I haven’t swam much at all since injuring my shoulder in a fall in Feb. I did do a little lite swimming a couple of weeks ago. I decided to try doing a little last night as I have had zero shoulder issues in over a month. This morning it hurts like hell. Now i didn’t even do a workout last night, it was more of a swimming with friends type of deal. I was the only athlete present. Are my swim days over? I really don’t think I could swim an oly with it like this. Sprint maybe. This really sucks as i had planned to do an IM next year.
Hey Jim –
Shoulders can be difficult to rehab under the best of circumstances. I would undergo formal PT with the help of a professional if it were my shoulder. Work left undone can leave you with a loss of strength and range of motion. Time is generally of the essence. Good luck!
You really need to get to an orthopedist. Three years ago my shoulder was basically getting unusable even for normal activities. Surgery and rehab and a few months later it is as good as new.
Get serious with your problem. Go see the first string.
Yeah I should probably go see the docs. Unfortunately I am one of the millions of americans with no health care coverage.
Hopefully someone here can tell you how to game the system, but no one in America with real needs goes unattended.
As ajfranke mentioned you could use the system. Call your local Health Department and see what may be available. I know in Il the coverage that used to cover only kids, kid care I think, has been extended to parents and other adults to a point…if you qualify.
Also you may want to just call a doc and see what kind of deal can be reached. It may just be that you don’t need surgery at all and only some Physical therapy. Most Pt’s I know are “fairly reasonable” and most health proffesionals will “work with you” on price.
Maybe as simple as a few proper stretching and strength building excercises.
~Matt
During mid-swimming season for me, right before provincial championships I had shoulder issues. with less than a month to a huge competition I went through physio therapy. With great success my shoulder was in full swimming shape for the competition.
I have some students and friends that are docs and pts. I will check into it.
Jim, try and get to a physio. I had a serious shoulder issue which turned out to be eminating from my back and that was resolved by physio and chiro.
Hang in there. There has to be a way to fix this. I’m counting on reading your IM Japan report next year. I mean it. Even if you have to dog paddle the whole way, it better be there:)
Shoulders’ injuries don’t just go away like that. They usually take more than a month to heal if they aren’t treated properly. Did you take some medicines or putt some ice on it?
Anyway, coming back to the pool after something like that should have a nice in-the-deck warmup before starting the workout. If you can’t swim, don’t make too much of a deal in it, focus on your bike and run fitness.
You may have what I had a few years ago–frozen shoulder due to scar tissue buildup from old injuries. Some stretching and strengthening got me back about 90-95%.
Google on “frozen shoulder exercises” and see what you get.