Discussion: Shoulder

Good luck with the MRI, Charlie. I suppose the best outcome is to be able to figure out what's going on. I really need to do the same. I have some atrophy in my R shoulder muscles (after almost 2 years of dealing with it) and now it cracks when I move it--sounds like cracking your knuckles. I'm sure it's turned into Frozen Shoulder now, after a slight twist and accompanying withering pain yesterday. You may get me to the doctor's office yet. I hope you have a diagnosis that is easily treatable.

I had a very long term injury to this same shoulder that involved symptoms like what you are having. Very noisy cracking, pain, atrophy. The doc ended up removing bone spurs about 4 years ago. Much improved, once I rehabbed it. Now I think I have a muscle tear. I guess you then try to figure out if things are attached enough that they will heal on their own, or whether it needs to be sewn together.

Well I'm glad to see you posting respectable pieces on the rowing machine. I think that's the secret to healthy shoulders. After only a couple of short pieces on my erg my shoulders are feeling nicely loose and flexible, with no further sign of the stiffness that resulted, I think, from trying to whack that little white ball a country mile.

Hope you'll be able to continue rowing with a purpose this fall. For instance, your posted 5km PB for the current season (21:42.3) is a bit soft compared with last year (20:47.5) Want to have a little contest to see who can break 21 minutes (2:06 pace) first?

Tempting, but perhaps not prudent for me, at least until I get the results of my MRI. I think the best thing would be to keep at it, but keep the pieces short and a bit slower in the meantime.