shoulder news
Apr. 15th, 2005 10:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angledgeOK, went & saw the sports medicine doctor yesterday. Dr. H. took a few X-rays, performed an unpleasant physical examination, & then gave me his diagnosis.
Short version: I'm getting old.
Longer, more diplomatic version: I have subluxated my shoulder, a common problem amongst swimmers, since we tend to stretch out the tendons & ligaments in our shoulders, which destabilizes the joint. Dr. H. said I have cartilage rubbing on cartilage, which is causing the pain & a lot of inflammation.
So the way forward is 1) less swimming in the immediate future; 2) anti-inflammatory drugs (which are helping a lot already); and 3) 10 sessions of physical therapy. Dr. H. gives this treatment plan a 75% chance of successfully addressing the problem. If it doesn't work, I might have to consider surgery. But hey - 75% chance of success. That's pretty good odds.
And now, photos from my last swim meet - see Ang swim the 200 individual medley! In a 25-yard pool, the 200 IM consists of two lengths of each stroke in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breastroke, & freestyle. It's one of my strongest events.
Swimmers, take your mark ... Diving off the block to start the race.
The first two laps of the individual medley are butterfly, my favorite stroke.
No backstroke photo was available, but here I am turning at the wall.
By the second half of the race, AIR is the most important thing. BREEEEEEEEEEAAATHE. I think I look like some demented frog-woman in this photo. But it's funny, so I posted it.
The last two laps of the IM are freestyle. I'm the swimmer closest to the camera, doing my best to catch the race leaders in the last sprint.
Warning: slow photo download behind cut.
Short version: I'm getting old.
Longer, more diplomatic version: I have subluxated my shoulder, a common problem amongst swimmers, since we tend to stretch out the tendons & ligaments in our shoulders, which destabilizes the joint. Dr. H. said I have cartilage rubbing on cartilage, which is causing the pain & a lot of inflammation.
So the way forward is 1) less swimming in the immediate future; 2) anti-inflammatory drugs (which are helping a lot already); and 3) 10 sessions of physical therapy. Dr. H. gives this treatment plan a 75% chance of successfully addressing the problem. If it doesn't work, I might have to consider surgery. But hey - 75% chance of success. That's pretty good odds.
Swimmers, take your mark ... Diving off the block to start the race.
The first two laps of the individual medley are butterfly, my favorite stroke.
No backstroke photo was available, but here I am turning at the wall.
By the second half of the race, AIR is the most important thing. BREEEEEEEEEEAAATHE. I think I look like some demented frog-woman in this photo. But it's funny, so I posted it.
The last two laps of the IM are freestyle. I'm the swimmer closest to the camera, doing my best to catch the race leaders in the last sprint.
Warning: slow photo download behind cut.
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no subject
Date: 2005-04-18 12:53 pm (UTC)Surgery should not be in your future unless your shoulder becomes more unstable over time. Hopefully, as your shoulder muscles get stronger, the joint will become more stable, and you will be back to swimming. I would suggest not using heat, but continuing with your meds and icing.
Remember you have a friend who is a PT back east, and we are NOT all sadists. :)
Thanks for the advice!
Date: 2005-04-18 05:29 pm (UTC)Remember you have a friend who is a PT back east, and we are NOT all sadists. :)
How could I ever forget my friends? And I know you're not all sadists; you're only trying to heal. But having someone poke, pull, & prod at my sore shoulder makes me cranky. Besides, having just learned that my health insurance plan has a $500.00 deductible for physical therapy, I think I've learned who the REAL sadists are ...