Shoulder Labial Tear
HX: Sudden severe pain on swimming L shoulder....no prior pain or issues with THAT shoulder. Rested and found pan when getting to about 1 mile into swim....was able to do Vineman Full with modified stroke and "moderate pain" (1:12) NO further swimming/Upper WKOs except PT. Did 2 sprint races and had moderate pain, tried a OLY and suffered the whole swim. Doc says surgery (didn't think I fit surgical profile initially as I'm 47 y/o....)
Differed surgery...Ive done NUTHING for 2 more months....mild pain and occasional sharp spikes consistent with swimming ranges of motion. I need to see a new Ortho Dr here in Tucson.
1) Anyone have Orth/sports med Dr Recommendations for Tucson AZ?
2) Return to swim?, When Outdoor Bike OK?.... sounds like a lot of mixed recommendations (from 8 weeks free to hit gym to no swim for 6 months(!)).... Anyone with experience with this injury/repair and when able to "get back at it?"
3) I have a 24hr MTB race (likely 2 day and 1 night loops -not too technical -single track desert) FEB 14 .........I plan on using indoor trainer for fitness DEC/JAN..... if surgery in couple weeks (I'd try for ASAP) Thoughts?
Thanx!
DAVE
Comments
I had it done with a great ortho here in Boston who specialized in athletes (works for the group that takes care of the Red Sox, Patriots, etc). Thank god I got connected with him because the ortho my insurance company initially wanted me to see said I was too old for surgery (40 y.o) and should just take a cortisone shot. It was clear to me that he was not someone who worked with older athletes and placed limits on people just because of their age. After 1.5 years (March 2013 surgery), I have most of the mobility back, was able to complete two June HIM this year & IMMT in August, but I still need to work on strength. Part of the strength is my fault in I'm not good at weightlifting since I started tri's.
Good luck and make sure you get multiple opinions from quality ortho's who work with athletes.
In my experience, we each only have 2 shoulders so you need to be smart with (1) surgery and (2) being smart after surgery. I tore and displaced my biceps tendon in Nov '11 and had surgery on January '12. I also went snowboarding over XMas for a week in MT because I figured "what's the worse that could happen, he's going to fix whatever he finds anyway
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So surgery, about 6wks in a sling, then PT and instructions to let pain by my guide. I didn't have any races on the calendar so no need to chase swimming fitness due to a date. I swam in August and it was fine. I haven't swim at all since Aug '12 but that's another story
Anyway, my recommendation is to have surgery and be smart with the process afterwards. And lose that doc. I was 44yo at the time, there was never a discussion of age at all. In my experience with getting banged up and talking to docs, you need to find a doc who understands how an athlete tics and what our limitations are(not).
The no surgery in 40+ is usually due to those with week labrums have their tears in their more active 20s. And 40 somethings tend to be less overhead active and can cope.with minimal lifestyle change with injury. Also older tend to have more loss of ROM.
I was never great at the swim....I just want to get back to being able.to swim
Thanx