Shoulder Poll

[jim thornton]

Inspired by Nancy's quest for swimmer shoulder data, I am trying the following poll. Pick the option that best describes your situation. Thanks.

[jim thornton]

I seem to have chronic low grade shoulder problems, but so far these have not forced me to stop swimming. I no longer do butterfly, and not much backstroke, either. I don't use paddles or kickboards. Otherwise, I just muddle through the discomforts, which are sometimes greater and sometimes lesser.

I have definitely become depressed over shoulder pains in the past, especially when the pain gets fairly significant and I fear it will eventually force me out of the water. Mood and pain are powerful reinforcers for one another. Exercise is one of the best ways for me to fix a bad mood. If I can't swim with an optimal level of effort because of shoulder pain, I put on zoomers and find I can still get my heart rate up high--if not higher--and this lets me stay in the pool and enjoy the camaraderie of my teammates.

[That Guy]

I answered "symptoms serious enough to make you modify workouts and/or avoid strokes but does not sideline you." I hit significant shoulder pain, so first I stopped using a kickboard and switched to streamlined kicking on my back. That worked for a while but eventually caused a different, more severe shoulder/upper arm problem so I stopped doing kick sets longer than 50 yards. My shoulders have been generally fine in the few weeks since making that change. And since getting rid of the kickboard a couple months ago, I have had zero toys on the pool deck. :)

[Allen Stark]

Last year I had shoulder problems severe enough to keep me out of the water for a month,go to PT for 4 mo. and modify my workouts.I still must modify my workouts,doing little fly and back.and little free sprinting:cane:.I am also doing more of my free swimming with fins and sometimes fist swimming with fins if my shoulders start to get twitchy.At least I can pretty much do my regular breaststroke workouts.I couldn't last year and that was depressing.:violin:

[The Fortress]

I seem to have chronic low grade shoulder problems, but so far these have not forced me to stop swimming. I no longer do butterfly, and not much backstroke, either. I don't use paddles or kickboards. Otherwise, I just muddle through the discomforts, which are sometimes greater and sometimes lesser.

I have definitely become depressed over shoulder pains in the past, especially when the pain gets fairly significant and I fear it will eventually force me out of the water. Mood and pain are powerful reinforcers for one another. Exercise is one of the best ways for me to fix a bad mood. If I can't swim with an optimal level of effort because of shoulder pain, I put on zoomers and find I can still get my heart rate up high--if not higher--and this lets me stay in the pool and enjoy the camaraderie of my teammates.

Me too. It's very depressing to be in pain. More depressing to not exercise. My shoulders were feeling the best they had in two years, then I trashed them doing too much fly. I'm my own worst enemy. :shakeshead: But ART and massage help.

I modify my workouts all the time. Fin addict. No distance free, lots of kicking and backstroke. Limited fly. No paddles, very minimal use of kickboards. It's really a shame I can't do evilstroke like Allen.

[smontanaro]

Well, I actively try to avoid fly (can't swim it worth a darn), but I still have low-grade shoulder problems. Lately I think it's been caused in part by trying to improve my elbow position (more EVF-ish and with a small outsweep at the start to improve my catch). I've cut down on my yardage and frequency, but kept swimming. Last night at practice I actually got in 3400 yards and today my shoulders both feel pretty good.

I do like my zoomers, lost my paddles a couple years ago and never bothered to buy a replacement, and rarely use kickboard (unless I want to do kayak drills, which for some reason I really like - heckuva good way to take some of the boredom out of kick sets!).

Skip Montanaro

[cjr]

After 30 years of swimming, I finally has to have both shoulders worked on. My left shoulder was just a quick scope to clean out some built up scar tissue.
My right shoulder was a total rebuild. Both of these took place last summer. I swam Nationals in Federal Way then took the summer off. I did rehab 3 times a week for 7 weeks, plus including on my own. I got back in the water in November. I still have to keep doing the shoulder excerices, and I have not had problems since.

[geochuck]

Had a problem but fixed by technique change. Not able to answer anything on the poll.

[The Fortress]

Had a problem but fixed by technique change. Not able to answer anything on the poll.

Yeah, but George, you're not swimming much or really training or competing. I don't think just swimming casually would put much stress on the shoulder.

[Donna]

Had a problem but fixed by technique change. Not able to answer anything on the poll.

I have shoulder issues every once in a while when I slide back into bad habits. It reminds me to correct my stroke and it goes away by the next practice.

[JimRude]

As a youngster I managed to survive the 10-20,000+ meters/day at Cal with nothing more than the occasional bout of bursitis.

Now, after getting back in the water 6 months ago after a 20+ year lay-off, I find myself with what has initially been diagnosed as AC joint athritis.

Basically, unable to move right arm across body.

Have received an injection in the AC joint, and am severely restricting my yardage buildup after having taken 9 weeks off.

I'm confident that I will be ready for LCM Nat's in August. We'll see about Austin... Sometimes, you just gotta say ":censor:"

[knelson]

I overdid it a little last week by swimming seven days straight. Usually I swim no more than three or four in a row without a rest day. Anyway, my left shoulder started hurting and I decided to back off.

It got me thinking that it's funny how any kind of shoulder pain really worries us as swimmers. I get little nagging aches and pains all the time and don't get too concerned, but as soon as my shoulder hurts I worry. I'm sure breaststrokers feel the same way about any knee pain.

[ToddCameron]

occasional mild symptoms that resolve on their own

I have been swimming for 4+ months but weight training for 17 years as of this summer. I have yet to have any shoulder problems from swimming. I have also found I do not get sore from swimming; however the most I have swam in one session so far is 3200m in a 25m pool. I DO get sore from weights!

[USMSarah]

Hurt shoulder in college, PT was not helping, got a bit depressed because I couldn't keep up with everyone at practice and I absolutely stunk at meets... so I started to dislike the sport and I quit (that was hard)... but the shoulder did not get better after rest - it still hurt with regular activities as simple as driving or pouring a glass of milk - so I had an amazing doctor do the surgery (arthroscopic)... my pain isn't as bad now, but I still have to watch it or I will have to get more of an evasive surgery done.

:eek:

[jim thornton]

It got me thinking that it's funny how any kind of shoulder pain really worries us as swimmers. I get little nagging aches and pains all the time and don't get too concerned, but as soon as my shoulder hurts I worry. I'm sure breaststrokers feel the same way about any knee pain.

Excellent observation, Kirk. Stuff like lower back pain, the sensation of having a lost sewing needle driven into the bone of my heal, fleeting agonies in the mid brain that makes one wonder if a jagged wire has somehow wandered in there: I get MUCH worse pains quite frequently, as well, but usually manage to dismiss them.

But if my shoulder is experiencing even a little twinge, it's as if my entire consciousness gets sucked into monitoring the progress of whatever inflamed and malformed tissues I imagine lurk therein--hoping against hope that I will find my way back to health, which is in this case defined as "not noticing my 'sore' shoulder anymore"--an impossible hope, of course, when every iota of failing brain power is focused on monitoring precisely that body part!

I should really start drinking again. That may be the real secret to shoulder health: oblivion.

One bit of advice for my fellow shoulder worriers: resist at all cost searching the Internet for relief. You will absolutely not find it here--only more fodder for believing your only hope is a shoulder transplant, possibly from a cadaver.

[jim clemmons]

Have had some on and off again typical problems that most of us experience. Found that by moving my pull a little further outside centerline, they've seemingly diminished.

Here's a good one - the week before Coral Springs SCY Nat's, 2006, I woke up and had some really bad pain in my right shoulder area on the backside. I thought I'd slept on it wierd. Continued the taper anyway. I got a massage after the 1000 at the meet 'cause it hurt like all get out and the lady said "something's wrong with your shoulder". A day or so later, Lo Knapp happened by, took a look and said as soon as I get back I should have an Othopedist look at it. Turns out I developed "long thoracic nerve palsy" aka "scapular winging" in the right shoulder.

The shoulder is real weak in the overhead position but fortunately not as affected during breaststroke. My intervals took a real hit for about a year and my speed finally took a turn for the better around the end of summer 2007.

Whatever, I've learned to deal with it. It's coming up on 21 months now and the prognosis is that it (the nerve) may or may not ever kick in again. For a while there, I was somewhat depressed.

[3strokes]

That would be a very serious (or large) appendix that affects the shoulder..... No?

Seriously, I did have a shoulder strain that was swimming-related to the third degree:
1- It was at the Summer open-air pool.
2- I was trying to help an older gentleman move a chaise-longue one-handedly (and impress the ladies at the same time).
3- He stumbled and dropped his end and the sudden drop and weight of the whole darn thing pulled my shoulder.

................ about three months (and several physio sessions) later, I was able to swim again.

[The Fortress]

It got me thinking that it's funny how any kind of shoulder pain really worries us as swimmers. I get little nagging aches and pains all the time and don't get too concerned, but as soon as my shoulder hurts I worry. I'm sure breaststrokers feel the same way about any knee pain.

Excellent observation, Kirk. Stuff like lower back pain, the sensation of having a lost sewing needle driven into the bone of my heal, fleeting agonies in the mid brain that makes one wonder if a jagged wire has somehow wandered in there: I get MUCH worse pains quite frequently, as well, but usually manage to dismiss them.

But if my shoulder is experiencing even a little twinge, it's as if my entire consciousness gets sucked into monitoring the progress of whatever inflamed and malformed tissues I imagine lurk therein--hoping against hope that I will find my way back to health, which is in this case defined as "not noticing my 'sore' shoulder anymore"--an impossible hope, of course, when every iota of failing brain power is focused on monitoring precisely that body part!

I agree!! I can obsess about my shoulder 24/7. But I've run with multiple stress fractures and ignored tendonitis in my foot for 6 months with barely a worry.

Jim, what is the treatment for scapular winging? What if the nerve doesn't "kick in"? Pain? You seem to be swimming very well despite it!

[kizzi77]

I have shoulder issues every once in a while when I slide back into bad habits. It reminds me to correct my stroke and it goes away by the next practice.

That's how it is now for me too. But growing up I would definitely push pass the pain and first ended up in therapy at 10. And with responses from the coach to complaints of shoulder pain like "that's why God gave you two, keep going"...it's no wonder it took me so long to realize it was my stroke technique not just a part of swimming.

[Thrashing Slug]

Pain or functional impairment that forces you out of the water

Had shoulder issues last year, left shoulder only. It felt like a small tear somewhere inside the shoulder, or impingement, or a combination of the two. Took a month off out of the pool, but that didn't cure it. Pain resumed after about 2 days of swimming. Started lifting lots of weights, combination of rotator cuff exercises with very light weights, and standard full-body weight workouts. Lots of shoulder exercises with good, slow form. Lifted through feelings of pain and shoulder clicking, but always felt better after lifting. Tried to take it easy during swim workouts. Swam lots of fist drills, used fins a lot. Tried to focus on improving technique and making both arms' pulls match.
Gradually progressed to the point where any soreness in shoulders felt like the good tired muscle sorness instead of strange scary things inside the shoulder torn soreness.

After about 2 months of consistent lifting, the shoulder pain pretty much disappeared. Now my shoulders are both fully pain-free. I've been using paddles lately, but I force myself to take 1 or 2 days off of paddles out of the 4 that I swim per week. As a result I now look forward to the days when I get to use the paddles, and can fully use them to my advantage, much like I do with the fins.

[jim clemmons]

Jim, what is the treatment for scapular winging? What if the nerve doesn't "kick in"? Pain? You seem to be swimming very well despite it!

The ortho dude wanted me to stay out of the water and well, you know that's just not an option. I was scheduled for therapy but ended up not going due to the inconvenient times they were offering. I decided that the best thing for me was to just go kind of easy for a while, build up the other muscles in the area to compensate for the anterior serratus not working - that is what is "served" by the long thoracic - and see how things developed. There's no pain now because the other muscles have gotten with the program. The nerve's still palsied - they said 6 mos to 5 years - maybe. And maybe never.

[geochuck]

Ortho Dudes know nothing about stroke modification. The only solution they have is stay out of the water. Right in some cases for sure. However that is not what we want to hear.

[Redbird Alum]

Jim -

At one point in college, I was doing so much backstroke that my shoulders would roll out of socket and "pop" back in. I went to specialists and they told me surgery had a 50-50 chance of making it better or worse.

So... I rested for a week, then swam other strokes for a few, and then slowly went back to backstroke, but with a much more balanced workout (back to free). I finished the season (my senior year) with some of my best times, laid off for a year and then started in Masters, but always keeping a balance.

No surgery, no "PT", just common sense and balance.

[rtodd]

The biggest problem I have with my shoulders is sleeping on them, not swimming with them. What's up with that?

[kaday]

I ended up after 20 years of competitive swimming I ended up with a significant rotator cuff injury. I had a major tear in a tendon, a tear in the cuff (labrum) and a tear in the bicep tendon. I waited too long for surgery and I think the pt only aggravated the problem.

I am finally swimming again after about 2 years. I only have about 95% range of motion back on my shoulder but I have no pain and I can swim for an hour or so about five times a week. I do not swim fly or backstroke anymore. I didn't think for a long time I'd ever get back in the pool but here I am!

[mermaid]

Mild symptoms that resolve on their own

From time to time I experience inferior glide impingement in my right shoulder. When I feel that movement begins to become restricted, I go to my chiropractor and he works his "magic". About once a month I will need to have him adjust my shoulder.

I suspect that this situation is due more to my sleep pattern and right side dominance rather than repetitive stroke syndrome.

[blainesapprentice]

Ortho Dudes know nothing about stroke modification. The only solution they have is stay out of the water. Right in some cases for sure. However that is not what we want to hear.


I did PT for 9months with no significant improvements, found myself a better ortho and had both of my shoulders cleaned, gutted, shaved and reconstructed at the age of 18. My orthopedic surgeon was phenomenal! She was a competitive swimmer all her life, and her son swims very competitively as well. She was also a world-class rower. She was the ortho/ physician in Athens (2004 Olympics) for the crew teams but also ended up working on some swimmers as well while she was there.

She specialized in joint problems in female athletes (shoulders, knees, elbows) and sports medicine in general.

The day after each surgery she had me test my range of motion VERY VERY slowly while laying on the floor by raising my arm from by my side to over my head as far as I could. I expected you know to get to like maybe 110degrees the first day, but when I got passed 90 I was in shock, and that very first day after surgery I got my shoulder all the way over my head into streamline position--for the first time in probably 2years. I was swimming competitively within 2months of my second (right shoulder) surgery at the college level and was named rookie of the ECAC swim league that December (had the surgeries Sept6th and Oct 6th).

I would recommend shoulder surgery any day if the person had the same opportunity to be worked on by Dr. Hannafin, I never regretted having the surgeries. But obviously, not everyone will be as lucky and there are complications to keep in mind, but two shoulders, two surgeries and the same results both times...and I had a friend get his knee done by her and he went on to play DI soccer that very next fall...:bow:

[geochuck]

You certainly found the right one. I had one who told me I would never be able to swim again.

I was lucky I went to Egypt and found a doctor who worked with the Egyptian marathon swimmers. He suggested a couple of modifications for my stroke and I have never had shoulder pain again.

[Chris Stevenson]

He suggested a couple of modifications for my stroke and I have never had shoulder pain again.

Isn't it amazing how that works? And -- from what I have heard -- the modifications are not always that big, either.

I have been swimming year-round for 36 years without (knock on wood) serious shoulder problems. For that reason alone I resist stroke modifications; sure, I could probably be more efficient but I worry that changes would cause other problems.

When it comes to masters swimming, perhaps longevity is just as important as efficiency.

[geochuck]

Two modifications a little more body roll. Change of kick.

[Big AL]

When it comes to masters swimming, perhaps longevity is just as important as efficiency.

Now that's a fact.

I watched Tom Lane swim 50 free at Masters Nationals at USC in 1990 at 102 years old. I swear he was swimming backwards when he got within 5 yards from the finish.

Made a National record, too, I think. :applaud:

[cdrcld]

I'm not an expert, but I have had 4 shoulder surgeries. Initial injury was from much tennis - but swimming aggrevated it.

I get the feeling many who have contributed to this thread are in denial.

Many shoulder problems can be fixed with surgery.

Many more can be fixed with rest.

If there is no arthritis, far fewer cannot be fixed with either surgery or rest.

...And

[Slid]

Am currently experiencing the beginnings of shoulder soreness, probably due to increased distance. I am interested to see how many people have mentioned not using a kickboard. Did not think that this could be a contributing factor, but on reflection, maybe I will give the board a miss for a while.

Also, a few folks metioned backstroke as a potential problem area and when I think about it, this may be so for me too. Will definitely not do quite as much in future.

Thanks to all contributors here, for some non-intuitive suggestions.

[Ian Smith]

Also, a few folks metioned backstroke as a potential problem area.

With all our recent record snow falls, I'm now suffering from "shoveler's shoulder" - my good shoulder included.

It seems to hurt only during backstroke pull. This is not a complaint; any excuse not to do backstroke sets is goodness.

[3strokes]

With all our recent record snow falls, I'm now suffering from "shoveler's shoulder" - my good shoulder included.


Is your shovel catch too much in front? Do you have an early ( or late)
vertical lift? How is your follow-through?

Thank God I live in an apartment building.

[The Fortress]

I get the feeling many who have contributed to this thread are in denial.

Many shoulder problems can be fixed with surgery.

Many more can be fixed with rest.

If there is no arthritis, far fewer cannot be fixed with either surgery or rest.



Not me. I was told my problem was non-surgical at the moment.

But surgery sounds awful. Intense pain, long rehab, possible re-tears, possible reduced ROM. I have to think the older you are, the harder the recovery and the less chance of returning to your prior competitive speed. This recent WSJ article didn't make it sound any fun.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120104648002708127.html

[runner girl]

pain or functional impairment that forces your out of the water

Yes it is very depressing to be out of the water. The thought that I am now limited in what I can do drives me up the wall. Fortunately my shoulder doesn't bother me when I run, so I have been running, and running, and running. But my legs and core would really appreciate some swim time.

I've been getting ART treatments for the last couple of months, and am now ready to try a little swimming. The range of motion is almost back to normal, it is just a little tougher to get the bad arm to move. Backstroke will be the last thing I try. I still don't know exactly what I did to hurt the shoulder, but it was doing backstroke with awful form.

[Slid]

Have left the kick board in the car for a few days now and this seems to have done the trick. Ironically, I was trying to "rest" the shoulders by doing more kicking - with the kickboard, which made it worse.

Thanks again for the tip!

[cdrcld]

Am currently experiencing the beginnings of shoulder soreness, probably due to increased distance. I am interested to see how many people have mentioned not using a kickboard.

Many of the folks I swim with are orthopod surgeons. They all swear that kickboards are evil.

[Slid]

Many of the folks I swim with are orthopod surgeons. They all swear that kickboards are evil.

I shall spread the word! :agree:

[cdrcld]

Not me. I was told my problem was non-surgical at the moment.

But surgery sounds awful. Intense pain, long rehab, possible re-tears, possible reduced ROM. I have to think the older you are, the harder the recovery and the less chance of returning to your prior competitive speed. This recent WSJ article didn't make it sound any fun.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120104648002708127.html

True and not true. Intense Pain? The pain on the last surgery really wasn't there. Yipee!! They put a pain pump in the incision that delivered a really good anesthetic right into the joint whenever you need it and it lasts for the first three days!!!

Possible re-tears. Sure you can reinjure your shoulder. I did. But the surgeons told me that once the wound is fully healed, any new tear would be at a new spot... In other words, you won't tear the scar tissue.

Reduced ROM. Before each surgery, they told me my ROM could decrease to about 70% of what it was before each injury. If that were true and acutally happened, my ROM would be at about 24% of what it was before my first injury... But as it stands, my ROM is 100% I'm 45, and my strength is higher than it was before my first shoulder surgery, because all I did was swim with no weight training before my injuries. But I've lifted religiously 3x per week for 12 years since the first rehab.

Slowing down. Not true either. It took a lot of time and effort, but the speed comes back! Yipee!!! I just drink more whey protein than I did 10 years ago. (-:

[The Fortress]

Well, I'm glad it worked out for you, but I have NO desire whatsoever to have shoulder surgery.

Plus, the WSJ article, as I recall, says that you can re-tear in the same place. That's why they're looking at using PRP during the surgery. Me, I'm going to continue to be a PRP guinea pig because my shoulder feels better than it has in two years. I just have to limit how much fly I do and use fins.

I almost never use kickboards.

[blainesapprentice]

True and not true. Intense Pain? The pain on the last surgery really wasn't there. Yipee!! They put a pain pump in the incision that delivered a really good anesthetic right into the joint whenever you need it and it lasts for the first three days!!!

Possible re-tears. Sure you can reinjure your shoulder. I did. But the surgeons told me that once the wound is fully healed, any new tear would be at a new spot... In other words, you won't tear the scar tissue.

Reduced ROM. Before each surgery, they told me my ROM could decrease to about 70% of what it was before each injury. If that were true and acutally happened, my ROM would be at about 24% of what it was before my first injury... But as it stands, my ROM is 100% I'm 45, and my strength is higher than it was before my first shoulder surgery, because all I did was swim with no weight training before my injuries. But I've lifted religiously 3x per week for 12 years since the first rehab.

Slowing down. Not true either. It took a lot of time and effort, but the speed comes back! Yipee!!! I just drink more whey protein than I did 10 years ago. (-:

I agree 100% with 100% of what you said! Before my surgeries I was hardly able to bring my arms past chin height (esp. in the mornings). Like i mentioned earlier...within a day or two of the surgeries I was able to put my arm into streamline. My surgeries did not effect my ROM in any negative respect, and I am thankful for having decided to have it done.

My surgeon also indicated as yours did that once a surgical repair for a tear is made, the chances of re-tearing that specific location is the same as for any other location of the muscles there...if not slightly lower because the scar tissue and surgical intervention gives that location a little more substance and strength if you follow the correct PT post-operation.

And I had no pain after surgery--ever--and I did not have a pain pump or take any medications for pain, not even over the counter stuff. I was in a sling for literally 24 hours post each operation as needed (mostly to prevent me from using it when it should be resting, not because it was helpless or in pain), then I was free to do whatever I so desired with the arm.

Best decision of my life as far as my athletic future was concerned. I swam harder, faster and better post-operation, I just wish I had chosen a better college program that could have really made use of my brand new shoulders.

[jdt4]

Jim Thornton's comment about bad should advice on the internet brings up a good question. I was diagnosed with a possible small RC tear this morning. Now where can I go to learn about it?

What are 2-3 good websites for general information on shoulder anatomy and care of injuries? Mayo Clinic? Others?

[JimRude]

Jim Thornton's comment about bad should advice on the internet brings up a good question. I was diagnosed with a possible small RC tear this morning. Now where can I go to learn about it?

What are 2-3 good websites for general information on shoulder anatomy and care of injuries? Mayo Clinic? Others?

This worked wonders for me:

http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/75451fd8-1efb-413b-9951-9972ae0112c0/Shoulder%20Stretch%20Convention%202007%20092307%20 %5BCompatibility%20Mode%5D.pdf

Diagnosing the exact problem can 'usually' be done by a qualified orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine doc. Yuo can find one in your area. Self-diagnosis can be tricky...

[Willow]

I have shoulder pain that initially started from too much hucking a Chuck-it for my Border Collie and was compounded by learning to swim. It put me out of the water for a while, but then even not swimming didn't help. Everything hurt. Putting on clothes hurt, reaching for things hurt, it was getting ridiculous. I carefully assessed my posture, habitual movements, sleeping pattern, swim stroke, etc. and came up with a program to deal with the pain. I felt it was a muscle imbalance (pec overdevelopment/ scapular stabilizers underdevelopment) rather than an actual injury. I noticed my shoulder had grown very rounded and slumped.

I lift weights 3 x a week with very careful form with special focus ont he muscles that stabilize the scapula and act onthe back of the shoulder. I do not sleep on my side anymore. I swim freestyle (the stroke that hurts most)with slightly wider arms and if it hurts at all, I switch to Breast or Back, which feel fine. I NEVER use a board or buoy. I try to keep my shoulders "set" whenever I am out of the water, held back and down to avoid the rolling forward that seems to result in the horrible twanging impingement. Since I started this my shoulder has just felt better and better! It almost never hurts anymore, and when it does, it is because I am not being mindful of posture.

I think the most significant thing I did was weight training.

[Ken Classen]

I was one of those PT not sufficient, surgery needed. I had surgery for rotator cuff tear 2 and half years ago. (Not swimming but a skiing accident) Based on my current cruise pace and yardage, I'm at about 85/90% of what I was. There is still some pain and it was a long road back including extensive post surgery PT and two aborted come back attempts due to re-inflamation of shoulder. Right now, knock on wood, the third attempt is successful, I plan to swim my first event in over three years this Sunday, a 2.4 mile open water event in Ft. Collins, Colorado. I now say event as I'm swimming it but not racing. Along with the weight gain it was depressing as I was simply not as passionate about other sports so had a hard time finding an alternative.

[Allen Stark]

I was one of those PT not sufficient, surgery needed. I had surgery for rotator cuff tear 2 and half years ago. (Not swimming but a skiing accident) Based on my current cruise pace and yardage, I'm at about 85/90% of what I was. There is still some pain and it was a long road back including extensive post surgery PT and two aborted come back attempts due to re-inflamation of shoulder. Right now, knock on wood, the third attempt is successful, I plan to swim my first event in over three years this Sunday, a 2.4 mile open water event in Ft. Collins, Colorado. I now say event as I'm swimming it but not racing. Along with the weight gain it was depressing as I was simply not as passionate about other sports so had a hard time finding an alternative.
Good luck:cheerleader: