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Topic Date User

rotator cuff tendonitis 18-May-2005 At 1:26:50 PM gumbywankenobi

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Don't know if its exactly the same thing but I have been off climbing for about 7 weeks now thanks to a dodgy rotator cuff caused by a 'floppy' shoulder joint. Apparently the trouble is the surrounding muscles don't hold my joint steady enough as it moves and one of the tendons gets impinged (I'm pretty sure that's the word she used) every time I use the joint. Steps to recovery have been physio & accupuncture combined once or twice a week, no lifting my arm above shoulder height for about three weeks - and obviously no climbing - to allow the inflammation to clear and now loads of really light weight (think soup can) exercises to strengthern the surrounding muscles.

Its been very frustrating but really seems to have paid off. Have gone from almost weeping just from belaying at the end of a day to being allowed back on the rock this weekend (yay!!!!). Pain is gone and shoulder is heaps less clicky/crunchy now that I have been doing strengthening.

Bad news is I'm gonna feel like a gumby all over again after all this time off - good news is if I've done the strengthening right (and keep it up) it shouldn't happen again.

Try getting to a good physio who can instruct you on the right sort of exercises to help strengthen the are and avoid surgery if at all possible - fingers crossed drugs aren't necessary for you either.

Like I say - could be a totally different set of circumstances but that's my personal experience. Best of luck.

>Edit< Or of course I could read your initial post PROPERLY and see that you're already doing physical therapy (sheepish grin). Still, hope it works out for you.