Recently Injured, racing impossible?

VHS_Johnson · Post by **VHS_Johnson** » April 20th, 2007, 8:53 am

Two days ago I dislocated my left shoulder playing mass games. The Athletic Trainer looked at it and said that I need to go to a doctor immediately. My appointment is today. However, after the initial pain it wasn't unbearable and I did an 80 minute OTW piece. When it hurt for the last twenty minutes I dropped down to my right arm only. I row starboard so my inboard shoulder doesn't have as much movement as my outboard. My coach kept me off the water yesterday (and likely today) and allowed me to erg 5:00 with a low damper setting that wound up being around 1100 m. Has anyone else has a similar injury? So far our crew is undefeated and we have a semi-important regatta tomorrow. However, I don't want to injure myself even more before Stotes in May. I know I have to see the doctor before I figure out anything conclusive, but does anyone have any advice for a speedy recovery?

feldspar · Post by **feldspar** » April 20th, 2007, 7:43 pm

Did your shoulder go back into the socket on it's own? Or did you need medical attention to put the shoulder back in it's socket?

It's a tough injury I dislocated my left shoulder twice. Both times required medical attention to reduce the dislocation. Once you stretch out your shoulder capsule it's never quite the same.

Ice your shoulder to reduce inflamation and seek medical attention to get evalulated. I would take it easy until a Dr. looks at it.

VHS_Johnson · Post by **VHS_Johnson** » April 20th, 2007, 9:43 pm

Amazingly my arm went back into its socket on its own just from the momentum of the bat pulling it back into position. I'm not entirely sure how it happened, I was a bit too busy screaming... It is a tough injury but the athletic trainer cleared me for water practice and light dryland today. I was able to do a 1500m with minimal trouble. It's actually the dock that worries me. I can't hold the boat over head or pick it up off the water and I'm afraid of injuring my shoulder worse pre-race heading to the dock. I'm going to have another girl carry it tomorrow for me, I think. I had a full evaluation today by the trainer and he said that he can't stop me from racing, but that I should not be stupid. Right now I'm going to ice it, stay off it, and hope for the best.

Nosmo · Post by **Nosmo** » April 21st, 2007, 1:18 am

Clearly don't lift the boat at all. Seems more injuries happen carrying boats then rowing them.
Can't tell how serious this is or how much of a risk racing is, but speaking from experience, you can screw yourself up for a year or two by racing or training when you should rest.

feldspar · Post by **feldspar** » April 21st, 2007, 7:30 am

You sublexed the shoulder since it went back into the socket on it's own.

Be real careful with anything overhead, this is where your shoulder will be most unstable(likely to dislocate again).

Your Dr. should prescribe Physical therapy, where you will work on range of motion, and strengthing the small rotator cuff muscles which contribute to joint stability.

This may take a number of weeks before you notice improvement though.

If its still giving you problems you may require surgery to tighten the shoulder capsule.

VHS_Johnson · Post by **VHS_Johnson** » April 23rd, 2007, 8:56 am

Well, I wound up racing anyway and it wasn't too painful. We placed 2 of 19 and it was well worth it. I'm staying off the trailer and the docks until I'm positive that everything is the way it should be. I won't need surgery and apparently I avoided any long-lasting injuries. However, a few people want to kill me for getting on the water and I'm likely going to have to stay off it for this week. I'll see how it goes. Thanks for the input.