It could take 18mths before it feels normal again...!

I write this blog after enduring a summer of surgery, pain, being uncomfortable and not swimming!!!! I had an athroscopic sub decompression (ASD) on my right shoulder in July this year and have been suffering ever since. The main problem was the constant aching in my bicep, tricep and loss of sensation in thumb so following an ultrasound and MRI scan it was decided I needed an ASD and possibly a repair to the tendon! Despite having a bad reaction to the anaesthetic, the surgery went well and I was sent home a few hours later clutching a set of exercise regimes and told to move it as much as possible! This I did religously and several weeks later I sat in front of the surgeon. He was dismayed at my lack of progress and duly referred me to a physio. At this point I was given a yellow rubber band and told to do various exercises. For the following weeks I was upgraded to a red band and then a blue band (they are all different strengths!!) All was going well and I was allowed to finally get back in the pool. Relief ensued but not for long - all I did was lift my arm in a gesture whislt talking when my shoulder temporarily dislocated. The pain brought me to a standstill and the aching returned. Fortunately I had a scheduled meeting already booked in with the physio and she promptly told me to go back to the yellow band and do the exercises given at discharge - imagine the frustration!!?? I also had my final review by the surgeon (5months post surgery) and was expecting to be discharged from his care! He assessed me then came out with the immortal words - "I think we need to inject it with steroids to settle it down!" A thick, milky substance appeared in a syringe and was duly injected (without local!) right into the shoulder joint! This was to put a complete stop to my swimming and any lifting so I am now in a deep depression! This is exacerbated even more by the throw away comment from the surgeon - "well it could take 18months before it feels normal again..." grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

Running - argghhh!!

Well I am trying to take up running! I have been persuaded to do a triathlon on May 7th! 500m swim, 14km bike ride, 7km run. Not bad distances I hear you say but I am just not cut out to run! Don't get me wrong 20 years ago I ran 2 marathons and belonged to a club but I now resemble a lumbering red faced sweaty gorilla! Swimming has changed my body shape and my lower half just dosn't work like it used to! I cycled 21 miles at the weekend and it was relatively easy but to don a pair of running shoes and put one foot in front of each other shouldn't be too difficult - but no! Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me! Watch this space!

Shoulder problems

Well despite the fact I am not swimming as hard as I was when training for the channel - I seem to have developed an impingement of the rotator cuff tendon in my right shoulder!!! I have virtually stopped swimming as a result and have replaced it by spinning and mountain biking!! I am now in the frustrating world of physio, endless exercises and anti- inflammatories.
I am going to have my stroke analysed in a few weeks to see if this is aggravating things as I am sure it is!! SO frustrating! Fingers crossed it gets fixed soon - I have some outdoor swims planned from May onwards.