RRC Archives

how long is a good time to rest aching shoulders, that have been hurting for about 8 months? also, do rotator cuff exercises on a daily basis really help?

wow! sounds like you should be seeing a doctor and not just the housewife's club here.
that's my recommendation. if something has been hurting for 8mths and you are not pregnant, something is usually wrong.

uh, no not pregnant. Just not sure that UC health services (my "insurance" plan) is going to be able to do much. I guess I ought to call, though.

PM the lurkist, he'll hacw some great advise on what to do about your shoulder

I can tell you if you did rotator cuff exercises daily for 6 weeks you would see a MAJOR improvement. Cronic pain in your shoulder will only lead to weakness and it'll eventually stop your climbing. It happened to me, I ignored my shoulder for a long time and then it got so bad I had to have surgery...I was off climbing for about a year

I had total shoulder reconstruction surgery and had a pin, 4 screws, and 2 plates installed. I was told that I would lose my range of motion and that I would never be able to climb again...

Three weeks later I was back at the Red climbing and within a few months I was back pulling down hard on overhangs. So, don't worry about it. It just comes down to this question, "How badly do you want to climb?" The key was lots of stretching and massage (and no pain killers - used herbal medicine instead). For a couple of months I stayed on easy routes (that was my only physical therapy). I didn't make any hard pulls or long reaches, in fact I never reached the injured arm above my shoulder. My footwork improved significantly and when my strength returned I was a better climber from it. I've had no problems since.

So don't pay attention to the advice of others (including me). Listen to your own body and pay attention to what it tells you.

Bilateral shoulder pain is a bit odd. It would be unusual to damage both rotator cuffs. You could have a congental anomaly of your acromium, the bone above one of the cuff muscles, that impinges on it when you climb and perform rotator cuff exercises. If that is the case, you only damage the tendon the more you work it. However, without a physical exam, it's impossible to really know the problem. Trust your people at UC a little. It may take them awhile to figure it out. You may have to come back a few times, but if its free, your health is worth it. Even if you see a slacker at first, if your problem gets no better, you'll eventually make it to the sports medicine doc.

J-Rock wrote:(and no pain killers - used herbal medicine instead).

What herbal meds do you recommend?

Just not sure that UC health services (my "insurance" plan) is going to be able to do much.

I remember when I was in college YEARS and YEARS ago, the university health center's diagnosis, if you were female was one of two things: You're pregnant or you have mono.

I sure hope they've changed for the better in the last few decades.

yup, they've changed a whole lot . at iu, it's pregnant, mono <i>or</i> the flu.