My Shoulder Saga: A Lighthearted Journey to Recovery

Ah, the classic shoulder niggle—it's like that annoying friend who pops up uninvited. You know the one, right? It’s that little twinge deep in the middle of your shoulder that only shows up occasionally. At first, you brush it off, thinking, “It’s no big deal!” But over time, you start to notice that your shoulder is feeling a bit weaker, especially when I jumped back into swim training.

Picture this: I’m trying to do side lateral arm raises, and suddenly, it feels like my shoulder is throwing a tantrum. I figured it was just because I had taken a holiday from training. But when I couldn’t even rotate my shoulder without wincing in pain—especially during freestyle swimming—I knew it was time to give my shoulder some TLC.

Now, let’s be real for a moment. The thought of scheduling a doctor’s visit for a scan? Ugh, no thanks! So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Enter Andrew, my trusty sidekick, who taped up my shoulder before swimming. And guess what? It worked wonders! Less pain and way better mobility. Who knew tape could be so magical?

My DIY Rehabilitation Routine

Feeling empowered, I decided to embark on my own rehabilitation journey. Here’s what I did to help my shoulder get back in shape:

• Pendulum swings to warm up the shoulder—like a gentle dance for my arm.

• External shoulder rotations with a stretch band tied to a door knob—who knew home decor could double as gym equipment?

• Standing rows—bonus points for also doing them at the gym with my trainer.

• Internal rotations using that same trusty stretch band—talk about versatility!

  
  

External Rotation

Internal Rotation

I squeezed these exercises into my day whenever I could. Some days I’d do them once, other days three times, depending on my schedule. I kept up my swimming three times a week and trained with my PT twice a week. Over the month, my shoulder started to feel better. Sure, it’s not fully back to its old self yet, but the improvement is undeniable. Those lateral raises? I can finally hold small weights and lift my arm without feeling like I’m lifting a boulder

Finding Balance in Recovery

Here’s the thing: with an injury, it can feel impossible to just “rest” your shoulder. I work with my arms, love staying fit, and let’s not forget my gardening passion! So, I decided to keep training and swimming while I rehabilitated. Now, I’m even starting to include some strengthening routines. I knew it might take a bit longer to recover since I didn’t take a break, and I was also aware that pushing too hard could lead to flare-ups. But hey, progress is progress!

So there you have it—my shoulder saga! It’s a work in progress, but I’m optimistic. Here’s to more swimming, less pain, and hopefully no more unexpected shoulder guests!