
Originally Posted by
melinda
Hello, all! I have been unable to swim / train since OCTOBER due to problems with BOTH shoulders and with my cervical spine (arthritis, stenosis) c6-7. It's been so difficult to give up working out, training, and competing. Nothing else can replace being in the water and pushing myself.
I was doing PT every day for all issues. The shoulders responded and started to feel really good (ie, no pain while swimming easy) in January, but the neck was still bothersome, not only in the water but in daily functioning.
Note: October - Feb, I would kick only, with a snorkel, so I did not have to lift or turn my head to breathe. That got old and boring, really fast. I began to test out my shoulders by swimming (still with snorkel) for several yards and things felt pretty good - although I did not push them by swimming fast and/or hard.
I also tested my neck. Often I could swim (not anywhere near race pace, however) without snorkel for awhile (max 400 yds) without discomfort, and and as soon as I felt pain, I stopped. In February my PT suggested I go cold turkey for several weeks. That's where I am now.
I did notice that my neck was - surprisingly - more aggravated by swimming BR vs. FR. I do not attribute that to raising my head with a bent neck, as I was still using a snorkel for full stroke BR and still had neck pain.
I believe that shrugging my shoulders and engaging my traps during the BR in-sweep was the source of my neck discomfort. Does that make sense? My traps were so tight after swimming, despite stretching before and after, and rolling on rollers would release some of that tension. I asked my therapist for exercises to strengthen my traps but he says that will not help. That I need to get the lordosis / curve back into my neck, and to get my curving-inward shoulders back. So, the theraband exercises I do for my bum shoulders should also be helping my neck.
I SOOOOOO miss swimming! I've taken this season off completely; I just hope I can return to competing. Of course I fear how detrimental taking this year off will be to my times. I was both lifted by and depressed by a letter I received this week, which informed me that I was being recognized as an All American Masters Swimmer for 2016. Lifted because of the recognition yet depressed because I'm not sure of my future swimming ability.
Enough whining. I've dealt with worse (cancer, shoulder surgery, car accident, etc.) so the Phoenix will rise again ... in some way, shape or form.
Good luck to all in CA!!
Bookmarks