Subacromial Impingement

[sunholani]

Hi, I am a beginner paddler in India and had been doing some intense rolling practice sessions. A month or so back that gave me some pain in the shoulder but I ignored that and paddled some weekend runs. However, the pain becoming much, saw a doctor recently and have been given a diagnosis of Subacromial Impingement from 100-110 degrees and have been prescribed some meds and physiotherapy.

I read up some old threads on the forum and seems like most people have had surgery to get it fixed. Are there any people who got this fixed by physio... or does anyone have any other information/opinion on this? India's doctors might not be on the cutting edge of paddling related injuries (there being all of 20 paddlers in India maybe), so I would definitely appreciate some info. I have some x-rays also, so if there are any docs/experts here... I can share a scan of that as well.

Thanks.

[Neptune]

Hi,

I have been suffering from this with both shoulders for quite some time having dislocated them both doing Judo. I had a guided injection in my right shoulder joint between Christmas and New Year and have been having weekly physiotherapy since which appears to be doing the job.

Both the Physiotherapy and Orthapedic Consultants told me that surgery was the last option and should only be considered when nothing else appears to be working. They have also continue to tell me that I should not stop paddling or doing judo as the movement and flection is good for the joint as long as I avoid putting any undo stress on the joints so as not to cause any further strain.

Hope that helps.

Peter

[sunholani]

Thanks Peter, that's reassuring. I am working on my physiotherapy... I hope it does the job.

[lochie99]

Just been to the doctors this evening with very similar problem, right AC joint seperation following judo, now 3 yrs on, new pain in shoulder radiaiting down arm, no reduction in ROM or power. Refered to shoulder clininc for review.

I gave the judo up, just never had the same level of confidence again.

[Chas C]

I had this issue about 12 years ago and had it operated on - from what I can remember its the tendon running from shoulder down your arm that gets trapped between your shoulder and a bone that's fixed above it (by other tendons). This upper bone grows over and to some extent down end of the shoulder and impinges the tendon which hold your arm in place. At least that's what mine was.

Others may have different issues but mine would never have been fixed just by physio.

Sadly just also found out my wife has it too - she's not a kayaker.

[sunholani]

Chas, that's the exact description my doc gave me about what's going on.

Did the surgery fix it nice and clean? In other words, are you paddling like you always did?

My physio so far is making some difference, but then again, I am completely off paddling right now and it'll be bad enough if it only stays good when I'm off rivers.

[Chas C]

Yes it did fix it - however - I did not follow the advice I was given and got back into Gr4 paddling after about 2 months, once I felt better. I'd been advised to wait 6-8 months but thought this was too long.

I had a few incidents that impacted my repaired shoulder and I then spent the next 4+ years recovering taking pain killers to paddle - in hindsight I should have taken a 6 month break.

My shoulder has been fine for probably at least 5 years now.

Think it was called a Subacromial Decompression.

[sunholani]

Thanks Chas. Hope your wife feels better soon too!