post-operative shoulder to find out if it will hold up under that kind of stress. Good luck.

Perhaps my story will help. My shoulder had partially dislocated perhaps 5-10 time over a 5 year period after a snow skiing accident. The partial dislocations usually occurred as a result of moderate trauma or abnormal arm/shoulder movement accompanied by a lot of pain. During the 5 yr period of shoulder instability, I swam competitively which included a fairly aggressive weight lifting program with minimal stability (no dislocations) problems during training and competition. In Fall of 1995 I finally went to see an orthaepedist after dislocating my shoulder putting on chest waders (that was the final straw). In December of 1995, I had arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder. The surgeon found minimal tear/damage to the rotator cuff and diagnosed the problem as being caused by loose ligaments. He performed a procedure in which the ligaments were shrunk using electrically generated heat (I can't remember the name of the procedure). As I recall, I was his first patient using this new procedure of using heat to shrink the ligaments to stabilize the shoulder. After surgery, I wore a sling for 6-weeks. The doctor did not have me do PT because he was afraid the PT guys would try to restore full flexibility in my shoulder, which could undo the effects of the surgery. Post operative pain was minimal and I have had no long-term pain. During the post operative visits, he assessed the success of the surgery by having me hold my arms to the side at 90-degrees with my fore-arms vertical. Then he would have me rotate both arms as far to the rear as possible. The "good" shoulder could rotate approximately 5-degrees to the rear, whereas the formerly unstable shoulder could only rotate to a vertical position. In the 9-years since the surgery I have had no dislocations. I have had a couple mild traumas that may have tested the stability of my shoulder in those years. In all cases, the shoulder remained stable. I can still only rotate my fore-arm to a vertical position as described in the test above whereas my "good" shoulder will rotate approx. 5-degrees to the rear. In those 9-years, I have not done any formal swim training or other activity on a regular basis that would put strain on my shoulder. I have lifted weights very sporadically with the longest period of regular weight lifting being approximately 3-months. The only problem I have had is general weakness, as compared to my "good" shoulder. On one occasion several years ago I saw an orthopedic specialist due to a feeling of instability in my shoulder. The orthopedist conducted stability checks on my shoulder and found that the shoulder was stable. The doctor believed that I had irritated my shoulder by typing at a keyboard for long hours at a computer. He suggested this was due to the weakness in my shoulder. This is the only time I have seen a doctor about my shoulder since the surgery. I have recently started training for a triathlon, which got me back in the pool for the first time in about 10 years. No problems with the shoulder except tightness in the streamlined position and weakness. I have started rotor cuff excercises to over-come the weakness and prevent stretching of the ligaments which might cause future instability. I am considering getting involved in Masters Swimming if I can fit it into my schedule. I have a little apprehension about how my shoulder will hold up with regular strenuous swimming. I am currently trying to get in contact with the orthopaedist who did my surgery to see if he has any recommendations or warnings for me. Butterflyswim01 - I wonder if the orthopaedist you saw ruled out arthoscopic skrinking(tightening) of the ligaments for your situation. Perhaps he wanted to give PT a try first. I would see an orthopaedist again and ask him/her about procedures to tighten ligaments like the one I had. I have been very pleased with my results, but then again, I have not done any butterfly stroke with my post-operative shoulder to find out if it will hold up under that kind of stress. Good luck.