I hear a clickity clack?
I had been swimming at least 4-5 times a week by this time.
I love swimming.
I was doing 66 laps or 1 mile each time. I started working in 4 sets with reps of leg stretching, lunges, and curls in between lap sets.
Then it started.
Click...click...click...catch.
My left shoulder.
Not the right one mind you. And I'm a righty.
Why is my shoulder making noise and catching LIKE MY HIPS DO!
I'm worried. It doesn't hurt luckily, but I'm pretty sure the labrum is torn.
I immediately make an appointment to see the local O.S. My first one that diagnosed my dysplasia, had since retired.
I remember going to the appointment and telling the doctor about my hip problems and surgery. He couldn't believe it.
After getting my shoulder x-rayed, he told me that I needed to get an arthrogram.
W...T...F
I HATED my hips arthrogram (MRA).
HATED...HATED...HATED.
I cried and felt it was not worth going through again, so I told him.
"I told myself I'd never get another MRA."
"Well...you need to do it to determine if the labrum is torn."
"Can't you tell any other way?"
"Not unless I go in there."
SIGH
Here we go again.
I take a Vicodin about 1 hour before the appointment. The large needle is enough to get me anxious and re-live the hell it was to get my hips' MRA in Ohio in 2009.
So... I go hoping that the shoulder area is less sensitive than the hips.
I lay on the table and brace myself for that thick needle.
The doctor comes in and starts the needle into my shoulder as I am laying down on a metal table. Surprisingly, the needle doesn't hurt that badly. It is now sticking out of my skin and pointing up towards the ceiling.
He takes a x-ray of the needle in my shoulder and then looks at it...and says the last thing you want to hear with a thick needle sticking out of your shoulder...
"I need to move it"
FUUUUUUDDDDDGE
He pulls the needle out and then draws another dot on my shoulder to place it in there again.
Then another x-ray.
"Okay, now you're ready for the dye."
This is the part where you feel weird...you get a dye pushed in between your joints. It's uncomfortable again, but not as bad as the hips.
I get the needle removed and get up to go the MRI tube.
I walk in my gown down to the big room with the tube.
As I lay down in the MRI tube, I hope that the labrum isn't torn, but I'm not hopeful. When things have gone wrong in the past, it's only history that repeats itself.
After about 45 minutes I think, I'm done. I've listened to the radio try to drudge out the beeps, clicks, and loud humming noises of the MRI.
I wait for them to read the images and leave with my CD of results and pop it into my laptop. I get the summary right away: SLAP lesion with tendonitis.
I love swimming.
I was doing 66 laps or 1 mile each time. I started working in 4 sets with reps of leg stretching, lunges, and curls in between lap sets.
Then it started.
Click...click...click...catch.
My left shoulder.
Not the right one mind you. And I'm a righty.
Why is my shoulder making noise and catching LIKE MY HIPS DO!
I'm worried. It doesn't hurt luckily, but I'm pretty sure the labrum is torn.
I immediately make an appointment to see the local O.S. My first one that diagnosed my dysplasia, had since retired.
I remember going to the appointment and telling the doctor about my hip problems and surgery. He couldn't believe it.
After getting my shoulder x-rayed, he told me that I needed to get an arthrogram.
W...T...F
I HATED my hips arthrogram (MRA).
HATED...HATED...HATED.
I cried and felt it was not worth going through again, so I told him.
"I told myself I'd never get another MRA."
"Well...you need to do it to determine if the labrum is torn."
"Can't you tell any other way?"
"Not unless I go in there."
SIGH
Here we go again.
I take a Vicodin about 1 hour before the appointment. The large needle is enough to get me anxious and re-live the hell it was to get my hips' MRA in Ohio in 2009.
So... I go hoping that the shoulder area is less sensitive than the hips.
I lay on the table and brace myself for that thick needle.
The doctor comes in and starts the needle into my shoulder as I am laying down on a metal table. Surprisingly, the needle doesn't hurt that badly. It is now sticking out of my skin and pointing up towards the ceiling.
He takes a x-ray of the needle in my shoulder and then looks at it...and says the last thing you want to hear with a thick needle sticking out of your shoulder...
"I need to move it"
FUUUUUUDDDDDGE
He pulls the needle out and then draws another dot on my shoulder to place it in there again.
Then another x-ray.
"Okay, now you're ready for the dye."
This is the part where you feel weird...you get a dye pushed in between your joints. It's uncomfortable again, but not as bad as the hips.
I get the needle removed and get up to go the MRI tube.
I walk in my gown down to the big room with the tube.
As I lay down in the MRI tube, I hope that the labrum isn't torn, but I'm not hopeful. When things have gone wrong in the past, it's only history that repeats itself.
After about 45 minutes I think, I'm done. I've listened to the radio try to drudge out the beeps, clicks, and loud humming noises of the MRI.
I wait for them to read the images and leave with my CD of results and pop it into my laptop. I get the summary right away: SLAP lesion with tendonitis.
A SLAP lesion is a tear that occurs where the tendon of the biceps muscle meets the labrum.
What causes a SLAP lesion? Injuries to the labrum are tears that can be caused by trauma or repetitive shoulder motion. Trauma injuries:
What are the symptoms of a SLAP lesion? There are several symptoms that might indicate a SLAP lesion injury. These include:
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Options
I go back to the O.S. after he's gotten the MRA results.
He says I need surgery....but like an old record...he can't do it. I need a specialist. And I must stop swimming because that is what caused the tear.
FUUUUDDDDGGGE
So I was doing low impact cardio for my hips, and that ruined my shoulder????????
Good thing is that my biceps are attached though. Yay!!
Another good thing is that my left shoulder continues to not hurt.
The tendonitis will get better once I stop swimming and doing those repetitive movements.
So, I make appointments with a sports group that takes care of the Steelers as well as one with the Rothman Institute in Philly since my hip appointment is coming.
Once at the Pittsburgh group, I'm back to dealing with dull doctors. I am so used to Dr. Parvizi being kind and friendly. I hold other doctors up that impossible paragon of excellence.
I don't want surgery. Let me repeat: I DO NOT WANT SURGERY! From what I've read and heard even, it's really a long recovery too.
Lucky for me, this O.S. says I don't need surgery. He writes me a script for physical therapy. I say I don't have time for PT because I'm coaching after school. He balks that I would dare not go to PT. However, I inform him that I work out everyday and work harder than most PT exercises anyway.
He seems annoyed and says:
"Well, seems like you're gonna do what you want. If the shoulder gets worse, come back but I don't think you will."
"I won't be back."
I leave happy for just working on shoulder exercises instead of surgery is something I'm mentally ready to do.
I call up my physical therapist and he gives me some suggestions of shoulder exercises to include into my shoulder routine.
I start doing them and go to Philly for a 2-for-1: one visit with Dr. Parvizi and another with a shoulder specialist.
Lucky for me, he thinks that PT will be the best option and that my shoulder will get better.
Yayyyyyyyyyy!!
Now, let's be normal for awhile and not visit ANY doctors....perhaps again??? pretty please??
He says I need surgery....but like an old record...he can't do it. I need a specialist. And I must stop swimming because that is what caused the tear.
FUUUUDDDDGGGE
So I was doing low impact cardio for my hips, and that ruined my shoulder????????
Good thing is that my biceps are attached though. Yay!!
Another good thing is that my left shoulder continues to not hurt.
The tendonitis will get better once I stop swimming and doing those repetitive movements.
So, I make appointments with a sports group that takes care of the Steelers as well as one with the Rothman Institute in Philly since my hip appointment is coming.
Once at the Pittsburgh group, I'm back to dealing with dull doctors. I am so used to Dr. Parvizi being kind and friendly. I hold other doctors up that impossible paragon of excellence.
I don't want surgery. Let me repeat: I DO NOT WANT SURGERY! From what I've read and heard even, it's really a long recovery too.
Lucky for me, this O.S. says I don't need surgery. He writes me a script for physical therapy. I say I don't have time for PT because I'm coaching after school. He balks that I would dare not go to PT. However, I inform him that I work out everyday and work harder than most PT exercises anyway.
He seems annoyed and says:
"Well, seems like you're gonna do what you want. If the shoulder gets worse, come back but I don't think you will."
"I won't be back."
I leave happy for just working on shoulder exercises instead of surgery is something I'm mentally ready to do.
I call up my physical therapist and he gives me some suggestions of shoulder exercises to include into my shoulder routine.
I start doing them and go to Philly for a 2-for-1: one visit with Dr. Parvizi and another with a shoulder specialist.
Lucky for me, he thinks that PT will be the best option and that my shoulder will get better.
Yayyyyyyyyyy!!
Now, let's be normal for awhile and not visit ANY doctors....perhaps again??? pretty please??