Shoulder Pain

[Louiscov]

Edgar:

Good luck with your shoulder issues. Many of us, especially we not-young-any-more paddlers have this problem, and your's sounds a lot like mine, both shoulders, but especially the left, my open boat side.

If you have insurance later, see a shoulder doc. My arthroscopic surgery in November for impingement went well and now I can paddle 4 days in a row instead of two before it gives out plus am back to swimming over a mile and got back maybe 80% range of motion. It made a BIG difference. I also try to be much more careful about paddling form and do NOT sleep on that side when it bothers me, this makes a big difference.

Is a lifetime of paddling worth the shoulder pain? Hell yes!!! Please keep us informed on how you're doing and say hello to Timothy. Also, the surgery is shockingly expensive.

[Edgar]

Thanks Chris, as of now it just bothers me and doesn't really slow me down much. Timothy now has a XP9, I hope he will use it more than his last boat.

[kansasjames]

Sorry to hear about your shoulder pain, You may look up the "jobe" exercises online. It's a series of exercises to buildup the small muscles that hold your shoulder in place. They use 5lbs. max, Dosen't sound like much but if it keeps your shoulder in place and cuts down on the lack of semerty in opposing muscle groups in the are it will reduce pain. I've been using a wheelchair for the past 12 plus years so I use these exercises to keep my shoulders in shape. Hope it helps.

[okieboater]

another vote for kansasJames recommendation. I just looked at that pdf and those are the same exercises my muscleo skeletal Doctor gave me.

[Edgar]

Thanks again, it is obviously a common problem.

[Deuce]

Had my visit with Dr. Gilliam yesterday. Definitive diagnosis following arthrogram and MRI is bursitis and tendonitis. He offered a steroid shot then and there, which I declined. He prescribed anti-inflammatories (not sure what kind yet) and gave me a pamphlet that looks like it hasn't been updated since '78 but does have exercises. So, the results were basically what he and I expected, but he made my day with the following words; "You don't have surgery in your near future". That was the only reason I pursued this as far as I did. The prospect of surgery didn't bother me so much. What I dreaded was the recovery time. So, all things considered it could have been a lot worse. Thanks for all the kind words. Edgar, hope you get some relief.

[Edgar]

Great to hear Deuce! Let me know how the exercises work for you.
Hope to see you all at the Hometown Throwdown.

[summerbee]

good news then. if ever you are up this way, look me up. i'll set you up on a shoulder rehab program. in the meanwhile, ice is your friend. ice pack the shoulder 20 minutes at a time as you need it. good luck.

[Edgar]

Thank you very much, I am icing it right now.